Double Gold For India in Kabaddi at Asian Games
Incheon: Indian women's team beat Iran 31-21 for its second successive kabaddi gold medal at the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea on Friday.
India had won the top prize in Guangzhou, China four years ago - the first time women's kabaddi was introduced at the Asiad.
India didn't have it easy and were made to work hard for the win by the Iranians, their only real competition in the tournament.
A neck-and-neck start saw both teams defend extremely well. But the Indian defence came out on top to exact 13 outs, including two 'lona' points, that gave them a 15-11 lead after the first half.
Iran, in contrast, had just eight outs and three bonus points. They failed to get even a single 'lona' point.
India's supremacy started to show in the second half as they slowly started increasing the gap.
It was again the Indian defenders who stole the show and registered 14 outs and two more 'lona' points as Iran failed to make an improvement to their first half effort and had to settle for the silver.
The Indian men's team, who have dominated the Asiad by winning all the previous six gold medals since kabaddi's inclusion in 1990, are in action later in the day in the gold medal match also against Iran.
Indian men's kabaddi team contiinued their supremacy in the Asian Games to clinch their seventh gold medal in a row. The Indian team defeated Iran in the final of the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea to achieve this feat.
The Indian team, which has been winning gold ever since the sport was introduced on the Asiad roster in 1990, was given a massive scare by Iran, who had finished runners-up in the 2010 edition as well.
The Indian men's team struggled earlier in the final, giving Iran a hope for a gold. Iran were leading 21-13 till the half-time with Indian defence failing to tackle the Iranians.
While Iran continued to lead, India went on to win 8 points to make the scoreline (21-22 in Iran's favour). India then levelled the scores 24-24 after an important tackle.
With two minutes to wrap up the final, six-time Asian Games gold winner India, took a crucial two point lead 26-24. While Iran added one more point to their tally, India too scored a point.
India successfully defended the lead and eventually won the Asian Games gold by beating Iran 27-25.
