India Kabaddi Gold Asian Youth Games 2025 – India’s U-18 boys’ and girls’ teams clinched double gold after defeating Iran in thrilling finals, marking a record 75-21 win in the girls’ match. Learn key facts, records, and exam-relevant details here.
India clinches double gold in kabaddi at the Asian Youth Games
India completed a resounding double-gold triumph in kabaddi at the 2025 Asian Youth Games, underlining its dominance in the sport at the youth level. Both the Under-18 boys’ and girls’ teams emerged victorious and remained unbeaten throughout the tournament.
Girls’ U-18 team dominates final
In the girls’ final, India overwhelmed Iran by a striking margin of 75-21, marking the largest victory margin in a Youth Games kabaddi final since 2013. Raider Neha Patel stood out with 28 raid points, while defender Riya Singh marshalled the defence admirably. Over the course of five matches, India scored 312 points and conceded only 89.
Boys’ U-18 team holds nerve in tight final
The boys’ team faced a tougher challenge in their final, edging Iran 35-32 in a tense finish at Isa Sports City, Riffa. Their ability to hold composure in the closing moments underscored their mental strength on the continental stage.
Significance for India’s overall campaign
The kabaddi double gold contributes significantly to India’s medal tally at the Games — where India produced a strong overall performance with 48 medals: 13 gold, 18 silver and 17 bronze.The sweeping clean sheet in kabaddi is a clear indication of the robust talent pipeline and the country’s sustained edge in this sport.
What this triumph means for the future
This success sends a strong message: in addition to being a traditional strength, kabaddi continues to be a fertile ground for youth excellence in India. The U-18 teams’ performance signals that the next generation of players are ready to step up and carry the torch forward. It may also influence more investment in youth programmes, coaching and infrastructure to sustain the momentum.
Why This News is Important
Reinforces India’s global sports stature
For students preparing for exams in sectors such as defence, banking, civil services or teaching, this victory is a reminder of India’s growing footprint in global youth sport. The international achievement brings prestige and recognition to the country, which plays into broader themes of soft power and national ambition.
Reflection of youth development and strategic sport policy
The fact that both U-18 boys’ and girls’ teams remained unbeaten and clinched gold highlights the effectiveness of India’s youth development programmes. It touches upon themes relevant to our examination syllabi like ‘sports and society’, ‘government policy in sports’, and ‘youth empowerment’. It shows how grassroots systems feed into international success.
Links to questions in exam context
In many competitive exams (for teaching, banking, railways, etc.) current affairs questions often focus on “which country”, “which sport”, “what margin”, etc. The girls’ team’s 75-21 victory margin is a key detail. Knowing these specifics improves candidate readiness.
Implications for inclusive growth and women’s participation
This achievement has particular resonance for women’s sports. The dominant performance by the girls’ team illustrates broader societal shifts in India—greater opportunities for girls in sport, breaking barriers, and promoting gender equality. Topics like gender empowerment, role of sports, and policy support often appear in exams.
Historical Context
Kabaddi’s roots and evolution in India
Kabaddi is deeply rooted in Indian rural culture, with origin stories dating back centuries. India has long been the powerhouse in both men’s and women’s formats of the sport at Asian and global level. For example, the senior Indian women’s team clinched gold at the Asian Games 2022 (held in 2023) by defeating Chinese Taipei.
Youth level significance and previous editions
At youth multi-sport events like the Asian Youth Games, kabaddi has been featured as part of India’s strategy to nurture talent early. The clean sweep in 2025 (boys + girls) is a reaffirmation of India’s dominance at the junior level, and it builds momentum towards senior success.
Broader Indian sports policy context
In recent years, India’s National Sports Policy and schemes like the Khelo India Youth Games have emphasised youth talent identification, infrastructure up-gradation, and support for athletes. The 2025 kabaddi outcome is a tangible outcome of that policy direction.
Significance of margin and competitiveness
The girls’ team margin of 75-21 is notable as it set a record for Youth Games finals since 2013. Such margins emphasise not only victory but dominance, which speaks to training, fitness, strategy and depth of the squad.
Key Takeaways from India’s Kabaddi Double Gold
| S. No. | Key Takeaway |
|---|---|
| 1 | India’s U-18 boys’ and girls’ teams both won gold in kabaddi at the 2025 Asian Youth Games. |
| 2 | The girls’ team defeated Iran 75-21 in the final, the largest victory margin in a Youth Games kabaddi final since 2013. |
| 3 | The boys’ team beat Iran 35-32 in a closely contested final at Isa Sports City, Riffa. |
| 4 | Over five matches, the girls’ team scored 312 points and conceded only 89, demonstrating dominance. |
| 5 | This result strengthens India’s status as a youth kabaddi powerhouse and supports India’s overall medal tally and sports development goals. |
FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Which country won gold medals in both U-18 boys’ and girls’ kabaddi at the Asian Youth Games 2025?
Answer: India won gold medals in both the boys’ and girls’ categories.
Q2. Whom did India defeat in the finals of the boys’ and girls’ kabaddi events?
Answer: Both Indian teams defeated Iran in their respective finals.
Q3. What was the scoreline of the girls’ kabaddi final at the Asian Youth Games 2025?
Answer: India defeated Iran 75–21 in the girls’ final, marking the largest margin since 2013.
Q4. Where was the kabaddi event of the 2025 Asian Youth Games held?
Answer: The matches were played at Isa Sports City, Riffa.
Q5. How many points did India’s girls’ team score and concede in total during the tournament?
Answer: The team scored 312 points and conceded only 89 points across five matches.
Q6. What was India’s overall medal tally at the Asian Youth Games 2025?
Answer: India secured 48 medals — 13 gold, 18 silver, and 17 bronze.
Q7. Which schemes or policies have supported youth sports development in India?
Answer: Government initiatives such as Khelo India Youth Games and National Sports Policy have strengthened youth-level sports.
Q8. Who was the standout player in the girls’ kabaddi team during the tournament?
Answer: Raider Neha Patel was a standout performer, earning 28 raid points in the final.
Q9. What is the significance of India’s kabaddi double gold for exam aspirants?
Answer: It’s relevant for questions on sports achievements, national pride, youth policy, and women’s empowerment.
Q10. When were the previous records of kabaddi final victory margins surpassed?
Answer: The 2025 victory margin of 75–21 surpassed records set since 2013.
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