Asian Kabaddi Championship 2023 talking points: India beats Iran to win gold; Pawan Sehrawat shines for India

Team India was operating on a different level. The skill set is higher, the level of efficacy is also higher with perhaps only Iran coming close to the Men in Blue. This competition was another sign that efforts are needed to revitalise kabaddi in nations like Korea, where the sport has churned out good talents. This is a conversation we will continue to have.

- Defense barely tested, no other nation has a raiding unit as potent as India does and so the Indian defense was not given a challenge strong enough to test its limits. This can be said of the Asian Games too unfortunately given a lot of the same teams will participate. That said, there are several positives India can draw from the likes of Pawan Sehrawat, Mohit Goyat and even Arjun Deshwal coming good in defense. Judging their potency against the best defence they faced here - Iran, having players who can handle both will bode well for India

- Raiders on a roll: India’s raiders won them every game in Busan. Even the close ones with Iran - the difference between the sides was India having a more successful raiding trifecta. Even the Indian reserves are just as capable and this was in a tournament where Naveen was not at his fittest. When he becomes available for selection, that’s another name in the mix.

Iran was still in a huddle, with coach Gholamreza talking to his boys.

Iran has a second bunch of players, featuring the likes of Fazel Atrachali, Nabibakhsh and others, who are still in camp. Are the deficits the side had this time something these seniors can fix? Remains to be same. Eitherway, we couldn’t have asked for a better palette cleanser before the Asian Games later this year.

Iran is distraught and still in the huddle as India takes a victory lap around the mat. Lot of ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ chants going around

Okay, so India’s bonus doesn’t stand from the previous point and Shadloui gets a touch on Nitin Rawal as he jumps over him for a point. Aslam, the last man standing, takes on Shadloui who can’t remove him. Super tackle awarded to India. Shadloui covers his face knowing the game has slipped beyond help for Iran. Pawan finishes proceedings by running the clock down and gets a surrender tackle from the Iran defence.

Bonus for India

A hilarious passage of play has just happened. Nitesh Kumar was out of line but participated in the tackle on Shadloui. One of the line umpires is pulling Nitesh out. That was quite a sight.

Arjun Deshwal is brought down on the left flank by the Iran defense. India’s lead down to eight points again. Do they have enough with under 3 minutes on the clock?

Gholamreza calls for a time out

Bonus point to Arjun Deshwal. Right after, Shadloui is surrounded by the Indian attack like a python. Literally constricted and rooted to the mat.

Mohit Goyat is active on the mat now. Feels a bit late from India to introduce the all-rounder who is a very potent force ind efence too. Shadloui coming in to raid claims Nitin Rawal is out of bounds, but to no avail. Mohit Goyat is gone, Arjun comes back.

Shadloui has yet another touch point

Pawan is blocked mid frog jump and then surrounded. What a coup!

India knows the dangerman is Shadloui and quickly gets him off the mat. Dashed away.

Iranians bring down Aslam. That Shadloui five-point effort (including the all out points) has really charged up this side. It will need something that special to bring this deficit down. Ashan Kumar is asking his boys to calm down.

About 10 minutes to go. Nine point deficit. Shadloui has another touch point

SHADLOUI! My word! Three Indians on the mat. Cleans up the whole bunch and gets the all out. Brilliant from the Iranian!

Shadloui has understood the assignment and drags a defender with him to the midline

Raid points. Raid points. Raid points

Pursuit raid and Iran gets Pawan Sehrawat. Amirmohammad the raider.

Shadloui draws out an error from Surjeet who tries to tackle too high

Pawan comes in again. While the side tries for the super tackle, Pawan slips out this time. ALL OUT INFLICTED. Iran’s third

Short lived joy as Shafaghi is brought down in the Indian half and Iran is down to two men again. Aslam Inamdar goes in but comes away without taking too many risks. India doesn’t really have to at this stage.

Look at the man they’ve brought down, it’s Pawan Sehrawat

Alirezza is subbed in but his stay on the mat is short

Shadloui comes in to raid but the Indian defence doesn’t give him time to stroll about and quickly dashes him off the right flank. There’s a sense of impatience to the Indian side now. Wonder if it’s because of tempers momentarily rising for that point. Shadloui did get the bonus though

Pawan gets a running hand touch on the mid chain. #4, Ghorbani Amin has to walk off.

Referee gives Iran the point assuming Pawan stepped out of the line but India’s captain, coaches, players vehemently protest and get the point awarded in their favour.

Arjun Deshwal is brought down by the Iran defense - a trademark anklehold from Mohammadreza Shadloui. No bonus awarded either

With one man left on the mat, Iran subs in Heidarali Ekrami. Ekrami gets the bonus, India gets the all out.

Shafaghi gets his team a bonus point down the right corner. Pawan then gets a running hand touch on Shafaghi to leave Iran with one man on the mat.

