India's kabaddi teams delivered a powerful statement of intent at the Asian Games on Friday, with both the men's and women's sides cruising into the finals and keeping alive their bid to successfully defend their gold medals. In a day that underlined India's long-standing dominance in the sport, the women defeated Nepal 48-24 before the men followed with a 66-28 win over Thailand in the semifinal stage.
The results were comprehensive from the outset and left little doubt about the gulf between India and their opponents. More importantly for India, the victories preserved the unbeaten records of both defending champions in the ongoing edition, reinforcing the sense that the country remains the benchmark in Asian kabaddi.
The women's semifinal was effectively decided in the first half, when India established a commanding 31-17 lead. That advantage was built on relentless pressure, with India forcing four all-outs and collecting four bonus points to keep Nepal pinned back. Nepal struggled to find any sustained momentum and, despite trying to respond after the interval, could manage only seven more points in the second half. India, by contrast, maintained control throughout and never allowed the contest to drift into a tense finish.
The men's semifinal followed a similar pattern, though with even greater scoring margin. India surged to a 37-18 lead by halftime against Thailand and continued to dominate after the break. The difference in experience and execution was clear, particularly in the bonus-point count, where India collected 15 compared with Thailand's five. That efficiency, combined with India's superior raiding and defensive discipline, ensured the match never developed into a genuine contest.
The two Indian teams will now face the winners of the Iran-Chinese Taipei clashes in their respective finals. Iran remains the only nation other than India to have won gold in kabaddi at the Asian Games, having topped the podium in 2018, when India had to settle for bronze in a surprising setback by their own high standards. That result remains a reminder that while India has historically dominated the sport, the margins at the top can still narrow when the pressure peaks.
Women's kabaddi has been part of the Asian Games since 2010, and India have won every edition since its introduction. The men's competition has been on the Asiad programme since 1990, and India have claimed eight gold medals in the event so far. Friday's semifinal performances suggested that both teams are once again well placed to extend those records.
For India, the significance of the day went beyond simply reaching the finals. The manner of the wins — controlled, clinical and without any real alarm — reflected the consistency that has long defined the country's strongest kabaddi sides. In a sport where momentum, physicality and tactical precision matter enormously, India's ability to impose itself early and sustain pressure across both halves was the clearest sign yet that the defending champions remain the teams to beat.
With the finals now looming, India will enter both title matches as overwhelming favourites, but the presence of Iran in the medal picture ensures that the gold medals are not yet guaranteed. Still, after another dominant semifinal double, India's men and women have placed themselves one step away from preserving a proud kabaddi legacy at the Asian Games.