Sawt Falasteen - India claim controversial kabaddi gold after final suspended

India were seeking to reclaim the crown from Iran in a sport they regard as their own, and they did so in the most contentious circumstances in Hangzhou.

The final was locked at 28-28 in the dying moments when India went on a crucial "raid" for points, with both teams claiming they should get the decision.

That sparked a video review, then standoff and the suspension of the final, as officials checked footage and attempted to make a ruling.

The action was put on hold as both teams at different points appeared to refuse to play and argued their case.

Order was eventually restored with the score at 31-29 in India's favour.

Iran reluctantly carried on but they were deflated and soon slumped to a 33-29 defeat, sparking wild Indian celebrations.

The two teams shook hands at the end.

India had won every men's gold since kabaddi became an Asian Games sport in 1990 until Iran took the title at the 2018 Asiad in Jakarta.

Earlier on Saturday, India defeated Taiwan 26-25 for women's gold.

Kabaddi is a tag-meets-rugby contact team sport rooted in Indian mythology and said to date back 5,000 years.

The game requires yoga-like breath control as two seven-player teams send a raider into enemy territory to tag an opponent and return to safety -– all while chanting "kabaddi, kabaddi" to prove they're not using more than one puff.

N.Shalabi--SF-PST