CM Saini hails India kabaddi gold, salutes 8 Haryana sons
Synopsis
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini praised India's men's kabaddi team for defeating Iran to clinch gold at Asian Games 2026, specifically celebrating that 8 of the squad's players hail from Haryana, calling it a moment of special pride for the state.
Key Takeaways
India's men's kabaddi team defeated Iran to win gold at the Asian Games 2026 .
8 players from Haryana were part of the gold-winning squad, according to CM Saini.
Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini extended congratulations on 26 September 2026 via a post on X.
India has a strong record in Asian Games kabaddi, having won gold at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games as well.
Haryana consistently produces a disproportionately large share of India's national kabaddi and wrestling talent.
Eight young men from Haryana helped India defeat Iran in the men's kabaddi final at the Asian Games 2026 — and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini made sure the country knew exactly where they came from. Saini posted his congratulations on Saturday, 26 September 2026, calling the achievement a matter of special pride for the state.
Writing in Hindi, the Chief Minister said: 'एशियन गेम्स-2026 में ईरान को हराकर स्वर्ण पदक जीतने वाली भारतीय पुरुष कबड्डी टीम को हार्दिक बधाई एवं शुभकामनाएं' — ('Heartiest congratulations and best wishes to the Indian men's kabaddi team for winning the gold medal by defeating Iran at Asian Games 2026.')
He went further, pointing out that 8 players in the gold-winning squad hail from Haryana — a detail that transformed a national celebration into a very local one. 'Your hard work, dedication and extraordinary sporting skill have enhanced the honour of the country and the state,' Saini added.
Haryana's deep roots in Indian kabaddi
This is not a new story — it is a recurring one. Haryana has for decades been the single largest supplier of talent to India's contact-sport squads, from kabaddi to wrestling. The state's rural sporting culture, built around akharas and village-level competitions, funnels an outsized number of players into national programmes.
India's dominance in Asian Games men's kabaddi stretches back years — the team claimed gold at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and has rarely finished off the podium at continental level. Beating Iran, historically one of Asia's strongest kabaddi nations, in a final is exactly the kind of result the programme has been built to deliver.
Why Saini's number — eight — matters
Political leaders routinely congratulate national champions. What makes Saini's post specific is the count: eight. In a squad that typically numbers around a dozen active players, having more than half drawn from a single state is a striking statistic — and a ready-made argument for continued state investment in grassroots sports infrastructure. Saini tagged the moment with #AsianGames2026 and #Cheer4Bharat, pitching the message at a national audience while keeping Haryana at the centre of the frame.
For Haryana's athletes and their families, a gold medal on an Asian stage is the highest validation of a system that prioritises sport at the village level. Eight of them just proved the point on the biggest contact-sport stage in Asia.
Point of View
Associating Haryana's identity with a gold medal on Asia's biggest stage reinforces the BJP government's long-running 'sports state' branding. India's sustained dominance in Asian Games kabaddi also reflects a deliberate national federation strategy of drawing on Haryana's deep talent pool, making the state's contribution structurally significant, not incidental. The pattern — national win, state spotlight, political credit — is one that plays well with Haryana's predominantly rural electorate for whom sporting honour carries deep cultural weight.
NationPress
26 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Did India win gold in kabaddi at Asian Games 2026?
Yes. India's men's kabaddi team defeated Iran in the final to win gold at the Asian Games 2026, according to Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini's post on 26 September 2026.
How many players from Haryana were in India's kabaddi team at Asian Games 2026?
According to CM Nayab Singh Saini, 8 players from Haryana were part of the Indian men's kabaddi squad that won gold at Asian Games 2026.
Who is Nayab Singh Saini?
Nayab Singh Saini is the Chief Minister of Haryana and a senior BJP leader who has been vocal about celebrating the state's contribution to national sports achievements.
Where are the Asian Games 2026 being held?
The Asian Games 2026 are scheduled to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Has India won kabaddi gold at the Asian Games before?
Yes. India won gold in men's kabaddi at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, and the team has maintained a dominant record at continental level over the years.
