India added another gold to its medal tally at the 2022 Asian Games after the men’s kabaddi team defeated Iran in a controversial final on Saturday, September 7. The high-voltage encounter in Hangzhou, the People’s Republic of China was suspended for more than an hour amid controversy over the Indian team’s do-or-die raid. However, after a minute of resumption of the match, India won 33-29 and won the gold.
Iran’s defenders, led by captain Fazel Atrachali, put India under pressure early on with strong tackles. However, Indian captain Pawan Sehrawat and raider Naveen Kumar grabbed quick points to keep India in the hunt. Iran led 21-9 three minutes before the first-half whistle.
However, brilliant defence from vice-captain Sunil Kumar helped India out-all-out Iran and went into the break with a four-point lead at 17-13. Aslam Inamdar and Naveen Kumar scored crucial points for the Men in Blue. Sehrawat and Co. started strong in the second half, but Iran bounced back and levelled the scores at 25 with 10 minutes to go before full-time.
Do or die raid turns into a huge dispute
The Indian skipper then removed his counterpart with a raid before veteran Mohammad Esmaeil Nabibakhsh was also sent out. Iran fought hard with three successive points and levelled the scores at 28-all with just a minute to go for the final whistle. It was a do-or-die raid, followed by a huge dispute that forced the match to be suspended.
Sehrawat went into the lobby without making contact with any of the Iranian defenders. However, Iran’s defenders tried to tackle him to completely go out of the mat. This created huge confusion for the referee on whether he was tackled during the play or not. But the Iran team was adjudged a point for their efforts to make Pawan out of the play.
This led to huge protests from the Indian side, including the officials as they started to argue with the field umpires. However, after much deliberation, India received four points while Iran retained one point. This did not go down well with the Iran players as they started protesting by sitting on the playing mat. The last four points allowed India to take their score to 33 and win the Asian Games.
Watch the video below:
This is worse than anything I've seen from VAR in Premier league??#AsianGames #Kabaddipic.twitter.com/LL2CXuN5Qu
— ?Aashish Shukla? (@Aashish_Shukla7) October 7, 2023
Here’s how fans reacted to India winning Gold in men’s kabaddi:
India is on fire in Asian Games???
Congratulations— Laiba Abdul Quddus (@laiba_aq_) October 7, 2023
Check De fatteee??
— ABHI ? ? (@newlifewithx) October 7, 2023
One more proud moment for South Asia??
India?
Pakistan?— Anuj (@AnujDeswal013) October 7, 2023
? In Cricket
?In Badminton
?In Kabaddi3 Gold Medals in span of 1 hour for ???
— ? (@balltamperrerrr) October 7, 2023
Lots of fight ….. But at the end We won ????
— POSITIVE SRK FAN (@imashishsrk) October 7, 2023
Proud moment ???
— King Kohli's Fan (@PratikV88611911) October 7, 2023
Bharat Mata ki Jai ?????
— King Kohli's Fan (@PratikV88611911) October 7, 2023
Magical times for Indian sports
— Secular Chad (@SachabhartiyaRW) October 7, 2023
After so much of a struggle finally India won the gold ?medal
— RShukla_N (@RShukla_N) October 7, 2023
Lajawaabbbb… Bemisaal….. Speechless???????
— Firdaus Fiza (@fizaiq) October 7, 2023
