2026 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games:
Iran coach backs new-look team to challenge for women’s kabaddi gold
Iran’s women’s kabaddi team is targeting gold at the upcoming Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games despite having a largely inexperienced squad, head coach Mahrokh Danesh has said.
The sixth edition of the multi-sport event will kick off on December 11 in Riyadh.
Around 80 percent of the players selected for the national team have never competed at an international event, but Danesh believes Iran has the quality to challenge for the title at the multi-sport event.
Speaking to Mehr News Agency, Danesh said that only four of the 16 players in the ongoing training camp competed at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games last month, where Iran settled for silver after a final setback against India. including two raiders and two defenders.
“The players are young on average, and around 80 percent of them will be experiencing international competition for the first time,” Danesh said.
“Given the limited time available, we have tried to select players who are in a better position in terms of physical fitness, technical and tactical ability, and match experience.”
The draw for the Riyadh competition has yet to take place, leaving Iran uncertain about its opponents. Danesh said the draw was expected to be held after the current training camp or closer to the start of the Games.
India, one of the leading nations in kabaddi, is expected to be among the participants, according to the Iranian coach.
Danesh said Iran would prepare for every opponent rather than focus solely on a potential showdown with India, identifying Chinese Taipei, Thailand and South Korea as other teams capable of challenging for medals.
“We will do everything we can to achieve the best possible result, but we are not thinking only about India. We have to take every team seriously,” she said.
“Iran is also a strong team, and we have selected the best players so that, if we face India in the final, we can produce a good performance.”
The squad will be trimmed before the competition, with seven players to be selected from the 16-member training group for the five-a-side event. Five players will be on the court, with two named as substitutes.
Two more training camps remain before the final squad is announced following the fifth camp.
Despite the squad’s lack of international experience, Danesh remains confident in its potential.
“Our players have considerable potential in terms of physical fitness and technical ability, and I do not consider the championship beyond our reach,” she said. “The players and I will do everything we can to win the title. That is the goal we are fighting for.”