The journey of the Indian Kabaddi team at the 2026 Asian Games, which were held in Aichi-Nagoya, concluded with the retention of both men’s and women’s gold medals. Fans who follow the game through platforms such as 1xBet witnessed the emergence of players who could contribute to India’s next international cycle. The men’s squad defeated the Iranian team 40-34 in the final match of the event while the women’s team edged the Iranian team 37-34 to secure their victory.
The most exciting part of this tournament was the rise of a young base. In the men’s squad, eight out of twelve players participated in the Asian Games for the first time. Ayan Lohchab and Devank Dalal entered the Games after outstanding Pro Kabaddi League campaigns and records, whereas Jaideep Dahiya and Gaurav Khatri represented the newer generation of India’s international defensive unit.
Devank Dalal and Ayan Lohchab lead the new wave
Among the medal-winning men, two talented raiders also stood out. Lohchab earned 316 raid points in PKL Season 12, followed by Dalal with 271 raid points – both players ranked first and second in the entire league among raiders. At the Asian Games, both athletes produced remarkable performances, with Dalal playing a key role in the knockout round. Together with Arjun Deshwal, he was a driving force of India’s attack during the 66-28 semi-final victory against Thailand and then in the final match against Iran.
Dalal saw the Asian Games as a very significant step up from domestic games. The 23-year-old athlete had said that before the games started that the opportunity to play for the national team was a responsibility rather than pressure for him.
Defence Could Be the Next Major Test
While much focus has been laid on India’s attacking capability, the defence can also prove to be just as crucial. Indian defenders like Jaideep Dahiya had 68 tackle points by the end of PKL Season 12, and Gaurav Khatri managed 62. Both of them were playing in their first Asian Games. The presence of captain Sunil Kumar and his international experience should help India maintain continuity around this young defensive line.
The next stage would involve developing partnerships in the defence and making better decisions under pressure.
What Comes Next After Aichi-Nagoya?
The immediate focus is going to shift back to the Pro Kabaddi League. As of October 6, 2026, the schedule and other related information regarding the upcoming Pro Kabaddi League Season 13 were yet to be finalised. While some reports suggested that the league might conduct its auction in mid-October, it was still unverified. The coming weeks are thus going to be crucial for those players coming back from Japan.
For the younger stars, the next season of PKL will be a chance to stay in good form and cope with expectations. Lohchab, Dalal, Dahiya and Khatri will thus be closely observed, while Deshwal, Sehrawat and Inamdar can serve as a link between India’s two generations of players.
India’s women face a similar challenge of maintaining continuity while developing the next generation. The MVP of India’s 2025 Women’s Kabaddi World Cup victory, Sanju Devi, proved herself in the Asian Games final by scoring a crucial super raid against Iran. With other experienced players surrounding her, India has a way of maintaining strength in numbers instead of depending solely on a few individuals.
Thus, the importance of the 2026 Asian Games extends far beyond the two gold medals India won. India has shown that they are capable of refreshing their teams while maintaining experience in leadership. The next step for India will be to take this transition to international success. While the next-generation stars faced a taste of high responsibility in the Asian Games, the next task is to prove they can maintain it. As fans turn their attention back to domestic competition, 1xBet online users will have another chance to follow the players whose international journeys are only beginning.
