CM Saini hails India women's kabaddi gold at Asian Games 2026
Synopsis
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini praised the Indian women's kabaddi team for defeating Iran to win gold at Asian Games 2026, expressing special pride that six Haryana players were part of the champion squad.
Key Takeaways
India's women's kabaddi team defeated Iran to win the Asian Games 2026 gold medal in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan .
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini posted congratulations on 26 September 2026 , highlighting six Haryana players in the squad.
Saini called the team a ' dhakad ' (powerhouse) side that raised the honour of the Tricolour.
Haryana has a long-established tradition of contributing disproportionately to India's kabaddi and contact-sport rosters.
Indian women's kabaddi has a strong record of gold medals at previous Asian Games editions.
Six daughters of Haryana stood on the biggest stage in Asian sport — and brought home gold. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Saturday, 26 September 2026 congratulated the Indian women's kabaddi team for defeating Iran to claim the gold medal at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, singling out the six Haryana players in the squad as a special source of state pride.
In his post on X, CM Saini wrote: 'Bharat ki is dhakad team mein Haryana ki 6 betiyon ka shamil hona hum sabhi pradeshwasiyon ke liye vishesh garv ka vishay hai' — 'The inclusion of Haryana's 6 daughters in this powerhouse Indian team is a matter of immense pride for all of us in the state.' He added that the players had 'raised the honour of the Tricolour through their magnificent game, hard work and spirit.'
Haryana's outsized footprint in Indian kabaddi
The congratulations carry statistical weight. Haryana has long punched far above its weight in Indian contact sports, supplying a disproportionate share of national-team athletes in kabaddi, wrestling, and boxing. The state's rural sporting culture, backed by successive state-government investment in sports hostels and academies, has made it a pipeline for elite talent. Six players from one state in a twelve-to-fifteen-member squad represents a commanding share of the roster.
Indian women's kabaddi teams have a strong tradition at the Asian Games, having secured gold medals at previous editions of the continental showpiece. Repeating that feat against Iran — a perennial kabaddi power in Asia — underlines the consistency that Indian coaches and selectors have built over years of structured preparation.
Why Saini's message lands beyond formality
State chief ministers routinely post congratulatory messages after national victories, but Saini's note is precise rather than generic: it names a number, credits a rival, and frames individual effort within collective pride. That specificity — six Haryana daughters, one gold medal, one defeated opponent — gives the tribute tangible weight. It also functions as a signal to Haryana's sports ecosystem: elite performance is noticed at the top.
With the Asian Games 2026 still unfolding in Aichi-Nagoya, further felicitation announcements or infrastructure pledges from the Haryana government are likely to follow as the full medal tally takes shape. For now, the scoreboard reads gold — and Haryana is claiming its share of the glory.
Point of View
Associating state talent with a high-profile Asian Games gold is also sound soft politics ahead of any future electoral cycle. More broadly, the post reflects India's maturing approach to Asian Games kabaddi: the discipline is no longer a guaranteed win, and a gold against Iran deserves recognition as a competitive achievement, not just ceremonial ritual.
NationPress
26 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Did India win gold in women's kabaddi at Asian Games 2026?
Yes, the Indian women's kabaddi team defeated Iran to win the gold medal at the Asian Games 2026 held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, according to Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini's post on 26 September 2026.
How many Haryana players are in the Indian women's kabaddi team at Asian Games 2026?
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini stated that six Haryana players were part of the Indian women's kabaddi team that won gold at Asian Games 2026.
Where are the Asian Games 2026 being held?
The Asian Games 2026 are being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Who is Nayab Singh Saini?
Nayab Singh Saini is the Chief Minister of Haryana and a senior BJP leader, known for regularly highlighting the state's contributions to Indian sport.
How has Haryana contributed to Indian kabaddi?
Haryana has historically supplied a large share of India's national kabaddi team athletes, backed by a strong rural sports culture and state-sponsored academies and sports hostels.
