New Delhi/Jakarta: On Thursday, the Indian men’s kabaddi team, the seven times Asian Games champions, crashed out of the gold medal contention for the first time in the history of the competition. They lost 18-27 to Iran.

While the result may seem disastrous, for those in the know, there was little surprise.

“Sheer nepotism, highly questionable selection policies and a series of court battles over the control of the kabaddi federation nearly killed the sport.

“How could a team do well when their officials kept on fighting in court even though the Asian Games was round the corner?” asked a senior office-bearer of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), who did not wish to be named.

India’s nearly unchallenged domination at the Asian Games came to an end in Jakarta as they had to be content with only the bronze. The loss, which left some in the Indian camp in tears, and others stone-faced, ended a reign that dates back to the 1990 Asian Games.

The silver lining came from the women’s camp as they entered the third successive final at the Asian Games with a dominating 27-14 win over Chinese Taipei.

India woman, who won gold in the last two editions of the Asian Games, continued their impressive run.

But it was a nightmare that unfolded for Indian men at Theatre Garuda where the Iranians played like champions and India seemed completely out of sorts. 

The match saw Pro-Kabaddi League players facing each other with Iran having the likes of defenders Fazel Atrachali and Abozar Mighani.

The Indian team which had PKL stars like Ajay Thakur, Pardeep Narwal, Rahul Chaudhari and Deepak Niwas Hooda became the first to finish an Asian Games without the top prize.

In New Delhi, there were so many questions over the selection of teams that two former kabaddi players and Arjuna Award winners, C Hoonappa Gowda and Rajanathham, moved Delhi High court on the issue.

The skeletons in the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI) tumbled out during another legal battle in Delhi High Court, which prompted the division bench to remove both the president and life president of the body.

 It also made some scathing remarks on the situation which exposed how the sport was being run in the country.

India coach Ram Mehar Singh, however, said the selection of the team was done in the best possible manner.