India claimed its ninth men’s kabaddi gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, defeating Iran 40-34 in the final on 26 September. While the raiders grabbed many headlines, India’s defensive unit laid the foundation for an unbeaten campaign.
Remarkably, all three leading defenders were making their Asian Games debut.
India’s Best Defenders at the 2026 Asian Games
| Player | Tackle Points | Raid Points | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jaideep Dahiya | 17 | 0 | 17 |
| Rahul Sethpal | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| Sumit Sangwan | 15 | 0 | 15 |
Jaideep Dahiya tops India’s defence
Jaideep Dahiya finished as India’s leading defender with 17 tackle points across six matches.
Playing in the cover position, he consistently stopped opposition raiders before they could return to safety. His performances helped India concede only 21 points against Chinese Taipei, 24 against Japan and 25 against Bangladesh during the group stage.
Coming into the tournament after recording 68 tackle points in Pro Kabaddi League Season 12, Jaideep successfully carried his domestic form onto the international stage.
Rahul Sethpal Delivers at Right Corner
Rahul Sethpal contributed 16 tackle points, finishing just one behind Jaideep.
The debutant corner defender played a major role in India’s dominant defensive displays, particularly during victories over Republic of Korea (63-31) and Thailand (66-28), where rival raiders struggled to break through India’s right corner.
Sumit Sangwan Shines on Debut
Sumit Sangwan completed India’s top defensive trio with 15 tackle points.
His contribution became especially valuable in the final against Iran. After trailing 17-18 at half-time, India’s defence tightened considerably in the second half, helping secure a 40-34 victory and another Asian Games gold medal.
India’s New Defensive Core
One of the biggest positives from the tournament was the emergence of an entirely new defensive unit.
Jaideep, Rahul and Sumit were all Asian Games debutants, yet together they formed one of the strongest defensive combinations in the competition. Their performances suggest India has built a reliable foundation for future international tournaments.
India’s Unbeaten Gold-medal Campaign
India remained unbeaten throughout the tournament:
- Chinese Taipei – 37-21
- Japan – 49-24
- Bangladesh – 48-25
- Republic of Korea – 63-31
- Thailand (Semi-final) – 66-28
- Iran (Final) – 40-34
India also completed a kabaddi clean sweep after the women’s team won gold.
Captain Sunil Kumar’s Influence
Captain Sunil Kumar led a squad featuring eight Asian Games debutants.
Although he contributed five tackle points and one raid point, his biggest impact came through organising India’s defensive structure and guiding the inexperienced backline throughout the tournament.
India Men’s Kabaddi Team Points Table
| Player | Raid | Tackle | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Devank Dalal | 59 | 1 | 60 |
| Arjun Deshwal | 35 | 0 | 35 |
| Ayan Lohchab | 35 | 0 | 35 |
| Ashu Malik | 31 | 0 | 31 |
| Aslam Inamdar | 21 | 2 | 23 |
| Jaideep Dahiya | 0 | 17 | 17 |
| Rahul Sethpal | 0 | 16 | 16 |
| Sumit Sangwan | 0 | 15 | 15 |
| Ankit Jaglan | 0 | 9 | 9 |
| Pawan Sehrawat | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| Sunil Kumar | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Gaurav Khatri | 0 | 4 | 4 |
Conclusion
India’s ninth Asian Games men’s kabaddi gold was built on much more than its raiders. Jaideep Dahiya (17 tackles), Rahul Sethpal (16) and Sumit Sangwan (15) formed an outstanding defensive trio during their first Asian Games appearance, giving India a solid foundation for another successful international cycle.
