New Delhi: Another gold medal was added to India’s tally after the men’s kabaddi team trounced Iran 40-34 in the finals of the Asian Games at the Tokai Citizen Gymnasium in Aichi, Japan, on Saturday.
The women’s kabaddi team had bagged the gold medal earlier in the day after a closely contested match against Iran.
With this win, the Indian men’s team has won nine of the 10 Asian Games titles in this sport till now. The women’s team won four of the five titles.
The men’s final witnessed an intense start with tackles flying in from both teams. Iran had India down to two men and trailing 7-9 when Jaideep Dahiya executed a vital super tackle on Mohammadreza Shadloui Chiyaneh to hold off the danger momentarily.
India managed to better their oerfirncw thereafter but failed to get more than three players on the mat.
The first All Out of the match was brought about by Amirmohammad Zafar Danesh of Iran with a two-point raid.
The scores remained neck-to-neck despite the All Out till an athletic raid from Arjun Deshwal and a daring dash on Shadlouichiyaneh allowed India to open up a 16-14 lead.
Iran, however, responded with a three-man super tackle and headed into half-time with an 18-17 lead.
After the break, India went down to three men again after a volley of points by Iran. India bounced back with a successful super tackle and a successful raid by Aslam Inamdar. This phase of play proved crucial as India rode the momentum to reduce Iran down to two men.
Iran was down but not out though. Skipper Fazel Atrachali and Omid Khojastehmohammadshah mounted a brief recovery with a super tackle on Arjun Deshwal but the Indian defence hunted in numbers to effect their first All Out of the match and opened up a five-point lead at 29-24.
Thereafter, the Indian raiders kept the scorers busy though Shadloui kept picking up touch points to keep Iran in touching distance.
Thailand and Chinese Taipei were the bronze medal winners in the event.