India beat Iran 37-33 to clinch the gold medal in the women’s kabaddi event at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Saturday, adding another gold to the country’s medal tally.The victory marks India’s fourth gold medal in women’s kabaddi at the Asian Games. The Indian team had previously won gold in 2010, 2014 and 2022, while finishing runners-up in 2018.India entered the final as defending champions after beating Chinese Taipei 26-25 in the gold-medal match at the Hangzhou Games.The gold also adds to a productive morning for India on September 26. Before the kabaddi final, Sawan Barwal won silver in the men’s marathon, while Ashi Chouksey, Tilottama Sen and Vidarsa Vinod claimed silver in the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions team event. Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar also secured bronze in squash mixed doubles.Barwal clocked 2:11:37 to end India’s 44-year wait for a men’s marathon medal at the Asian Games. It was India’s first medal in the event since the 1982 Delhi Games.In shooting, India’s trio of Ashi, Tilottama and Vidarsa finished second in the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions team event. Tilottama and Vidarsa also progressed to the individual final, while Ashi missed out after finishing 15th in qualification.Joshna and Velavan secured the squash mixed doubles bronze after reaching the semifinals. They had defeated the Philippines’ David Pelino and Jemyca Aribado 11-3, 11-5 in the quarterfinals before losing a close semifinal to Hong Kong’s Lee Ka Yi and Tang Ming Hong.India had entered Saturday with 26 medals — two gold, 11 silver and 13 bronze — and stood 12th in the standings. The women’s kabaddi gold takes India’s tally to 27 medals: three gold, 11 silver and 13 bronze.India’s men’s kabaddi team will also chase gold later on Saturday, facing Iran in the men’s final. Both Indian teams had entered the Games as defending champions.
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