Defending champions India overcame a tough Iranian side with a 33-28 victory on Thursday in Busan, Korea, marking their fourth consecutive win and guaranteeing a place in the Asian Kabaddi Championship final. The match lived up to the hype, as the world's two elite teams engaged in a deadlock that lasted until the closing seconds. India's survival was largely due to the steady raiding of Pawan and Aslam, who compensated for the struggles of Parvesh and Arjun Deshwal. This victory serves as a crucial psychological win for India just before the actual final on June 30.
Defending champion India staved off a stiff challenge from Iran, securing 33-28 for its fourth straight win, and stormed into the final of the Asian Kabaddi Championship at the Dong-Eui Institute of Technology Seokdang Cultural Center in Busan, Korea, on Thursday. It was a proper thriller that lived up to its expectation. India and Iran, two of the strongest teams in the world of Kabaddi played out another match which went down to the wire. Pawan and Aslam kept India in-game with regular points in raids. Arjun Deshwal and Parvesh struggled. Whatever was said and done, India wins the ‘virtual final’ before today’s (June 30) final.
Captain Pawan Sehrawat spearheaded the Indian effort, accounting for nearly half of the team's total score with 16 points. Both teams arrived at the match with perfect records, leading to a tentative start. India eventually broke the deadlock through Aslam Inamdar's two-point raid and an all-out, followed by further pressure from Pawan Sehrawat. This early surge gave India a commanding 19-9 lead by the time the first half ended.
Iran, riding the momentum of their 72-17 win over Korea from earlier in the day, launched a fierce second-half rally. The Asian Games champions managed to wipe out the Indian squad for the first time in the tournament, narrowing the score to a mere two points with only sixty seconds remaining. India regained control in the final moments through a critical super tackle with 30 seconds left, followed by a decisive two-point raid from Arjun Deshwal, sealing a five-point victory.
As the clock wound down, Iran shifted to an aggressive defensive strategy to force a comeback. However, Arjun stepped up when it mattered most, securing two touchpoints to effectively put the game out of reach. In the final raid, Pawan played a selfless role, acting as a shield and absorbing a touchpoint to ensure the clock ran out in India's favor. It was a true emotional rollercoaster, but India's ability to keep their composure under pressure ultimately won them the match.
India's journey to the final has been dominant; they previously cruised past Japan (62-17), Korea (76-13), and Chinese Taipei (53-19). Their final league encounter is scheduled against Hong Kong this Friday, with the championship final taking place later that same day.
The final will be contested by the top two teams from the league stage. Historically, India has been the dominant force in the Asian Kabaddi Championship, winning seven of the eight tournaments held, while Iran's sole title came back in 2003.