'Journey has been very tough': Pinki Roy on her Asian Games gold
Pinki Roy discusses overcoming injuries and surgeries to win gold for India in women's kabaddi at the Asian Games 2026.
After a grueling battle on the mats, Pinki Roy has emerged as a gold medalist at the Asian Games 2026. Following India's hard-fought 37-34 victory over Iran in the women's kabaddi final, the athlete opened up about the immense physical and mental hurdles she had to overcome to reach this pinnacle of success.
A decade of struggle and surgeries
For Pinki Roy, the gold medal is not just a victory for the team, but a personal triumph over a decade of adversity. Reflecting on her career, she revealed that her path to the national team was paved with significant medical setbacks.
The Road to Glory
- 2012: Began her professional journey.
- 2013: Underwent major knee surgery.
- 2016: Joined the Railways.
- 2019: Called up for the India camp, only to face another surgery.
- 2026: Debuted at the Asian Games and secured gold.
"My journey has been very tough," Pinki admitted, noting that this marks her first time touring with the Indian national team in her 18 years of playing. "I would like to say that in my 18 years, I am touring with India for the first time. So my excitement level is very high."
Tactical Masterclass against Iran
The final against Iran was a tense affair, with India narrowly retaining their gold. Pinki highlighted that the team's success was rooted in disciplined defensive play and learning from previous errors.
Avoiding costly mistakes
During the pool matches, the Indian side struggled with conceding multiple points in quick succession. To counter this in the final, the team implemented a strict defensive strategy:
- Limit point leakage: The goal was to concede no more than one point at a time.
- Exploit raider momentum: While the defense tightened, the Indian raiders focused on continuous scoring and bonus points.
- Preventing momentum shifts: Avoiding the "two or three point" leaks seen in earlier rounds.
"That’s exactly what happened—we didn't repeat those mistakes and avoided leaking multiple points at once," Pinki explained.
Respect for the opposition
Despite the victory, Pinki was quick to acknowledge the growth of the Iranian team. She noted that Iran's performance showed significant improvement compared to their recent World Cup final loss, where they were defeated by 12 points. In this final, they remained competitive, losing by only 3 points.
"They played really well... They have put in a lot of hard work on themselves, which is reflected in their results," she said, noting their impressive victory over previous silver medallists Chinese Taipei to reach the final.
Celebrations and Tradition
The mood in the Indian camp remains jubilant. Pinki shared that the team intends to celebrate their gold medal in their traditional fashion: through dance. She added that the celebrations would be even more special if the men's team also secures a medal, allowing the entire squad to celebrate together.