Aichi, September 26, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India’s men’s kabaddi team carried a taste of home to Japan during its successful Asian Games title defence, with Jaideep revealing that the players brought churma, ladoos and khoya from home while also enjoying parathas and rotis during their stay.
Jaideep spoke after India defeated Iran 40-34 in a thrilling final at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium on Saturday to retain the men’s kabaddi gold medal. The victory completed an unbeaten campaign for the defending champions.
“Yes, we brought churma from our home. We also brought ladoos and khoya from our home. But the food here was also good. We used to get paratha, roti, etc.,” Jaideep told IANS.
India and Iran were locked in a close contest during the opening half, with India trailing 17-18 at the interval. Arjun Deshwal and Devank Dalal spearheaded the attack, while Jaideep and Sumit made important contributions in defence.
India increased the pressure after the break, with Sumit and Jaideep producing crucial defensive efforts. Aslam Inamdar then levelled the scores with a successful do-or-die raid before Arjun got past Iran captain Fazel Atrachali to set up an All-Out and give India a five-point lead with 10 minutes remaining.
India maintained its composure in the final stages, with Sumit, Rahul Sethpal and the rest of the defensive unit keeping Iran from mounting a comeback.
Jaideep said the team had remained focused on the final throughout the tournament, knowing the strength of the Iranian side.
“We were very focused. We were waiting for this match. Iran is a very strong team. And this was the only match between us and our gold medal. And we came here to win our gold medal,” he said.
The defender dedicated the gold medal to his brother, crediting him for providing sustained support throughout his career.
Jaideep also called for greater attention to sports beyond cricket, saying athletes from different disciplines put in significant effort and often face injuries during their careers.
“Everyone should play cricket. It is a good thing, but we should also support other sports and take them forward,” he said.
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