Jakarta: Iran ended India's golden run in men's kabaddi at the Asian Games with a stunning 27-18 win in the semifinals here on Thursday.
India, who had won gold in all seven editions starting with Beijing 1990, had to settle for a bronze.
Iran will meet South Korea in Friday's final. South Korea edged out Pakistan 27-24 in the first semifinal.
India found the going tough against the Iranians who surged away in the second half. The shock defeat has come as a big setback to the Indians who were expecting a 'double'.
"The forwardline did not work today and there were problems with supertackle as well," said a shattered India coach Ram Mehar Singh.
India were shocked by South Korea 24-23 in the group stage in what was their first defeat at the Games.
Meanwhile, two-time defending champions India will clash with Iran in the women's final. India got the better of Chinese Taipei 27-14 in the first semifinal, while the Iranians saw off Thailand 23-16.
The Taipei girls held the Indian eves quiet in the early part of the first half, but thereafter the latter proved their class and ran away with the game.
The women's final will begin at 1.30 pm (IST) on Friday, while men's gold medal match is slated for a 3.30 pm (IST) start.
