Asian Games 2026 Kabaddi: India, Iran, Thailand and Chinese Taipei reach semi-finals

September 26, 2026. The men's kabaddi gold medal match at the Asian Games is no longer a distant dream; it is a date marked on the calendar. Four teams remain after the group stage: India, Chinese Taipei, Iran and Thailand. Each has secured at least a medal; gold or silver will be decided in the semi-finals and the final on September 26. The fourth day of the group stage gave the points table its final shape and broke some dreams. Iran stopped Thailand's winning run with an 83-27 victory. Japan beat South Korea 62-35 to end their campaign on a high. India defeated Chinese Taipei 37-21, but Chinese Taipei kept the margin within 16 points and qualified. Nepal finally won a match, beating Malaysia 73-52. Iran ended Pakistan's medal hopes with a 51-30 win. In Group A, India finished top with four wins. Chinese Taipei took second with two wins; Bangladesh were third and Japan fourth, also with two wins. Tie-breaker gave Chinese Taipei the semi-final on a better net point difference. South Korea ended with four losses. Bangladesh's exit was the group stage's biggest regret. Two wins in four matches proved insufficient. The margin of wins and losses in a tie-breaker decides a nation's fate. Every raid in a group game matters. In Group B, Iran topped with four wins. Thailand took second with three wins, securing their first-ever Asian Games kabaddi medal. Nepal won one match. Pakistan finished third but were eliminated; Iran's 51-30 win ended their campaign. It is the first time Pakistan return from an Asian Games kabaddi tournament without a medal. Once South Asian kabaddi was mostly an India-Pakistan story; now Pakistan are out in the group stage. Watching from Bangalore after growing up in Bangladesh, I have seen kabaddi's map change in the last decade. Even without being at the venue, the restlessness of a 30-second raid is visible on screen. When a raider delays at the raid line, defenders' toes dig into the mat; confidence is measured in one second. Small moments like these separated the big teams in the group stage. India and Iran — the two group leaders — enter the semi-finals as favourites. India's defence traps the raider with the same language as a football pressing trigger: time, distance and team shape. Iran's game is aggressive; 83-27 and 51-30 show they are building confidence with each win. The big scorelines hide 45 minutes of control. Iran's 83 points meant an average of more than two points per raid. India, however, scored 37 while keeping Chinese Taipei to 21 — kabaddi is not always about big scores but about control. Thailand's first medal signals new potential for kabaddi in Southeast Asia. Their raiding is quick, their defence attacking. Japan, as hosts, showed they are building not just an event but a competitive team; their quick decisions and tactical defence could make them a top kabaddi nation. Chinese Taipei confirmed a second consecutive Asian Games medal and used a tactical approach to stay close against India. Many dream of an India-Iran final, but the group stage tells a deeper story. Traditional South Asian sides Bangladesh and Pakistan were eliminated, replaced by Thailand and Chinese Taipei. Pakistan's first Asian Games without a kabaddi medal is not just one defeat; it is a failure of preparation and systems. Bangladesh stand in the same place. While outsiders develop new strategies, traditional teams appear stagnant. The semi-finals will test whether old power can stop the new wave before the September 26 final.