India's Kabaddi Teams Shine with Gold at Asian Games 2026
Historic Victory for Indian Kabaddi Teams
New Delhi, September 28: The captains of India's men's and women's kabaddi teams, Sunil Kumar and Pushpa Rana, praised their teamwork, dedication, and coaching guidance after both teams triumphed at the Asian Games 2026, defeating Iran in thrilling finals.
The women's squad narrowly secured their title with a 37-34 victory over Iran, while the men's team made a remarkable comeback in the second half to win 40-34, marking their ninth gold medal in this sport at the Asian Games.
Upon their return to Delhi Airport on Sunday night, both teams were greeted with a grand reception.
In an interview, Sunil Kumar emphasized that the gold medal was a result of the team's unity and collective effort, stating that individual effort alone cannot lead to victory. He expressed his commitment to continue bringing home more gold medals for India.
"No captain can win a tournament alone; it requires a team. Our cohesive play led us to this gold medal. I will strive to keep winning for Team India," he remarked.
Pushpa Rana, captain of the women's team, shared her joy over the warm welcome and described the indescribable feeling 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 are thrilled, and we anticipated such a welcome upon our return. Hearing the national anthem after our win was an unforgettable experience. We felt great because we had worked hard for this moment. Our team executed the plans we had set with our coaches perfectly," she stated.
Balwan Singh, head coach of the men's kabaddi team, declared that this victory belonged to the entire nation, acknowledging the support from citizens, the government, the Sports Authority of India (SAI), and the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI). He expressed confidence in the team's future successes.
"What a moment! This victory is for the people of our nation. It represents the strength of Bharatvarsh and kabaddi. We will continue to win; our country and kabaddi are strong. The support we received from everyone was phenomenal," he said.
Raj Rani, a player from the women's kabaddi team, expressed her excitement about winning her first gold medal and praised the team's performance. She celebrated the achievements of both teams and expressed determination to secure more gold medals in the future.
"It feels amazing to win gold for the first time. Our team performed excellently, and it’s wonderful that both the men's and women's teams achieved gold. We are committed to bringing home more gold in the future," she concluded.