India Routs South Korea 63-31 in Asian Games Kabaddi
Defending champions dominate Group A with a 32-point margin, extending their winning streak in Aichi-Nagoya.
Key points
- India defeated South Korea 63-31 in their second Asian Games 2026 kabaddi match.
- Valarivan and Mane qualified for the air rifle final with a new Asian record of 634.9.
- China set a new world record of 638.9 in the 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team qualification.
The Tokai Citizen Gymnasium hums with the snap of sneakers on polished wood as India’s raiders cut through the South Korean defense. The air is thick with the scent of sweat and the sharp crack of bodies colliding on the mat. India, the defending champions, does not just win; they dismantle. A 63-31 scoreline hangs in the air, a testament to a performance that was as clinical as it was dominant. This is their second consecutive victory in the 2026 Asian Games men's kabaddi event, a display of control that leaves little room for doubt.
The first half sets the tone, with India taking a 34-14 lead into the break. Two all-outs strike the South Korean side, the second landing just before the whistle blows. The rhythm is unbroken. When the second half begins, India maintains that grip, extending the gap to a 32-point margin. The victory is complete, securing two wins from two matches in Group A and positioning them firmly at the top of the table.
Dominance in the opening fixture
This level of control is not new. India opened their campaign on Monday with a 49-24 triumph over Japan. While Japan offered stiffer resistance in the second half, adding more than 20 points to their tally, they could not threaten the Indian lead. The reigning champions remained firmly in command, sealing a comfortable win that set the stage for Tuesday's rout. The consistency across both Group A matches underscores their status as the team to beat in this edition of the games.
Rifles and records in parallel
While kabaddi headlines the day, the shooting range offers a different kind of precision. Elavenil Valarivan and Parth Mane qualified for the gold medal match in the 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team event. They finished second with a score of 634.9, a mark that surpasses the existing Asian record. Their start was strong, reaching 211.9 after 20 shots, and they maintained that position through the remainder of the qualification.
China, however, set a new benchmark. Sheng Lihao and his partner posted a world record score of 638.9, improving on the previous mark of 636.9. They completed their set of shots ahead of the other teams, including South Korea and Iran, who were still finalizing their rounds. The final format for this event has shifted, with all four qualified teams competing simultaneously in the final, mirroring the individual event structure with periodic eliminations.
Mixed results in soft tennis
The day’s results are not uniformly positive for India. In soft tennis, Jay Meena delivered a clean sweep, defeating Pakistan’s Hussain Arain 4-0 in the men's singles Group D. In contrast, Aadhya Tiwari fell 1-4 to Thailand’s Alisha Ziegler in the women's singles Group D. Wushu’s Langlentombi Devi Hanjabam finished ninth in the women's Nanquan final. As reported by The Economic Times, these varied outcomes highlight the breadth of India’s participation across the multi-sport event.
