Asian Games kabaddi: Iran dash Indian eves' hat-trick hopes

Jakarta: India's domination in kabaddi at the Asian Games is over. After the men lost to Iran in the semifinals on Thursday, it was the turn of the Indian eves to suffer at the hands of the West Asians. Iran bounced back to score a stunning 27-24 win in a pulsating final and dashed the hat-trick hopes of the Indians.

India led 13-11 at the end of the first half. Though India were always in the lead, Iran kept pushing hard. Iran fought back on resumption of play and took a 17-13 lead. Thereafter they stayed in front and shut the doors on the Indians.

India could not enforce a single all out, while their opponents gained two. With the Indian men's team captain Ajay Thakur being reduced to tears, it was the Iranians who shed tears of joy in the end.

A few contentious umpiring decisions too did not help the Indian cause.

India, who came into the final unbeaten, had won the previous two kabaddi golds at the Games.

It was a golden double for Iran as they outplayed South Korea 26-16 in the men's final.