India vs Iran Kabaddi Controversy, Asian Games 2023: Why was the Final suspended? The 68-minute hiatus Explained

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India have won a thrilling Kabaddi final in the Asian Games 2023 against Iran the Indian team own their 8th gold medal in the Asian Games.

After a hiatus in the previous Asian games in Jakarta 2018, where they only could manage the bronze medal, the Indian Kabaddi team have snatched the top podium again in Hangzhou.

But the Final has been marred with a huge chunk of controversy in it, which made the match to pause for more than an hour. The chaos as happened was a hos of confused umpires and the referee, involved Kabaddi delegates across Asia, involvement of the AKFI general, over-excited Indian players and coach, and multiple rulings for a single decision which was the apple of discord.

India vs Iran Kabaddi Contrversy, Asian Games 2023: What Happened? The Complete Timeline

1:40 pm IST | In the 39th minute of the match, when the score was 28 a piece, India Captain Pawan Sherawat went for a raid, he was tackled and he went out of the lobby and along with him many Iranian players went out to the lobby as well.

Although initially it was given a point to Iran, the Indians protested that Pawan didn't make a touch and went to the lobby and as the Iranian players followed him, meaning Iran players who followed him to the lobby without a touch would also be given out.

The Indian team took a review and then followed a series of events which are not acceptable at all.

• 1:45 pm IST | The officials first reviewed the Indian appeal and handed India and Iran a point piece, but the Indian team was still not happy.
  
  
• 1:51 pm IST | Then the officials went back to rule it again, and this time, after much discussion, they came back with a decision of handing India four points, while Iran got just one. This led the Iran team in protest, who decided to review it again.
  
  
• 1:59 pm IST | After a much heated argument with the officials, the referee invited the AKFI (Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India) general, who in turn, ruled that it should be a point each for both teams. But the Indian coach and captain was reluctant to accept it.
  
  
• 2:05 pm IST | The Indian coach Bhaskaran was heard shouting as one of the umpires. 'Shame on You', he said in anger as the emotions were running high. Even the AKFI general was unable to calm things down.
  
  

• 2:17 pm IST | Next, India were handed three points and Iran were given one point. This led to another chaos as the Iran players sat on the mat in protest.

• 2:28 pm IST | Then it was time to open the rule books - which explained the change of rule when a raider goes into the lobby without a touch. Earlier, the defenders who followed him would have been given out as well, but later the rule was changed and only the raider would have been given Out.
  
  
• But this new rule was not being implied in the Asian Games 2023, although the rule has been amended, the Claus 28 of the AKFI rule still says the defender or defenders who shall touch the raider outside and follow him without a prior touch on the mat will be given out.
  
  
• 2:48 pm IST | And after more than an hour of confusion, the final ruling was handed in favour of India, as the Indian team got three points, while Iran were also handed a point as Pawan Sehrawat was out of bounce.

The match started after a stop of 68 minutes, and it was the Indian team who started with a 31-29 advantage on scoreline. With a minute to go, the Iranian had no chance of launching a come back and the Indian team got two more points to win the match 33-29, and thus clinch the Gold Medal at the Asian Games 2023.

Who was at Fault?

The referee an the officials were the sole people at fault in this. First of all, they didn't know what was the exact rule and due to their ignorance, they were unable to take the decision. And secondly, the referee failed to take control of the match and lost his way. It resulted multiple hearing of a simple decision, the cloud in their knowledge made it more submissive for them as the referee and the officials never showed authority on any of their decisions.

Are Indian players at fault?

Not at all. Yes the Indian players and the coach was aggressive, which was not the right thing to do, but they were right on their case. The Indian team read the rule perfectly and they had all the rights to protest against incorrect ruling.