2026-10-05 Mon

India continued its remarkable dominance in kabaddi at the Asian Games, winning two gold medals at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 in Japan. Both the Indian men’s and women’s teams emerged champions, completing a flawless golden sweep across the two kabaddi events.

The Indian women’s team defeated Iran 37–34 in a closely contested final, successfully defending the title it had won at the Hangzhou Asian Games. Later, the men’s team overcame Iran 40–34 to retain its Asian Games crown.

The two victories were particularly significant because India entered Aichi-Nagoya as defending champions in both men's and women's kabaddi. The golden double therefore not only added two gold medals to India's 2026 tally but also reaffirmed the country's extraordinary record in a sport deeply rooted in the Indian subcontinent.

Kabaddi's association with the Asian Games began before it became a full-fledged medal sport. The 1st Asian Kabaddi Championship was held in 1980, and kabaddi appeared as a demonstration sport at the IX Asian Games in New Delhi in 1982. It was subsequently included as a medal discipline at the Beijing Asian Games in 1990.

Women's kabaddi was introduced to the Asian Games programme at Guangzhou 2010, where India won the gold medal. The Indian women's team also triumphed at Incheon 2014. At Jakarta-Palembang 2018, Iran defeated India in the final, leaving India with silver. India regained the title at Hangzhou 2022 and successfully defended it at Aichi-Nagoya 2026.

With the latest victories, India has now collected 13 Asian Games kabaddi gold medals — nine in the men's competition and four in the women's competition. The 2026 golden double is therefore another milestone in one of the most successful team-sport records in Asian Games history.

Kabaddi represents more than a medal opportunity for India. Traditionally associated with physical strength, agility, endurance and tactical intelligence, the indigenous sport has developed from local competitions into an internationally recognised discipline. Its success at the Asian Games has helped bring greater visibility to a sport whose roots are closely connected with India's sporting traditions.

The story of India's Asian Games kabaddi dominance is also preserved through philately. India Post issued a 100 Paise commemorative stamp featuring Kabaddi on 29 September 1990, as part of a four-stamp set celebrating the XI Asian Games, Beijing. The other stamps in the set depicted racing, cycling and archery. The stamp was issued in the same year that kabaddi made its debut as a medal sport at the Asian Games — and India won the inaugural men's kabaddi gold at Beijing 1990.

Thus, the 1990 Kabaddi stamp provides a fascinating philatelic link between the sport's entry into the Asian Games and the beginning of India's extraordinary record. More than three decades later, India's men's and women's gold medals at Aichi-Nagoya 2026 have added another golden chapter to that story.