Shivraj hails India's 9th Asian Games Kabaddi Gold
Synopsis
India's men's kabaddi team won their 9th consecutive Asian Games gold medal, defeating Iran in a hard-fought final at the 2026 Asian Games. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan praised the team's 'grit, strength and nerve' in a post on X, celebrating the historic achievement.
Key Takeaways
India's men's kabaddi team won gold at the 2026 Asian Games , defeating Iran in the final.
This is India's 9th consecutive Asian Games gold in men's kabaddi since the sport's introduction in 1990 .
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan described the final as a battle of 'grit, strength and nerve.' Iran remains India's strongest and most consistent rival in men's kabaddi at the Asian Games.
Kabaddi has been part of the Asian Games programme without interruption since 1990 , with India topping the podium every time.
A sport born in India's dust-and-grit village arenas just claimed its ninth consecutive Asian Games crown — and this time, the Indian Men's Kabaddi Team had to fight Iran down to the wire to get it. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan took to X on Saturday, 26 September 2026, to salute the team on sealing a gold medal in the final at the 2026 Asian Games.
Chouhan's post captured the match's texture in three words: 'grit, strength and nerve.' Iran, perennial runners-up and the one team that has come closest to ending India's unbroken run, pushed the defending champions in what the minister described as a 'thrilling final.' Gold, ultimately, stayed with India.
A streak that started in 1990 and never stopped
Kabaddi made its Asian Games debut in 1990, and India has stood on the top step of the podium at every single edition since. That is a streak built across decades, coaching generations, and shifting competitive landscapes — Iran chief among the challengers who have tried hardest to dislodge it. Winning a ninth gold in as many tournaments is not merely a record; it is a statement that India's mastery of the sport it gave to the world remains intact.
The sport carries deep cultural roots in the subcontinent — played in school grounds, village maidans, and now under stadium lights at a continental showpiece. Each Asian Games cycle renews the question of whether India's dominance can hold. Each time, the answer has been yes.
Why Iran keeps raising the stakes
Iran's rise as kabaddi's fiercest rival has sharpened India's edge rather than blunted it. The Iranian men's team has invested systematically in the sport, producing physically imposing raiders and disciplined defenders who have made every final a genuine contest. The 2026 showdown, by the minister's own account, was no walkover — which makes the gold more meaningful, not less.
Senior ministers routinely congratulate national teams on landmark sporting victories, and Chouhan's message reflects both the government's intent to associate itself with traditional sports and the genuine public pride that kabaddi victories generate across India's heartland states — including his home state of Madhya Pradesh, where the sport has a passionate following.
Nine golds, zero defeats. The mat is cleared — and the question for every rival nation is the same as it has been since 1990: how do you stop a team that simply refuses to lose?
Point of View
Far from being a threat to India's dominance, has become the furnace that keeps Indian kabaddi sharp and globally credible. Nine golds also strengthen the case for sustained institutional investment in the sport at the grassroots and elite levels.
NationPress
26 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Asian Games gold medals has India won in men's kabaddi?
India has won 9 Asian Games gold medals in men's kabaddi, every edition since the sport was introduced at the Games in 1990 .
Who did India defeat in the 2026 Asian Games kabaddi final?
India defeated Iran in the final to claim the 2026 Asian Games men's kabaddi gold medal.
When did kabaddi become part of the Asian Games?
Kabaddi was introduced as an Asian Games discipline in 1990 , and India has won gold at every edition since.
What did Shivraj Singh Chouhan say about the kabaddi gold?
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan praised the team on X, calling it 'a battle of grit, strength and nerve' and congratulating the squad on their 'historic 9th Asian Games Gold.'
Why is Iran considered India's biggest rival in kabaddi?
Iran has consistently been the strongest challenger to India in Asian Games kabaddi, producing physically powerful players with disciplined technique, making every meeting between the two sides a genuine final-quality contest.
