Indian women edge past Iran to defend kabaddi title.
Indian athletes secured their third gold medal at the Asian Games 2026 on Saturday as the women's kabaddi team edged past Iran 37-34 in a high-stakes final in Aichi-Nagoya. This triumph successfully defended their crown from the Hangzhou edition, cementing their reign in continental kabaddi. Holding off a fierce comeback charge from Iran, the squad relied on tactical discipline in the final minute. Iran pressed aggressively to close the gap, but an emphatic tackle on raider Aynaz shut down the rally and decided the outcome. Raider Sanju Devi delivered another standout performance, steering the side through critical phases of the contest.
Victory moved India's overall collection to 27 medals, including three gold, 11 silver, and 13 bronze, placing the nation 12th on the table. The winning unit featured Pooja, Raj Rani, Sonali Vishnu Shingate, Pushpa, Bhavna Devi, Ritu, Sanju Devi, Ritu Negi, Manisha Kumari, Pinki Roy, Jyoti, and Nikita. Later today, the Indian men's kabaddi team will also challenge Iran for gold. Kabaddi has historically remained a stronghold for Indian sport, often setting the tone for the country's multi-sport campaigns across Asia.
Strong day across multiple arenas
Earlier in the day, distance runner Sawan Barwal earned silver in the men's marathon with a national record timing of 2:11:37, ending a 44-year podium drought. Shooters Ashi Chouksey, Tilottama Sen, and Vidarsa Vinod also secured silver in the 50m rifle 3 positions team event.
On the squash courts, Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar claimed bronze following their mixed doubles semifinal. In archery, Dhiraj Bommadevara set new continental and national marks with 698 points in the recurve round, while Chikitha Taniparthi topped the compound qualification with 705 points. On the track, Odisha sprinter Animesh Kujur won his 200m heat to cruise into the semifinals.
With Inputs from Agency Threads and Image Courtesy: ANI
