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India’s men’s kabaddi team had three standout raiders during its unbeaten run to gold at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Devank Dalal, Arjun Deshwal and Ayan Lohchab emerged as the team’s leading raiders, combining scoring power, experience and attacking variety.
India sealed the gold medal with a 40–34 victory over Iran in the final on 26 September 2026, securing the country’s ninth men’s kabaddi gold at the Asian Games.
Devank Dalal led the Indian raiding unit with 59 raid points during the Asian Games tournament. He also recorded one tackle point, finishing with 60 total points according to Pro Kabaddi’s tournament feature.
His scoring output made him India’s most productive raider in the competition. Dalal’s ability to collect raid points consistently helped India maintain attacking pressure against opponents throughout the tournament.
His performance was particularly notable because this was his Asian Games debut. He carried strong domestic form into the international competition, having finished second on the raid-points chart in Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 with 271 points.
Arjun Deshwal finished with 35 raid points, placing him joint second among India’s leading raiders alongside Ayan Lohchab.
Deshwal brought valuable international experience to the squad, having been part of India’s gold-medal-winning men’s team at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games. His contribution was important during the tournament’s decisive stages, including the final against Iran.
India trailed 18–17 at half-time in the gold-medal match before recovering to win 40–34. The result highlighted the team’s ability to respond under pressure and finish the campaign with gold.
Deshwal’s experience complemented the attacking contributions of the team’s younger players.
Ayan Lohchab also finished with 35 raid points, matching Deshwal’s tally in the tournament.
Lohchab entered the Asian Games after an impressive Pro Kabaddi League Season 12, where he led the league’s raid-points standings with 316 points, according to the official Pro Kabaddi feature.
At the Asian Games, his attacking contribution gave India another reliable scoring option alongside Dalal. The combination helped the team vary its raids rather than depend on a single player to produce points.
For Lohchab, the tournament provided an important early milestone in his international career.
India progressed through the men’s kabaddi competition without losing a match. The team combined a productive raiding unit with effective defensive performances to advance through the group stage and knockout rounds.
India defeated Thailand 66–28 in the semi-final before overcoming Iran 40–34 in the final.
The three leading raiders played different but complementary roles. Dalal supplied the highest scoring output, Deshwal added experience in crucial moments, and Lohchab provided another strong attacking option.
The tournament figures underline the strength of India’s raiding unit. Dalal’s 59 raid points placed him well ahead of his teammates, while Deshwal and Lohchab each contributed 35.
Together, the three helped India maintain an aggressive approach throughout its gold-medal campaign. Their performances also highlighted the importance of the Pro Kabaddi League as a competitive platform for players progressing to international kabaddi.
India’s gold-medal victory over Iran provided the final reward for a campaign in which the raiders and defenders worked together to keep the team unbeaten.
Pro Kabaddi League — Top 3 Indian Raiders at the 2026 Asian Games (Official Feature)
https://www.prokabaddi.com/features/top-3-indian-raiders-asian-games-2026
Supports the reported raid-point totals, Pro Kabaddi Season 12 statistics and tournament background.
