ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s men’s kabaddi team has failed to reach the semi-finals of the Asian Games for the first time, ending its campaign without a medal at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
Pakistan’s hopes of reaching the last four ended after it suffered a 51-30 defeat to Iran in its final Group-stage match.
The defeat left Pakistan with two wins from four matches. The team opened its campaign with a 65-22 victory over Malaysia and followed it with a 58-43 win against Nepal.
However, Pakistan then suffered a narrow 48-45 defeat to Thailand in its third Group-stage match, putting its semi-final qualification hopes in jeopardy. Iran’s decisive victory in the final group game subsequently brought the campaign to an end.
Kabaddi has been a permanent part of the Asian Games programme since 1990. Pakistan had won at least one men’s kabaddi medal at every previous edition of the Games.
The team has collected nine medals in men’s kabaddi at the Asian Games, including two silver and seven bronze medals.
However, its Group-stage exit in Aichi-Nagoya marks the first time Pakistan has failed to win a medal in men’s kabaddi at the Asian Games.
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The result therefore brings an unprecedented end to Pakistan’s men’s kabaddi campaign at the continental event, with the team returning home without a medal for the first time.
