India’s kabaddi teams smashed Iran in finals, men 40‑34 and women 37‑34, securing a double gold for the host nation. The men’s match saw a tight first half that left the scoreboard almost level, but a late surge in the second innings turned the tide. The women’s side held their nerve, edging Iran by a three‑point margin after a tense finish.
The turning point for the men came after a 20‑20 split at the half‑time break. A string of incisive raids in the last ten minutes, backed by a disciplined defense, pushed the score to 40‑34. For the women, the psychological edge was the decisive factor: a single successful raid in the dying minutes sealed the victory.
Beyond kabaddi, India added a historic marathon silver when Sawan Barwal finished 2:11:37, breaking his own national record and becoming the first Indian to medal in the event since 1982. In shooting, the women’s 50m rifle 3‑position team collected 1763 points for silver, while the Indian men’s squad edged out a bronze in the 400m with Prachi Choudhary’s 53.21‑second run. Squash saw Joshna Chinappa‑Velavan Senthilkumar take bronze in mixed doubles, keeping Olympic hopes alive.
With seven medals this Saturday, India’s overall tally now stands at 30 – four golds, 12 silvers and 14 bronzes – keeping them firmly in the top‑five of the medal table. The next challenge? The men’s hockey team faces the semi‑final against Australia, while the kabaddi squads will keep an eye on the upcoming group matches that could push India closer to the top spot.