In a thrilling final match held at the Dong-Eui Institute of Technology Seokdang Cultural Center on Friday, India triumphed over Iran with a score of 42-32, reclaiming the Asian Kabaddi Championship title.
This victory marked India’s eighth title in the last nine editions of the championship, solidifying their dominance in the sport. Iran had previously won the championship once, back in 2003.
Initially, India faced a challenging start as Iran took the lead in the first five minutes of the game.
However, India’s defenders contributed crucial tackle points, and successful raids by Pawan Sehrawat and Aslam Inamdar resulted in Iran experiencing their first All-Out of the match in the 10th minute.
India continued to exert pressure on the Iranian team, securing another All-Out. By the end of the first half, India had a commanding lead of 23-11.
During the second half, Iran’s all-rounder Mohammadreza Chiyaneh made valiant efforts to stage a comeback.
His two-point raid followed by a super raid resulted in India experiencing their first All-Out in the 29th minute. The match remained fiercely contested, but India held their ground and emerged victorious with a final score of 42-32.
Prior to the final, India showcased their dominance in the league stage by defeating Hong Kong with a resounding score of 64-20.
Their unbeaten streak in all five matches secured their position at the top of the points table. Iran, having only suffered a loss to India in the league stage, secured the second spot and advanced to the final.
Looking ahead, the Indian kabaddi teams will face their next major challenge in the upcoming Asian Games scheduled to take place in Hangzhou, China, from September 23 to October 8.
Iran, as the defending champions, will aim to retain their title after defeating India in the semifinals during the 2018 Asian Games held in Jakarta. (Edited)