Asian Games 2023: India win men's kabaddi gold medal

Men`s kabaddi team (Pic/ Twitter: @Media_SAI)

India won the men's kabaddi gold medal at the Asian Games 2023, beating Iran 33-29 in a controversial final.

The men's kabaddi final between India and Iran at the Asian Games 2023 descended into chaos and was suspended for about an hour on Saturday over a disputed decision before India finally sealed the title. India was seeking to reclaim the crown from Iran in a sport they regarded as their own, and they did so in the most contentious circumstances in Hangzhou. The final was locked at 28-28 in the dying moments when India went on a crucial "raid" for points, with both teams claiming they should get the decision. That sparked a video review, then a standoff and the suspension of the final, as officials checked the footage and attempted to make a ruling.

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Taking to Twitter:

The action was put on hold as both teams at different points appeared to refuse to play and argued their case. Order was eventually restored with the score at 31-29 in India's favour. Iran reluctantly carried on but they were deflated and soon slumped to a 33-29 defeat, sparking wild Indian celebrations. The two teams shook hands at the end. India had won every men's gold since kabaddi became an Asian Games sport in 1990 until Iran took the title at the 2018 Asiad in Jakarta. Earlier on Saturday, India defeated Taiwan 26-25 for women's gold. Kabaddi is a tag-meets-rugby contact team sport rooted in Indian mythology and said to date back 5,000 years.

The game requires yoga-like breath control as two seven-player teams send a raider into enemy territory to tag an opponent and return to safety - all while chanting "kabaddi, kabaddi" to prove they're not using more than one puff.

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