Asian Games 2026: India one step away from defending kabaddi gold medals as men and women storm into finals

Indian men’s and women’s team advance to 2026 Asian Games final (Agency Images) The Indian kabaddi team continued its dominance at the 2026 Asian Games as both the men’s and women’s teams booked their places in the gold medal matches with semi-final victories. The women beat Nepal 48-24, while the men’s team followed with an emphatic 66-27 win over Thailand. The results ensured that India would have a chance to defend both their kabaddi titles at the Aichi-Nagoya Games.For the women, the win kept alive their quest for a fourth consecutive Asian Games gold medal. India has won the women’s kabaddi title at every Asian Games since 2010, when the sport was introduced to the women’s programme.

Indian women beat Nepal

The Indian women gained control early and went into the break with a 31-17 advantage. India combined successful runs with disciplined defense and repeatedly put Nepal under pressure. Four all-outs in the opening half gave the defending champions a sizeable cushion.Nepal struggled to match India’s intensity after the break. They scored just seven points in the second half as India maintained their lead to eventually complete a 24-point victory.The win extended India’s unbeaten run in the competition. They had previously defeated Iran, Bangladesh and Japan in the group stage. The defending champions will now focus on the final, where they will try to maintain their remarkable record in the women’s event.

The men put in another dominant performance

The men’s team put in an equally impressive performance against Thailand. India took an early lead and led comfortably 37-18 at the half. Thailand showed flashes of resistance, with Theeradat Chaisit producing a strong spell in attack, but India quickly gained control.The Indian side continued to pile on the points after the break and eventually crossed the 50-point mark. Thailand could not keep up with the Indian raiders and defenders as the gap continued to widen. India eventually closed out the semi-finals with a 66-27 victory.

India eye kabaddi double

The two semi-final wins mean that India are now guaranteed medals in both the kabaddi competitions. The women’s team is aiming for a fourth gold in a row, while the men are looking to retain the title they won at the previous Asian Games.India has historically dominated men’s kabaddi at the Asian Games, winning eight gold medals since its debut in 1990. Iran is the only other country to have won the men’s title in 2018, when India had to settle for bronze.The Indian teams will now have one final hurdle to overcome in Nagoya.