CM Fadnavis Hails India's 9th Kabaddi Gold at Asian Games 2026
Synopsis
India's men's kabaddi team defended their Asian Games title with a 40-34 victory over Iran in the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 final, securing the country's ninth gold in the event. Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis led political congratulations, calling it another golden chapter in India's sporting journey.
Key Takeaways
India defeated Iran 40-34 in the Asian Games 2026 men's kabaddi final held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan .
This is India's ninth gold medal in men's kabaddi at the Asian Games, maintaining an unbeaten record since the sport's introduction in 1990 .
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis congratulated the team on September 26, 2026 , calling it 'another golden chapter in India's glorious sporting journey'.
India's title defence at Aichi-Nagoya 2026 adds to the country's ongoing medal campaign at the quadrennial Games.
Kabaddi's dominant continental record reflects sustained grassroots and professional investment in indigenous South Asian sport.
Nine golds. One sport. One nation that simply refuses to let go of the crown. India's men's kabaddi team defeated Iran 40-34 in a pulsating final at Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on Saturday, September 26, 2026, successfully defending their title at the Asian Games 2026 and writing another indelible line in the country's most dominant continental sports record. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was among the first to celebrate, posting his congratulations within hours of the final whistle.
Forty points and a dynasty sealed
The margin — 40-34 against Iran — tells its own story: a comfortable lead built and held against the region's most competitive rival. India's raiders and defenders controlled the contest, stretching the gap wide enough that the result was never truly in doubt in the closing minutes. The win in Aichi-Nagoya marks India's ninth gold medal in the men's discipline since kabaddi entered the Asian Games programme, an unblemished record across nearly four decades of competition.
Kabaddi's place on India's continental scoreboard
Kabaddi has been a medal event at the Asian Games since 1990, and India has claimed the men's gold at every single edition since its introduction — a run of consistency that no other nation has matched in any team sport at the Games. The sport, rooted in South Asian village tradition, has grown into a structured competitive discipline with an international following, partly accelerated by domestic franchise leagues that raised its professional profile across the country.
The broader Asian Games campaign for India at Aichi-Nagoya 2026 continues, with athletes competing across disciplines. The kabaddi gold adds significant weight to the medal tally at a tournament where every point of national pride matters to the delegation and to followers back home.
Fadnavis's salute and Maharashtra's kabaddi tradition
CM Fadnavis framed the win as 'another golden chapter in India's glorious sporting journey' — language that situates the kabaddi triumph within a wider narrative of investment in traditional and indigenous sports alongside Olympic-track disciplines. Maharashtra has historically produced top kabaddi talent, and the Chief Minister's swift, emphatic congratulations reflect both personal sporting pride and the state's deep connection to the game at the grassroots level.
The crown, as Fadnavis put it, stays with India. And if nine consecutive golds are any guide, it shows no signs of moving anywhere else.
Point of View
Celebrating such milestones is also a deliberate cultural signal: indigenous sport is a vector of national identity, not just athletic achievement. The rapid, high-profile congratulations from a senior Chief Minister underscore how sporting success at multi-nation Games is increasingly woven into political branding. What the gold also does is keep pressure on India's sports administration to extend that grassroots investment beyond the traditional kabaddi heartlands into states where the sport still lacks infrastructure.
NationPress
26 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Did India win gold in kabaddi at the Asian Games 2026?
Yes. India defeated Iran 40-34 in the men's kabaddi final at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, winning the gold medal.
How many times has India won kabaddi gold at the Asian Games?
This victory is India's ninth gold medal in men's kabaddi at the Asian Games. India has won every edition of the event since kabaddi was introduced in 1990.
Where were the Asian Games 2026 held?
The Asian Games 2026 are being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
What was the score in the India vs Iran kabaddi final 2026?
India beat Iran 40-34 in the men's kabaddi final at the Asian Games 2026.
Why did Devendra Fadnavis congratulate the kabaddi team?
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis posted congratulations to the Indian men's kabaddi team on X after they defended their Asian Games gold medal title with a victory over Iran on September 26, 2026.