Surjeet’s dash takes out Amirmohammad. Ghaffari Saeid’s advanced tackle on Pawan fails as he carries him to the midline with him.

Arjun Deshwal gets a touch on Iran’s #4 Ghorbani Amin

Iran is awarded bonus plus a touch on Parvesh, but the officials hold back the bonus much to Ghaffari’s displeasure.

BONUS plus two touch points for India! Awarded after some contention too! Arjun Deshwal the raider and he has taken out Shadloui who knew instantly after attempting the anklehold that he had made an error!

Nitin Rawal puts in an advanced tackle and pays the price. Point to Amirmohammad

Shafaghi is brought down by an adamant block from Surjeet after which Aslam is brought down by the Iran defence, with Ghorbani Amin in the right corner putting in the anklehold

Pawan comes in and has a bonus plus a touch on the centre defender

Pawan Sehrawat triggers the all out. Two men left on the mat. The left corner goes for the ankle hold while the right comes in for reinforcement too high on the mat and they both fall. Stellar from Pawan to give India a six-point lead with 10 minutes left in the first half.

Aslam Inamdar gets a touch on Shadloui. Iran loses its best defender and captain. Insane pace from the Maharashtra all-rounder

Pawan gets a touch on the right corner chain. Shadloui gets a bonus point for Iran but he’s left alone in that left corner and is taking the defense high to Pawan.

Muhammad is brought down courtesy a double thigh hold from Nitesh. Brilliant work by the corner defender

Scores level as Ghafari Saeid is brought down by the Indian defense. That left cover chain of Parvesh Bhainswal and Surjeet activating just in time. Although it looked like Ghafari was looking at his team for some gesture and momentarily lost concentration. Right before venturing into that right corner again.

Ohh, Aslam almost steps in the lobby without a touch but gets a bonus point for India

Bonus point for Ghaffari Saeid

Few empty raids by Arjun Deshwal and Shafaghi Moein before Aslam Inamdar opens India’s account with a quick touch point down the right cover region

A bonus point for Iran #12 Mohammad

Ghaffari Saeid begins proceedings for Iran, coming in to raid first. Goes back empty handed. Pawan comes in for India and is straightaway going in towards Shadloui. But he is cornered in that right flank and dashed out.

National anthems done, gift exchange done. We are moments away from the summit clash. And we see Sunil Kumar, India’s designated captain is sitting this one out too due too injury. He has not participated in this tournament in entirety.

Korean kabaddi star Jang Kun Lee is in the house watching along. How much has Korea missed him?

With that, the league stage of the tournament ends. Hong Kong becomes the only country to not win a single game at the Asian Championship. One wonders if the postponement of this game was to give the host a chance to sign off on the last day. We can only speculate. There was some very positive raiding in this match that Korea can be happy about, but there’s much work to do ahead of the Asian Games if they want to be competitive in the pool.

A consolation win for the host Korea is well in the works as they are set to sign off with a big win against Hong Kong. However, the action is far from over. Stick around for the big final.

Korea and Hong Kong have been the two weak aises of the tournament. Korea is hoping to finish on a high with a 23-point lead in the game already.

A comfortable win for Iran against Japan, which means it’s another India vs Iran clash in a tournament final in kabaddi. (Excited screams). Looking for the lowdown on this iconic rivalry in the sport and how the teams match up?

Asian Kabaddi Championship 2023: India takes on Iran in final- rivalry, head-to-head, best players, history

India and Iran have emerged as the two best teams of the Asian Kabaddi Championship and will take each other on in the summit clash of the tournament on Friday. Here’s a look at the historic rivalry between the two nations.

Hello Mohammadreza Shadloui. We can recognise that bar code neck tattoo from anywhere! The Iran defending superstar is engrossed in conversation with head coach Gholamreza Mazandarani. Let’s see if he gets mat time in this game vs Japan. Iran comfortably ahead 35-6.

3 minutes left in this first half and Iran has raced away to a 31-6 scoreline. Very comfortable for Gholamreza’s boys. Perhaps explains why Shadloui was kept aside.

Japan is not a bad side. They’ve been good in this tournament but Iran has outclassed them so far. Their first moment of brilliance comes with a superb super tackle of Heidarali Ekrami.

Iran inflicts the first all-out of this game. They’ve started strong and seem to be comfortable against this Japan lineup. Interestingly, no SHadloui.

A win for Iran means they will straightaway make the final

A win for Japan means Japan, Iran and Chinese Taipei will have the same number of wins and losses and it will come down to point difference.

We can’t be accurate of the scoreline just yet due to the multiple disruptions to the broadcast of the game. But we’ve just seen a Hong Kong raider drag Arjun Deshwal to the midline. A few minutes later, we’re hearing the final whistle go off. That means, India finishes their ‘group stage’ fixtures unbeaten. Five wins in five games!

A point is given to Hong Kong but because we’re being introduced to the Korean broadcasters we can’t see the point

India surrounds the Hong Kong raider in the middle of the court.

