Former India raider Rakesh Kumar, who led the kabaddi team to a gold medal at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon after overpowering Iran in the final, was shocked at the defending champions' embarrassing 18-27 loss against the same opponents in the semi-final in Jakarta yesterday. "Yeh din bhi dekhne ko milega, aisa kabhi socha bhi nahi tha [I never thought I would have to see this day].

It is beyond my imagination that the Indian kabaddi team is returning from the Asian Games without a gold medal. Today's defeat against Iran hurts me a lot," Rakesh told mid-day from Delhi. Rakesh, 36, explained what could have led to India's failure. "Our boys played under a lot of pressure. There was something missing. They did not play as a team.