Incheon, Oct 3: Indian men staged a superb comeback to beat Iran 27-25 to claim the kabaddi gold at the Asian Games 2014 here today.

Games Special; Medals Table; Photos

It was a double in kabaddi for India as earlier the women's team had defeated the same opponents 31-21 in the final. In the 2010 edition too, Indian men had beaten Iran in the final.

This was seventh straight gold for Indian men in kabaddi at the Asian Games. India have won all kabaddi gold medals since the sport was introduced in 1990.

Captain Rakesh Kumar completed a hat-trick of gold medals as he was part of the winning team in 2006 (Doha) and 2010 (Guangzhou) editions.

At half-time, India looked down and out, trailing 13-21. But they bounced back in fine fashion, taking 14 points in the next 20 minutes and keeping Iran to just 4.

In the first 20 minutes of the final, Iran raced to a 10-point advantage. But India regrouped in the second half to take the lead for the first time in the 37th minute. Once ahead, they remained there and survived some anxious moments in the final stages to take home the gold.

Indian Team

Rakesh Kumar (captain), Jasvir Singh, Anup Kumar, Chhillar Manjeet, Ajay Thakur, Gurpreet Singh, Navneet Gautam, Surjeet Kumar, Parveen Kumar, Nitin Shashikant Madane, Surjeet Singh, Subramanian Rajaguru

Coaches

Balwan Singh and Janardhanan Udaykumar

RESULT

India beat Iran 27-25

Half-time - India 13 Iran 21

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