Asian Games 2018: Indian men’s kabaddi team loses in semi-final to Iran; misses out on gold for the first time

Seven-time champion India failed to reach the Asian Games men’s kabaddi final for the first time after a shock 18-27 loss to Iran in the semi-finals here on Thursday.

India, who had won the men’s kabaddi gold in all the earlier seven Asian Games after the sport was introduced in 1990 in Beijing, produced the worst ever show in the continental mega multi-sporting event.

The country settled for the bronze medal along with Pakistan, which had lost to South Korea in the other semi-final.

India had finished second in the group stage after a loss to South Korea.

The two teams were neck and neck at the end of the first half. But the Iranians sped away to a mini lead in the second half and that set the pulse racing in the Indian camp.

Thereafter, the Indians imploded as they looked desperate for points both in attack and defence. Iran made full use of India’s desperation for points and took a massive lead to take a vice-like grip on the match.

Iran scored a total of 18 points in the second half to make it through to the finals of the Asian Games for the third straight time. They had settled for the silver medal on the last two occasions after losing to India in the final.

(With PTI inputs)

First Published: Aug 23, 2018 18:12 IST