India’s men’s kabaddi team powered into the Asian Games 2026 gold-medal match with a dominant 66-28 semifinal victory over Thailand at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium on Friday, September 25. The defending champions controlled the contest across both halves to preserve their unbeaten record at the Aichi-Nagoya Games.
India led 37-18 at half-time before adding another 29 points after the break. The victory sends the eight-time Asian Games champions into their ninth men’s kabaddi final, where they will attempt to successfully defend the title won at Hangzhou.
India Take Control Against Thailand Before Half-Time
Thailand managed to stay competitive during the early stages, but India gradually took control through a combination of productive raids, bonus points and pressure from the defensive unit.
By the interval, India had opened up a 37-18 advantage.
India registered 21 out points in the opening half, collected 12 bonus points and inflicted two all-outs. Thailand responded with 13 out points and three bonus points while also managing one all-out of their own.
The scoreboard reflected Thailand’s willingness to attack, but India’s ability to repeatedly revive players and force all-outs created a growing gap.
The defending champions entered the second half with a 19-point cushion and showed little sign of allowing Thailand back into the contest.
India Extend Lead in Dominant Second Half
India continued attacking after the interval instead of simply protecting their advantage.
The team added 29 points in the second half, compared with Thailand’s 10, to complete the 66-28 victory. India collected another 22 out points and inflicted two more all-outs after the break.
Across the entire match, India also enjoyed a major advantage in bonus points. PTI reported that the defending champions collected 15 bonus points compared with Thailand’s five.
That balance between aggressive raiding and effective defence ensured the semifinal never developed into a close finish.
Olympics.com also confirmed the 66-28 result, sending India through to the Asian Games gold-medal match.
India Remain Unbeaten at Asian Games 2026
The semifinal result extended an impressive campaign for India’s men.
Captain Sunil Kumar’s team entered the knockout stage after winning all four of its Group A matches. India started with a 49-24 victory over hosts Japan before defeating South Korea 63-31 and Bangladesh 48-25. They completed the group stage with a 37-21 win over Chinese Taipei.
India’s Asian Games 2026 men’s kabaddi results so far:
- India 49-24 Japan
- India 63-31 South Korea
- India 48-25 Bangladesh
- India 37-21 Chinese Taipei
- India 66-28 Thailand — semifinal
The five consecutive victories mean India will head into the final without having lost a match at this edition.
India Chasing Ninth Men’s Kabaddi Gold
Men’s kabaddi has been part of the Asian Games programme since 1990, and India have historically been its most successful nation.
India have won the men’s title eight times. Their only edition without gold came at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games, when Iran won the championship and India finished with bronze.
India reclaimed the title at Hangzhou and arrived in Japan as defending champions.
The Thailand victory now gives them an opportunity to add a ninth men’s Asian Games kabaddi gold medal.
Who Will India Face in the Kabaddi Final?
India’s opponent in the final had not yet been decided at the time of publication.
The second men’s semifinal between Iran and Chinese Taipei is scheduled later on September 25, with the winner advancing to face India.
Iran remain a particularly significant name in Asian kabaddi, having broken India’s long title-winning streak at the 2018 Games.
The men’s gold-medal match is scheduled for September 26 at 2:30 PM IST at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium.
Indian Women Also Reach Kabaddi Final
India enjoyed success in both kabaddi semifinals on Friday.
Before the men took the mat, the Indian women’s team defeated Nepal 48-24 to reach their own gold-medal match. They led 31-17 at half-time before limiting Nepal to seven points in the second half.
The results mean both defending champions remain in contention to retain their respective Asian Games titles.
The women’s gold-medal match is scheduled for September 26 at 9:30 AM IST, followed later in the day by the men’s final.
Key Facts
Semifinal result: India 66-28 Thailand
Half-time score: India 37-18 Thailand
Venue: Tokai Citizens Gymnasium, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
India’s tournament record: Five wins from five matches
India’s status: Defending Asian Games champions
Final date: September 26, 2026
Men’s final time: 2:30 PM IST
Possible opponents: Iran or Chinese Taipei
Why the Thailand Win Matters
The semifinal was India’s first knockout test after four straight group-stage victories.
While Thailand offered resistance early in the contest, India’s ability to produce points consistently through raids, bonus opportunities and all-outs created a decisive advantage.
Reaching another final also underlines India’s historical position in Asian Games kabaddi. The challenge now changes from qualifying for the medal match to defending the gold won at the previous Games.
With both the Indian men’s and women’s teams reaching their respective finals on the same day, India will have two opportunities to retain its kabaddi titles on September 26.
FAQs
What was the India vs Thailand kabaddi semifinal score?
India defeated Thailand 66-28 in the men’s kabaddi semifinal at the Asian Games 2026.
Has India qualified for the Asian Games men’s kabaddi final?
Yes. The victory over Thailand secured India’s place in the gold-medal match on September 26.
Who will India face in the kabaddi final?
India will play the winner of the Iran vs Chinese Taipei semifinal.
When is the Asian Games 2026 men’s kabaddi final?
The men’s gold-medal match is scheduled for September 26 at 2:30 PM IST.
How many Asian Games men’s kabaddi gold medals has India won?
India have won eight men’s kabaddi gold medals at the Asian Games and are now attempting to secure a ninth.