Asian Games 2023 Final: Indian Kabaddi teams eye gold, set to face Iran and Chinese Taipei challenges

India and Iran will once again face off in the continental event final.

In the Asian Games 2023, both the men's and women's kabaddi teams from India reached the finals. In the semifinal match, the Indian men's team defeated Pakistan 61-14 in a one-sided contest. Meanwhile, the women's team secured their place in the final by defeating Nepal 61-17. Now, in the final match, the Indian men's team will face Iran, who had won the gold medal in the last edition.

On the other hand, the Indian women's team will face Chinese Taipei in the final, who had given them tough competition in the previous match. In this regard, both teams face formidable challenges. The men's team's match will be played at 12:30 PM, while the women's team's match will be held at 7:00 AM.

Iran poses a tough challenge for the Indian men's team once again. This is the same Iranian team that defeated India in the semifinals of the previous Asian Games, shattering their dream of winning the gold medal. Now, India and Iran are once again competing, but this time it's in the final. If the Indian team wants to win the gold medal, they will have to defeat Iran. Both Iran and India have reached the final after consistently winning their matches, making this contest a tough one. Team India will aim to avenge their previous loss, but it will require the best performance from all their players.

Naveen Kumar will bear significant responsibility in the raiding department for Team India

For Team India, Naveen Kumar will need to display a similar performance in the Raiding department as he does in the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL). Naveen Kumar has been in outstanding form so far. Pawan Sehrawat and Arjun Deshwal haven't performed at the same level. Naveen Kumar had already scored a Super 10 against Pakistan in the first half, which will undoubtedly boost his confidence. Apart from Naveen, Sachin Tanwar and Aslam Inamdar can also make a significant impact. Captain Pawan Sehrawat will also look for a comeback in this match. Overall, Naveen Kumar's performance could influence the entire raiding department.

Nitesh, Surjeet, and Pravesh Bhainswal will be the ones to watch in the defense

Nitesh Kumar has delivered exceptional performances in the matches so far. His ability to execute ankle holds and back holds indicates that he is in good form. Surjeet Singh also performed exceptionally well against Pakistan. Vishal Bhardwaj has also shown signs of form by achieving a high five in the semifinal match. However, it remains to be seen whether Sunil Kumar is included in the starting seven or not. The defense has not been at its best for India so far, and this is an area that needs attention.

Probable starting seven for the men's team in the final:

Pawan Sehrawat (Captain), Aslam Inamdar, Naveen Kumar, Surjeet Singh, Pravesh Bhainswal, Nitesh Kumar, and Vishal Bhardwaj.

The Indian women's team will face Chinese Taipei once again.

The Indian women's team played three matches in the group stage, winning two and drawing one. The team they drew against in one match will now face them in the final – Chinese Taipei. Chinese Taipei had given the women's team a tough competition in the previous match, which ended in a 34-34 tie. Now, Chinese Taipei has made it to the final as well, defeating Iran, the strong contender for the gold medal. This suggests that the Chinese Taipei team can be a formidable opponent. Therefore, the Indian women's team needs to be fully prepared this time.

India will need a strong defense

Chinese Taipei employed a strong strategy in their first match against India. Their team consistently earned bonus points and didn't attempt touch points. They had secured more than 10 points through bonuses alone. Team India cannot afford to give away bonuses easily this time. If raiders go for bonuses, they will have to put pressure on them. Captain Ritu Negi and Priyanka Palaniya need to step up in defense. Team India needs to focus on their defense, as it has not been up to the mark so far. In the raiding department, Pooja Hathwala, Pushpa Rana, and Nidhi Sharma have been performing exceptionally well.

Probable starting seven for the women's team in the final:

Ritu Negi (Captain), Sakshi Kumari, Pushpa Rana, Nidhi Sharma, Jyoti, Pooja Hathwala, and Priyanka Palaniya.