Two points are given to Hong Kong, one for the bonus, but before we can tell what the other is for, the broadcaster plays an animation. The telecast has been ladden with issues this morning.

Sachin gets a touch down the centre of the court.

A few Bonus points for Hong Kong

The last man standing for Hong Kong surrenders. Mohit Goyat wraps up another ALL OUT by India

Hong Kong #4 ventures deep into either corner before he is brought down on the right flank. He does get a bonus though.

An ankle hold by Mohit Goyat, a point for India.

Bonus for Hong Kong, followed by an empty raid for Mohit Goyat

Quite a daring attempt to dash Sachin by the Hong Kong #69. But Sachin evades the attempt and the Hong Kong player flies off the mat

A couple of bonus points for Hong Kong

Bonus point for Hong Kong as the half time whistle blows

Hong Kong is liking this pursuit raiding strategy, perhaps in getting bonuses, but it doesn’t work. Mohit raids from the Indian side right after and takes him time. Enough to draw the left defenders to the middle and getting a quick touch.

The Hong Kong raider is going both ways of the court trying to find an opening, but nothing. The Indian raiders are happy to waste some time and are running the clock down. This is followed by a quick pursuit raid from Hong Kong, with the raider going straight for the left corner region on the Indian side. Hong Kong has a bonus

Bonus point for Sachin

Mohit putting a good shift in for India. Gets an anklehold on the Hong Kong raider

The last two men standing for Hong Kong try valiantly to contain Mohit Goyat. He’s famous for cleaning up the mat in the PKL and does just that today. ALL OUT by India.

Bonus point for Hong Kong

Another quick point to India and Sachin.

Hong Kong’s raider fails in a do or die raid. And so point goes to India

Mohit Goyat gets a touch on the man on the left corner. Some confusion as he steps off the mat and then runs in. An official takes him out eventually, all in the matter of a few seconds

Arjun Deshwal, it looks like, who has stepped in with an ankle hold in the left corner chain

Sachin gets a touch point and a bonus point in a rather quick raid

Hong Kong’s last man surrenders to Arjun Deshwal. Yet another all out for India.

The Hong Kong defender goes down the left flank but his ankle is caught in corner defense. He tries to reach the midline and he perhaps could have if that dangling hand was more persistant but he’s pulled back to safety.

Mohit Goyat gets a quick point down the right flank

Another touch point for Sachin

A Vishal Bharadwaj anklehold, a Surjeet Dash. Raider down along the left flank

Oh, some creativity from Hong Kong. Looks like the Right corner, #24, is trying to block Mohit by coming around the back. Doesn’t work. Child’s play for Mohit as he gets the point. Oh and a bonus too.

Another touch point for Arjun Deshwal

The raider steps out for Hong Kong and there’s the second all-out for India

Sachin darts into the left corner, gets a touch point and gets out.

Vishal Bharadwaj can probably do these ankleholds in his sleep

Arjun Deshwal takes out Hong Kong’s #12 down the right of the court

Mohit Goyat picks up a point with a running hand touch through HK’s right corner chain

Vishal Bharadwaj brings down the raider in the left corner.

Sachin gets a bonus and a touch point

Arjun Deshwal goes in with a super tackle opportunity open for Hong Kong and reduces HK down to one man

The Hong Kong #13 is the last man standing and is trying his best to evade the Indian defense but ends up falling right into the circular trap Surjeet orchestrates in the centre of the court.There comes the all out.

Mohit Goyat keeps things ticking. Gets a quick point down the right flank. India also makes short work of the raider coming in right after with an anklehold from Goyat in that left cover position

Vishal Bharadwaj lunges forward for a very early tackle in the raid but the Hong Kong raider stretches away and taps past the midline. First point of the day for Hong Kong

A quick raid from Sachin, who comes with another touch point.

Hong Kong’s jersey number 45 paces across the court trying to find openings. Mohit Goyat casually catches his ankle and that’s the end of his raid.

Hong Kong is not venturing deep enough in the Indian defense to be able to manage anything so far. There is an evident apprehension.

Mohit Goyat comes in the second raid and has picked up a point in the right cover region

Sachin starts proceedings and gets a quick touch point down the Hong Kong left cover area

Surjeet is leading the side today. India is resting Pawan Sehrawat and Aslam Inamdar. Arjun Deshwal, Sachin and Mohit Goyat will lead the attack today

This is India’s final ‘group’ stage fixture, so to speak and India will want to finish unbeaten before the final later in the day.

India beat South Korea 76-13
India beat Chinese Taipei 53-20
India beat Japan 62-17
India beat Iran 33-28

• Japan vs Iran - 6:30 AM
• India vs Hong Kong - 7:30 AM
• Korea vs Hong Kong - 9:30 AM
• Final - 10:30 AM

Live streaming of the Asian Kabaddi Championship 2023 will be available on the tournament’s official Youtube channel in India. There will be no live telecast of the event on any TV channel in India.