India's Kabaddi Teams Celebrate Historic Gold at Asian Games 2026
Teamwork Leads to Victory
Captains Sunil Kumar and Pushpa Rana of the Indian men's and women's kabaddi teams attributed their success at the Asian Games 2026 to teamwork, dedication, and the invaluable guidance from their coaches. Both teams triumphed over Iran in tightly contested finals, marking a historic achievement for India.
The women's team narrowly defeated Iran with a score of 37-34, successfully defending their title, while the men's team staged a remarkable comeback in the second half to win 40-34, securing their ninth gold medal in kabaddi at the Asian Games. Upon their return to Delhi, both teams were greeted with a grand reception at the airport.
Sunil Kumar's Insights on Team Success
In an interview, Sunil Kumar emphasized that individual efforts are not enough to secure victory in tournaments. He stated, "No captain can win a tournament alone; it requires a team. Our cohesive play was key to our success, and I am committed to bringing more gold medals to Team India."
Pushpa Rana Reflects on the Experience
Pushpa Rana, captain of the women's team, shared her joy regarding the warm welcome they received and described the emotional moment of hearing the national anthem after their victory. She credited their success to hard work, belief in their abilities, and effective execution of strategies developed with their coaches. "We felt extremely good, and we had worked very hard for this. Our team performed well because of our efforts," she remarked.
Coach Balwan Singh Celebrates National Pride
Balwan Singh, head coach of the men's kabaddi team, expressed that the victory was a collective achievement for the nation. He acknowledged the support from citizens, the government, the Sports Authority of India (SAI), and the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI). He stated, "This is the victory of the entire nation. Our kabaddi is strong, and we will continue to win in the future."
Raj Rani's Joy Over First Gold Medal
Raj Rani, a player on the women's kabaddi team, shared her excitement about winning her first gold medal. She praised the performance of both teams and expressed optimism for future successes. "It feels very good; we got the gold. It's my first time, and our team played very well. We will strive for more gold medals in the future," she concluded.