India and Iran are two of the strongest nations in international kabaddi. Their meetings often decide major titles, and their rivalry has produced memorable finals in the Kabaddi World Cup, Asian Games and Asian Kabaddi Championship.
India have historically dominated international kabaddi, but Iran have developed into a serious challenger. The Iranian teams have used physical defending, strong tackles and disciplined raiding to test India in several major competitions.
The rivalry reached another important chapter at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan. India defeated Iran in both the men’s and women’s finals, winning 40–34 and 37–34 respectively.
Here is a look at the major India vs Iran kabaddi finals, their results and the important moments behind this rivalry.
India vs Iran Kabaddi Finals: Head-to-Head Record
India have enjoyed a strong record in major men’s finals against Iran. Their rivalry includes three Kabaddi World Cup finals, several Asian Games title matches and the Asian Kabaddi Championship final.
Men’s Kabaddi Finals Between India and Iran
| Year | Competition | Final Score | Winner |
| 2004 | Kabaddi World Cup | India 55–27 Iran | India |
| 2007 | Kabaddi World Cup | India 29–19 Iran | India |
| 2010 | Asian Games | India 37–20 Iran | India |
| 2014 | Asian Games | India 27–25 Iran | India |
| 2016 | Kabaddi World Cup | India 38–29 Iran | India |
| 2022 (held in 2023) | Asian Games | India 33–29 Iran | India |
| 2023 | Asian Kabaddi Championship | India 42–32 Iran | India |
| 2026 | Asian Games | India 40–34 Iran | India |
India won all eight of these listed men’s finals. The table covers the major title matches between the senior national teams, rather than every international meeting between the countries.
India vs Iran Kabaddi Finals: Tournament-Wise History
1. 2004 Kabaddi World Cup Final
The first Kabaddi World Cup in 2004 produced an India vs Iran final. India entered the title match as one of the favourites and delivered a commanding performance.
India defeated Iran 55–27 in the final in Mumbai on 21 November 2004. India led comfortably at half-time and maintained its advantage after the break.
The victory gave India the inaugural Kabaddi World Cup title. Iran finished as runners-up after an impressive tournament campaign.
This result established an early pattern in the rivalry, with India winning the first major World Cup final between the two nations.
2. 2007 Kabaddi World Cup Final
India and Iran met again in the 2007 Kabaddi World Cup final. India continued its winning run with a 29–19 victory.
The result gave India its second consecutive title after defeating the same opponent in the 2004 final.
Iran remained one of India’s toughest international rivals, but the Indian team again found a way to win when the title was at stake.
3. 2010 Asian Games Final
India and Iran faced each other in the men’s kabaddi final at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.
India won the match 37–20 to secure the gold medal. The Indian side had a strong first half and built a 24–3 advantage before the break.
Iran tried to reduce the gap in the second half, but India maintained control of the match.
The victory continued India’s unbeaten gold medal record in men’s kabaddi at the Asian Games, a streak that had started when the sport became a medal event in 1990.
4. 2014 Asian Games Final
The 2014 Asian Games final in Incheon was much closer. Iran gave India a serious challenge and led 21–13 at half-time.
India responded strongly after the break. The defending champions recovered from the deficit and eventually won 27–25.
The two-point margin made this one of the closest men’s finals between the countries. India retained its Asian Games title, while Iran had to settle for silver.
The result also showed how much Iran had improved as an international kabaddi team.
5. 2016 Kabaddi World Cup Final
India and Iran met for the third time in a Kabaddi World Cup final in 2016. The match took place in Ahmedabad on 22 October.
Iran started strongly and led 18–13 at half-time. India needed a major second-half performance to defend its title.
Ajay Thakur played a key role in the comeback. He finished as the top scorer in the final with 12 raid points as India recovered to win 38–29.
The victory gave India its third Kabaddi World Cup title. It also continued India’s winning record against Iran in World Cup finals.
6. 2022 Asian Games Men’s Final (Held in 2023)
The men’s final at the 2022 Asian Games, held in Hangzhou in 2023, was one of the most controversial matches in the history of the India vs Iran rivalry.
India and Iran were locked at 28–28 with just over a minute remaining. Indian captain Pawan Sehrawat went for a do-or-die raid, which led to a disputed decision involving the lobby rule.
Officials initially awarded points to both teams. The decision was challenged, and the match was stopped for a lengthy discussion. Players from both sides protested as officials reviewed the situation.
Following the review, officials awarded four points to India and one point to Iran from the disputed raid. The match then continued.
India eventually defeated Iran 33–29 to win the gold medal. The result returned the men’s Asian Games title to India after Iran had ended its winning run in 2018.
7. 2023 Asian Kabaddi Championship Final
India and Iran met again in the final of the Asian Kabaddi Championship in Busan, South Korea, on 30 June 2023.
India won 42–32 to claim its eighth title in the competition. Captain Pawan Sehrawat led the attack and helped India establish a strong advantage.
