NAGOYA: Pakistan’s men’s kabaddi team has failed to reach the Asian Games semi-finals for the first time after suffering a 51-30 defeat to Iran in their final Group B match.
The defeat ended Pakistan’s hopes of advancing to the knockout stage. The team won two of its four group-stage matches during the competition.
Pakistan opened its campaign with a convincing 65-22 victory over Malaysia and followed it with a 58-43 win against Nepal. However, a narrow 48-45 defeat to Thailand put the team’s semi-final hopes under serious pressure.
Pakistan then faced Iran in its final group match but could not secure the victory needed to remain in contention. The 51-30 defeat confirmed the team’s elimination.
Pakistan had led Iran 20-14 at halftime but struggled after the break. Iran scored 31 points in the second half, while Pakistan managed 16.
Kabaddi has been part of the Asian Games programme since 1990. Pakistan had previously won at least one medal in the men’s kabaddi competition at every Asian Games edition in which it competed, with its overall tally including two silver and seven bronze medals.
The group-stage exit means Pakistan will leave the 2026 Asian Games without a kabaddi medal for the first time.