Asian Kabaddi Championship 2023 Final Highlights: India are crowned champions, edging past Iran 42-32 in the final

Right, so it has been a glorious return for international kabaddi and India have added another feather to their cap, retaining the Asian Kabaddi Championships title. They were the better side and have remained unbeaten throughout the tournament. As for Iran, it has been a splendid performance by their young side and they will have a happy headache for selections when it comes to the Asian Games. Plenty of positives to take home for all the teams, especially Chinese Taipei who exceeded all expectations to finish third! Well, that's all we have for you from this tournament then. We hope you enjoyed the coverage of India's campaign. Until we meet again then, this is me, Maanas Upadhyay, bidding you adieu! Le Panga!

FULL TIME! Iran 32-42 India

Drama, action and entertainment! The final had it all! It was an exhibition of some breathtaking kabaddi on both sides! Iran have given India a run for their money on both the occasions that they have locked horns and in the end, it is the defending champions who retain their title for another year! Iran inflicted the all-out in the second half on the back of a fantastic raiding performance by Mohammadreza Shadlu. However, in the end, the gap proved to be too big to close. There were a few unnecessary errors made by Iran but they will hope that the youngsters learn from the experience. The Indian side celebrates and takes a leap of honour around the ground with the Indian flag flying high. They pose for a photo and they will return as champions from yet another international kabaddi tournament.

40' INDIA ARE CHAMPIONS! Pawan goes in for the final raid, runs down the clock and shakes his hand with the left corner defender, gives him a hug and pushes him over the mid-line.

Iran 32-42 India

40' SUPER TACKLE! Oh dear Shadlu what have you done? He goes in for the raid and Aslam runs around to evade him. He believes that Aslam has gone past the end-line and BREAKS HIS CANT to celebrate the point. However, the line umpire does not believe so and for breaking his cant, India are awarded the defense point. With only one defender, it goes down as a Super Tackle as well!

Iran 32-41 India

39' Do-or-die raid for India and Aslam Inamdar comes in for it. He picks up a bonus point and returns!

Iran 32-39 India

39' Shadlu leaps over Nitin Rawal's attempted ankle hold and escapes to the middle. India down to one man!

Iran 32-38 India

A timeout is called! It is the duo of E Bhaskaran and Ashan Kumar once again who are out with some advice for India.

39' The Iranian defenders stand back and allow the bonus point to be picked by Aslam Inamdar. Well, the bonus point has been recalled now as the umpires change their decision in retrospect!

Iran 31-38 India

38' Comedic scenes in the middle! Nitesh Kumar has gone past the end-line before going in for the double thigh hold on Shadlu. The line-umpire has put an ankle hold on Nitesh and is pulling him out! The referee sends back the line-umpire and awards the point to Iran. Will this prove to be a costly mistake? Shadlu was tackled but now it will be one point to Iran instead!

Iran 31-38 India

37' Do-or-die raid for India and Arjun Deshwal comes in for it. Iran need a tackle to stay in the contest and they do just that! A diving double ankle hold from the right corner and Arjun is brought down!

Iran 30-38 India

36' The Iranian raider escapes from Surjeet's advance block attempt and uses the lobby nicely to escape.

Iran 29-38 India

Timeout - Iran! Gholamreza has some ideas to still salvage this contest! There is enough time left. Ashan Kumar is joined by E Bhaskaran this time as the pair strategise with the Indians.

35' Do-or-die raid for Iran and Shadlu is trapped! Ends up venturing too deep int he left corner and the entire defense needs to pile on top of him to bring him down!

Iran 28-38 India

35' Do-or-die raid for India and the substituted Arjun Deshwal picks up a bonus point.

Iran 28-37 India

Arjun Deshwal has been brought back in for Mohit Goyat.

33' Shadlu gets a sliding toe-touch on Surjeet Singh in the right-in position. Oh dear! India are falling apart here!

Iran 28-36 India

33' Do-or-die raid for India and Pawan Sehrawat perishes! He runs straight into the double thigh hold by the right corner and is pinned down!

Iran 27-36 India

32' Some sanity restored in the contest now as Shadlu is tackled. The corners converged and brought him down when he was trying to get a kick on the centre defender.

Iran 26-36 India

30' Shadlu picks up a bonus point in front of the right corner defender. Following this, the defenders combine to dash out Aslam Inamdar just inches inside the mid-line in the next raid.

Iran 26-35 India

TIMEOUT! The Indian coach wants to have a word with the players. They are losing the plot in the middle now! Ashan Kumar will surely be calming down his men.

30' A diving double thigh hold from the left corner traps Pawan Sehrawat and the deficit is now down to 10 points! He's been given the bonus though so it will be 11 points after all.

Iran 24-35 India

29' ALL OUT! Shadlu has inflicted the all out on India using his raiding skills! The left corner attempts an ankle hold while the other defenders come around to trap him. Shadlu pushes them away, turns, twists and tumbles to escape! Iran suddenly not too far away now!

Iran 23-34 India

29' Shadlu picks a couple of points now. As soon as the right corner and right-in attempt to lunge at his thighs and tackle him, he escapes and returns back to his half.

