India and Iran have been rivals in kabaddi for a few years now. In one of the biggest upsets in <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/other-sports/article/shooters-ganemat-sekhon-darshna-rathore-included-in-asian-games-2023-world-championships-23294297" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Asian Games</a> history, Iran beat India 27-18 in the 2018 Asian Games semi-final in Jakarta.
On Thursday, however, India beat Iran 33-28 in a closely-contested last league match of the Asian Kabaddi Championship in Busan, South Korea, on Thursday to set up a mouth-watering final clash against the same opponents today.
India captain Pawan Sehrawat admitted that some of his teammates were under pressure while playing against the <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/other-sports/article/asian-games-2023-rohan-bopanna-ankita-raina-to-spearhead-indian-challenge-in-tennis-23293376" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Asian Games</a> champions. &ldquo;Some of our players are playing in an international tournament for the first time, so they were under a bit of pressure. Iran are a very good team and we came up with a good performance today [Thursday]. But the main match is tomorrow&rsquo;s [Friday] final and we are preparing for that,&rdquo; said Sehrawat.
Head coach Ashan Kumar added that the Indians had planned well for the Iran clash.
&ldquo;It was a tough game against Iran because both teams played well. We dominated the proceedings in the first half [19-9], but committed a few mistakes. Otherwise, the margin of victory could have been bigger. We came back in the game at the right time,&rdquo; said Ashan, who led India to the gold medal at the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing.
When asked about the team&rsquo;s preparations ahead of the all-important final against the same opponents, Ashan said his team are well prepared for the rematch. &ldquo;If they [Iran] have a different strategy for the final, we too have our plans. We are ready for the decider and I&rsquo;m confident that we&rsquo;ll return home with the gold medal,&rdquo; he added.
Earlier in the competition, India outclassed South Korea 76-13, Chinese Taipei 53-20 and Japan 62-17.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/other-sports/article/asian-kabaddi-cship-india-beat-japan-62-17-23294918" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Asian Kabaddi C&rsquo;ship: India beat Japan 62-17</a>
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Head coach Ashan Kumar added that the Indians had planned well for the Iran clash

Asian Kabaddi C'ship: India confident of tackling Iran in gold medal battle

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Asian Kabaddi C'ship: India confident of tackling Iran in gold medal battle

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