India built a big first-half lead. Iran tried to make a comeback in the second half, but India maintained enough control to secure the victory.
The result added another important win to India’s record against Iran in major international finals.
8. 2026 Asian Games Men’s Final
India and Iran met again in the men’s kabaddi final at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on 26 September.
India entered the match as defending champions, while Iran aimed to win another Asian Games title.
Iran made a strong start and led 18–17 at half-time. India improved its defence after the break and gradually took control of the match.
Arjun Deshwal and Devank Dalal played important roles in the attack, while Sumit and Jaideep produced key defensive interventions.
India eventually won 40–34, securing its ninth men’s kabaddi gold medal at the Asian Games and defending the title it had won in 2023.
India vs Iran Women’s Kabaddi Finals
The rivalry is not limited to men’s kabaddi. India and Iran have also met in important women’s competitions, including three Asian Games finals.
| Year | Competition | Final Score | Winner |
| 2014 | Asian Games | India 31–21 Iran | India |
| 2018 | Asian Games | Iran 27–24 India | Iran |
| 2026 | Asian Games | India 37–34 Iran | India |
2014 Asian Games Women’s Final
India defeated Iran 31–21 in the women’s final at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon. The victory gave India its second consecutive women’s kabaddi gold medal at the Games.
2018 Asian Games Women’s Final
Iran defeated India 27–24 in the women’s kabaddi final at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta.
India had started well and led 13–8 at one stage in the first half. However, Iran recovered and produced a strong defensive performance to win the match.
The victory gave Iran its first Asian Games women’s kabaddi gold medal and ended India’s winning run in the event.
2026 Asian Games Women’s Final
India got its revenge in the 2026 Asian Games final. The Indian women’s team defeated Iran 37–34 to defend its title.
India led 22–16 at half-time. Iran fought back in the second half and reduced the gap, but India held its nerve in the closing stages.
The victory gave India its fourth women’s kabaddi gold medal at the Asian Games.
India vs Iran Kabaddi Rivalry: Key Records
| Record | Result |
| Men’s Kabaddi World Cup finals listed | 3 |
| India wins in listed men’s World Cup finals | 3 |
| Men’s Asian Games finals listed | 4 |
| India wins in listed men’s Asian Games finals | 4 |
| Men’s Asian Kabaddi Championship finals listed | 1 |
| India wins in listed men’s Asian Championship finals | 1 |
| Women’s Asian Games finals listed | 3 |
| India wins in listed women’s Asian Games finals | 2 |
| Iran wins in listed women’s Asian Games finals | 1 |
| Latest men’s final | India 40–34 Iran, 2026 |
| Latest women’s final | India 37–34 Iran, 2026 |
These figures cover the major final matches listed in this article. They should not be treated as the complete head-to-head record across all international matches.
Why Is India vs Iran Such a Big Kabaddi Rivalry?
Source Image: Olympics
India and Iran have different strengths that make their matches competitive.
India have traditionally built their success around quick raiding, tactical movement and strong team coordination. The country has also produced several leading raiders and defenders across different generations.
Iran are known for their physical style of defending. Their players often use powerful ankle holds, blocks and coordinated tackles to stop opposition raiders.
Iran’s rise became especially clear at the 2018 Asian Games. The Iranian men’s team defeated India in the semi-final before winning the gold medal against South Korea. The Iranian women’s team also defeated India in the final.
Those results showed that Iran could challenge India’s dominance in both categories.
India responded by winning the men’s title against Iran at the 2022 Asian Games, held in 2023, and defending it in 2026. The women’s team also defeated Iran in the 2026 final.
Conclusion
India have dominated the major men’s kabaddi finals against Iran, winning the eight title matches listed in this article. Their victories include three Kabaddi World Cup finals, four Asian Games finals and the 2023 Asian Kabaddi Championship final.
Iran have also created important moments in the rivalry, particularly with their victory in the 2018 Asian Games women’s final and their progress in the men’s competition.
The 2026 Asian Games added another memorable chapter. India defeated Iran in both the men’s and women’s finals, confirming that the rivalry remains one of the biggest contests in international kabaddi.
Frequently Asked Questions
India and Iran have met in eight major men’s finals covered in this article, including the Kabaddi World Cup, Asian Games and Asian Kabaddi Championship.
India have won all eight of the major men’s finals listed here. These include the three World Cup finals, four Asian Games finals and the 2023 Asian Kabaddi Championship final.
Yes. Iran defeated India 27–24 in the 2018 women’s kabaddi final. In the men’s event, Iran defeated India in the semi-final but lost the final to South Korea.
India defeated Iran 40–34 in the men’s final and 37–34 in the women’s final at the 2026 Asian Games.
India won the men’s kabaddi final against Iran 33–29 at the 2022 Asian Games, which took place in Hangzhou in 2023. India also defeated Iran 42–32 in the 2023 Asian Kabaddi Championship final.
