On Friday, Iran put up a spirited performance in the men’s kabaddi final against India at the Asian Games, in Incheon, South Korea, but lost in a second half comeback by the Indians. The Iranians had managed to get a massive 10 point lead in the first half but Anup Kumar and his teammates took the lead with three minutes to go in the second half and closed out the match 27-25 and the gold medal. This was the furthest India has ever been stretched in an Asian Games kabaddi final and many of the spectators thought this might be the first time India wouldn't win the kabbadi gold medal at the Games.

This is India’s seventh successive Asian Games gold in the men’s competition since the sport was introduced in the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing. In the women’s event, India had it slightly easier against Iran and won 31-21 for their second successive Asian Games gold. Thus, India today completed a golden double on the kabaddi mat.

Congratulations poured in from all sectors. Twitter was mostly full of congratulatory messages but some complained about officials and some made some tongue-in-cheek jokes.