The Indian men’s celebrated a triumphant victory at the in Aichi, defeating Iran 40-34 to secure the gold medal.
Pawan Sehrawat, a key player and flag bearer during the opening ceremony, revealed that the team was focused solely on the final match, not eating until after their victory. “We won gold on empty stomachs,” he stated.
In an exhilarating final, Pawan expressed the players’ awareness of the match’s significance. Despite their rigorous preparation, the tension was palpable. “I was very excited about the match. We knew we were playing well, but until the final whistle blows, doubt lingers,” he remarked.
The Indian team ended the tournament undefeated, marking their ninth gold medal at the . Although they trailed Iran 17-18 at halftime, they staged a remarkable comeback in the second half. Arjun Deshwal and Devank Dalal led the offensive, while Sumit and Jaideep played crucial defensive roles.
With ten minutes remaining, India gained a five-point lead after Arjun outmaneuvered Iranian captain Fazl Atrachali, setting up an ‘all-out’ situation. Sumit made a decisive tackle against Amir Mohammad Zafar Danish, and Rahul Sethpal contributed significantly in the final moments.
Pawan noted the emotional strain of the final made those 40 minutes particularly special. He shared that no player had eaten before the match, emphasizing the intensity of the moment. “Everyone gets emotional, and I felt that too. Once those 40 minutes were over, we could celebrate with food-and we also won gold,” he added.
Reflecting on the importance of this victory for India’s medal tally, Pawan mentioned the team’s awareness of their standing throughout the competition. “We were keeping an eye on our position. At one point, we were sixth. We haven’t been using our phones much to check the standings,” he explained.
Pawan dedicated his gold medal to his coach, Randhir Sehrawat, and urged the government to consider him for the Dronacharya Award, highlighting that many Arjuna Award winners have trained under him.
As the flag bearer alongside Manu Bhaker, Pawan praised Japan’s beauty and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to represent India. “Japan has made history. Being the flag bearer with an athlete like Manu Bhaker was miraculous for me,” he said.
Jaideep, another standout in the kabaddi final, expressed joy over both the men’s and women’s teams winning gold medals. He extended wishes for success to Indian athletes competing in wrestling, boxing, and other sports. “We are very happy. We were behind, but today we saw the women’s kabaddi team also win gold. We hope all future athletes representing our country win gold medals,” he said.
Devank echoed the sentiment of gratitude, stating, “I want to thank God. Our dream has come true. The team played exceptionally well. We are taking the gold medal home. Everyone is very happy, and I will celebrate this victory when I return home. The government is encouraging athletes significantly.”