Iran 18-34 India

28' Aslam sends back the defense with his footwork and snaps up a bonus point. One of the Iranians puts in a pursuit and gets a kick on Pawan Sehrawat.

Iran 16-34 India

Iran make a couple of substitutions now. Can fresh legs on the mat help them make a comeback?

26' Iran putting gin quick raids now! The raider attempts a bonus and as soon as he does so, Surjeet runs around with a dash. Does not get enough power behind it and the Iranian slides his foot over the mid-line.

Iran 15-33 India

Mohit Goyat is substituted in for Arjun Deshwal!

26' ALL OUT! Pawan cleans up yet again. Puts in a kick on the left corner and runs around the dashing right corner to inflict the all out!

Iran 14-33 India

25' The Iranian jersey 9 is tackled as Nitin Rawal holds his ground and a double thigh hold immbolilses the raider! Iran down to two men again!

Iran 14-29 India

24' SUPER TACKLE! Pawan runs straight into the double thigh hold of the right corner and the left corner is around in a flash to pin him down.

Iran 14-28 India

24' Aslam Inamdar writhes his foot free from the left corner's attempted ankle hold and makes his way back to the mid-line. Following this, the substituted-in raider is sent packing with a mighty block from Surjeet.

Iran 12-28 India

22' Shadlu is tackled now as when he goes to pick up a bonus point, the left side of the defense runs around and dashes him out. The bonus has been given as well.

Iran 12-26 India

21' Pawan gets in a running hand touch on the covers and this time, the Iranian raises his finger to acknowledge it.

Iran 11-25 India

Drama in the middle! The referees have to intervene and a senior official has a word with the captains as well. The umpires urge them to keep up the spirit of the game.

21' OH DEAR! This are not good signs! Pawan attempts a running touch and goes into the lobby. He is confident but the umpire signals that Pawan is self out. There is a lot of verbal disagreement and both the teams are engaged in a verbal battle as the referees converge and in the end, the right decision is made. The point has been awarded to India.

Iran 11-24 India

The Iranians substitute Ekrami out and get in their defender, Mohammad Reza in the right corner.

HALF TIME! India 23-11 Iran

India do have a comfortable lead at half time but it has not come easy by any means. There have been a lot of disagreements, a lot of emotions running high on the mat as well. And you wouldn't expect anything else from an India vs Iran match. After inflicting the all out, the Indians have done well to consolidate on the lead. The Iranians are not upto the mark and will need to pull things back considerably in the second half if they want to make a comeback. Remember, the match yesterday was also poised similarly before Iran made a comeback. Can they replicate the same and go all the way this time?

20' As soon as Arjun Deshwal attempts the bonus point, Shadlu puts in a solid ankle hold and the raider has no chance of escaping.

India 23-11 Iran

19' ALL OUT! Heidarali Ekrami is substituted in for the raid and he is pinned down! He is allowed the bonus point but he runs straight into the double ankle hold of one of the Indian defenders!

India 23-10 Iran

19' The Indian defense hangs back and allows the bonus point. Following this, Pawan runs across and gets a hand touch on the right corner defender, reducing Iran to one.

India 20-9 Iran

18' The Iranian raider is trapped as Surjeet runs around with a solid block to stop him in his tracks. The bonus is granted to the raider. This is followed by Pawan picking another point as he escapes from the right corner's attempted dash.

India 19-8 Iran

17' Pawan escapes from Shadlu's ankle hold and escapes. He wants another point but it is not given. A little disagreement with the umpire and Pawan has been awarded a Green Card! Oh well, the referee has amended it. The entire Indian starters on the mat get a Green Card!

India 17-7 Iran

17' Do-or-die raid for Iran and jersey number 5 puts in a terrific raid! He escapes from the right corner's attempted ankle hold and eschews. He is asking for the bonus but it has not been granted.

India 16-7 Iran

15' Do-or-die raid for India and Arjun Deshwal comes in for it. He strikes and is it a super raid? He escapes from Shadlu's attempted ankle hold and gets another point on the defender who had come for assistance as well. He's been granted the bonus too and it is a SUPER RAID! Arjun Deshwal rising to the occasion!

India 16-6 Iran

14' The raider escapes from Nitin Rawal's diving ankle hold attempt and makes his way back to his half.

India 13-6 Iran

TIMEOUT! Coach Gholamreza wants to have a word with his boys and calls for the timeout. On the Indian side, it is Ashan Kumar who walks out to have a chat with the boys.

13' Do-or-die raid for India and Aslam Inamdar is pinned down. As soon as he goes a touch deep in the right corner, the defender puts in a diving double ankle hold and Aslam is immobilised!

India 13-5 Iran

12' As soon as the Iranian raider attempts a sliding toe-touch, Surjeet runs around with a mighty block which converts into a dash to send him packing.

India 13-4 Iran

10' The covers run around and pin down the Iranian raider. Following this, Pawan gets in a hand touch on one of the cover's thighs as the latter was standing well too advance.

India 12-4 Iran

10' ALL OUT! Skipper Pawan rising to the occasion! Runs across as the right corner puts in a double thigh hold. Shifts his momentum towards the mid-line and the other defender cannot pull him back.

India 10-4 Iran