Aichi-Nagoya, Sept. 26 -- India clinched their third gold medal of the Asian Games 2026 after the women's kabaddi team defeated Iran 37-34 in a closely fought final on Saturday, successfully defending the title they won at the Hangzhou edition.

India held their nerve in a tense closing phase, with Iran pushing hard for a comeback. With a minute remaining, Iran needed points to stay in contention, but India's defence produced a crucial tackle on Aynaz to effectively seal the contest, according to ESPN.

India eventually prevailed 37-34 to add another gold to their medal tally.

Sanju Devi, who had been one of India's standout performers throughout the tournament, once again played a key role as the Indian team withstood Iran's challenge i...