The Indian men’s kabaddi team did not so much beat South Korea as sweep them aside.
A 63-31 scoreline in a Group A clash at the Asian Games on Tuesday underlined the gap in power, depth and sheer intent as the defending champions stamped themselves early as the team to catch. Two games, two wins, and India sit firmly on top of Group A.
South Korea never really got a foothold. India’s raiders ran riot, the defence closed every door, and the points kept coming in waves. By the time the contest moved into its final phase, it had long stopped being a question of who would win and turned instead into how big the margin would be.
The result keeps India perfectly placed in a packed week for the sport. Next up is Bangladesh on Wednesday, followed by Chinese Taipei on Thursday in their final group fixture. Those matches will decide only the route, not the ambition. Anything short of another gold for this heavyweight unit will feel like a letdown.
Women’s Kabaddi
On the women’s side, the script is still being written. India opened their Group A campaign with a win over Bangladesh on Monday and now face a sharper test against Iran on Wednesday. That clash carries the feel of an early statement game between two sides that expect to be deep in the medal conversation when the knockouts arrive.
Different teams, different paths. But for Indian kabaddi at these Games, the tone is already clear: dominance is not a target. It is the standard.
