NAGOYA — India's men's kabaddi team defeated Japan in the final at the 2026 Asian Games on Saturday, retaining the gold medal won in Hangzhou three years earlier. The Indian Olympic Association confirmed the result from the Aichi-Nagoya venue.

Kabaddi has been among India's strongest disciplines at the continental games. The team entered the tournament as defending champions and heavy favourites, with national coaches describing the title defence as a central goal for India's contingent.

Japan, competing on home soil, had invested heavily in raising the profile of kabaddi domestically and reached the final before falling to the more experienced Indian side. The victory added to a strong medal showing for India across combat and indigenous sports at the Games.

The result carried significance for the Pro Kabaddi League ecosystem in India, where several national squad members play professionally. Officials from the kabaddi federation said the win reinforced India's status as the sport's dominant force ahead of future international competition.

The Indian Olympic Association said the gold medal underlined the depth of the national programme and thanked players and support staff for their campaign in Aichi-Nagoya.