Pinki Roy Reflects on Her Journey After Winning Gold at Asian Games 2026

Pinki Roy's Inspiring Journey

Pinki Roy, a prominent player in India's women's kabaddi team, shared her experiences of overcoming numerous challenges, including injuries, after contributing to the team's gold medal victory at the Asian Games 2026. She expressed, "My journey has been very tough."

Victory Over Iran

Following India's narrow 37-34 win against Iran in the women's kabaddi final, Pinki reflected on her path to this moment. "This is my first time touring with India in my 18 years of playing, and my excitement is through the roof. I cherished every match and moment," she stated.

Challenges Faced

Pinki elaborated on her difficult journey, noting several obstacles she encountered before reaching the Asian Games. "I began my career in 2012, underwent knee surgery in 2013, joined the Railways in 2016, and faced another surgery in 2019. After making a comeback, I proudly stand here in 2026 with a medal," she recounted.

Final Match Strategy

Discussing the strategy for the final against Iran, Pinki mentioned that the team aimed to rectify mistakes made during earlier pool matches. "We aimed to limit our points conceded to one at a time, avoiding the errors of giving away multiple points. Our raiders were consistently scoring and earning bonus points," she explained.

Acknowledging the Opponents

Pinki commended Iran's performance, noting their significant improvement. "They played exceptionally well. After losing by 12 points in the World Cup final, they only lost by 3 points today, showcasing their hard work. Their victory over the previous silver medallists, Chinese Taipei, to reach the final is a testament to their dedication," she remarked.

Celebration Plans

When asked about the celebration plans, Pinki mentioned the team's traditional way of celebrating victories. "We celebrate by dancing. We will head to our rooms to dance, and if the men's team also wins a medal, it will be even more enjoyable to celebrate together," she said.

Conclusion

India's women's kabaddi team successfully defended their gold medal at the Asian Games by defeating Iran 37-34.