The kabaddi competition at the 2026 Asian Games moved into the medal rounds on Day 5 as India and Iran proceed to both the men’s and women’s finals after winning their respective semi-finals at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium in Aichi-Nagoya.
India continued its unbeaten run in both competitions, with the women’s team defeating Nepal 48-24 before the men’s side overwhelmed Thailand 66-28. Iran also progressed in both events, beating Chinese Taipei 23-19 in the women’s semi-final and securing a 59-21 victory over Chinese Taipei in the men’s competition.
India Women Cruise Into Another Final
India’s women’s team extended its flawless campaign with a comprehensive 48-24 victory over Nepal in the opening semi-final.
After winning all three Group A matches, the defending champions once again dominated both in attack and defence to secure another appearance in the Asian Games final.
Led by captain Pushpa Rana, India maintained the consistency shown throughout the tournament and moved within one victory of retaining the gold medal they won in Hangzhou.
India Men Overpower Thailand
The Indian men’s team followed with another commanding display, defeating Thailand 66-28 to secure a place in the gold medal match.
Captain Sunil Kumar led a side that had already topped Group A with victories over Japan, South Korea, Bangladesh and Chinese Taipei. India’s deep raiding unit, featuring Pawan Sehrawat, Ashu Malik, Arjun Deshwal, Devank Dalal and Ayan Lohchab, proved too strong as the defending champions comfortably advanced to the final.
Iran Complete Double Final Appearance
Iran also enjoyed a successful day by reaching both championship matches.
The women’s team edged Chinese Taipei 23-19 in a closely contested semi-final to set up another meeting with India, while the men’s side produced one of the most dominant performances of the day, defeating Chinese Taipei 59-21 to book their place in the final.
The results renew one of kabaddi’s biggest rivalries, with India and Iran set to contest both gold medal matches.
Day 5 Results
| Time (IST) | Category | Match | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9:30 AM | Women | India vs Nepal | India won 48-24 |
| 10:45 AM | Men | India vs Thailand | India won 66-28 |
| 2:30 PM | Women | Iran vs Chinese Taipei | Iran won 23-19 |
| 3:45 PM | Men | Iran vs Chinese Taipei | Iran won 59-21 |
India Remain on Course for Title Defence
Both Indian teams completed the group stage without suffering a defeat and maintained that momentum in the knockout rounds.
The men’s side has now won five consecutive matches after topping Group A, while the women’s team has also remained unbeaten throughout the tournament.
Their victories set up two highly anticipated finals against Iran, one of the strongest kabaddi nations in Asia. The rivalry has produced several memorable contests over the years, including Iran’s men’s triumph over India at the 2018 Asian Games and India’s men’s gold-medal victory over Iran in the 2023 Hangzhou final.
With both teams now one win away from defending their Asian Games crowns, India will attempt to complete another historic double in Aichi-Nagoya.
