Accolades galore for Kabaddi team: PM Modi leads the nation congratulating Anup Kumar & Co for winning World Cup

New Delhi: India made history on Saturday after winning the Kabaddi World Cup for the third successive time, beating Iran 38-29 in the final at Ahmedabad.

India's nine-point win over Persian giants was led by star raider Ajay Thakur, who tallied a match high 12 points at The Arena.

Soon after the winning moment, Indian Prime Minister congratulated the Anup Kumar-led team for showing "exceptional skills, grit & determination".

"Congratulations to Indian team for winning the Kabaddi World Cup. The team showed exceptional skills, grit & determination. Well done!" PM Modi wrote on his twitter handle.

Congratulations to Indian team for winning the Kabaddi World Cup. The team showed exceptional skills, grit & determination. Well done!

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 22, 2016

The PM was joined by hosts of celebrities every walk of live.

Sports Minister Vijay Goel, who witnessed the final match from the first raid and got the honours to present the trophy to the victorious Indian team, wrote, "And our tigers have done it. Victors. Congratulations @IamAnupK & team! #OneBigBlue."

Cricket legends Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag were among the firsts to congratulate the team.

"Yeh Jazba ,yeh Spirit ,Hamka De De Thakur. Ajay Thakur, you are a rockstar. Haar ke Jeetne waale ko Team India kehta hain.Champions," Sehwag wrote in his Twitter post.

Yeh Jazba ,yeh Spirit ,Hamka De De Thakur. Ajay Thakur, you are a rockstar. Haar ke Jeetne waale ko Team India kehta hain.Champions#INDvIRN pic.twitter.com/8S8PZ8IA6M

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) October 22, 2016

"Champions!! Invented the game and never lost the world cup! Such a proud moment for us! Hope it grows even more globally. #INDvIRN," congratulated Tendulkar.

Champions!! Invented the game and never lost the world cup! Such a proud moment for us! Hope it grows even more globally. #INDvIRN

— sachin tendulkar (@sachin_rt) October 22, 2016

Boxer Vijender Singh, cricketers Dhawal Kulkarni, Harbhajan Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, VVS Laxman, shuttler Jwala Gutta and actors Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan were thousands who have congratulated the team.

Playing in the third successive final against Iran, India started in the title defence in a poor note, but ended up lifting the trophy for the third successive time with a 38-29 scoreline.

India had defeated Iran in the previous two World Cup finals, 55-27 at Mumbai In 2004 and 20-19 at Panvel in 2007 as the sport got a makeover, bidding to compete with other sports.