Kabaddi was one of the major attractions at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The competition featured men’s and women’s events, with India entering both tournaments as the defending champions after winning gold medals at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou.
The kabaddi competition took place from September 21 to 26, 2026, at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium in Aichi Prefecture. India successfully defended both titles, defeating Iran in two closely contested finals. The men’s team won 40 to 34, while the women’s team secured a 37 to 34 victory.
This article covers the Asian Games Kabaddi 2026 schedule, participating teams, group details, Indian squads, match results and venue information.
Who Won Kabaddi Gold at the Asian Games 2026?
Source: Olympics.com
India won gold medals in both the men’s and women’s kabaddi competitions at the 2026 Asian Games. The men’s team defeated Iran 40 to 34 in the final, while the women’s team beat Iran 37 to 34. Both victories helped India successfully defend its titles from the previous edition.
Asian Games Kabaddi 2026: Overview
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Event | 2026 Asian Games |
| Sport | Kabaddi |
| Host Country | Japan |
| Host Region | Aichi-Nagoya |
| Competition Dates | September 21 to 26, 2026 |
| Venue | Tokai Citizens Gymnasium |
| Men’s Teams | 10 |
| Women’s Teams | 8 |
| Defending Men’s Champions | India |
| Defending Women’s Champions | India |
| Men’s Gold Medal Winner | India |
| Women’s Gold Medal Winner | India |
| Men’s Final Result | India 40 to 34 Iran |
| Women’s Final Result | India 37 to 34 Iran |
Asian Games Kabaddi 2026 Schedule and Results
The kabaddi competition featured group matches from September 21 to 24, followed by the semi finals on September 25 and gold medal matches on September 26.
India competed in four group matches in the men’s event and three in the women’s event before reaching the knockout stage. Both Indian teams remained unbeaten throughout their campaigns and finished with gold medals.
India Men’s Kabaddi Schedule and Results
| Date | Opponent | Match Stage | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 21 | Japan | Group Stage | India won 49 to 24 |
| September 22 | Republic of Korea | Group Stage | India won 63 to 31 |
| September 23 | Bangladesh | Group Stage | India won 48 to 25 |
| September 24 | Chinese Taipei | Group Stage | India won 37 to 21 |
| September 25 | Thailand | Semi Final | India won 66 to 28 |
| September 26 | Iran | Final | India won 40 to 34 |
India started its campaign with a convincing win against hosts Japan. The team continued its strong performance against the Republic of Korea, Bangladesh and Chinese Taipei to finish the group stage unbeaten.
In the semi final, India defeated Thailand 66 to 28 and secured a place in the gold medal match. The final against Iran was more competitive, but India produced a strong second half to win 40 to 34.
India Women’s Kabaddi Schedule and Results
| Date | Opponent | Match Stage | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 21 | Bangladesh | Group Stage | India won 42 to 21 |
| September 23 | Iran | Group Stage | India won 37 to 23 |
| September 24 | Japan | Group Stage | India won 50 to 25 |
| September 25 | Nepal | Semi Final | India won 48 to 24 |
| September 26 | Iran | Final | India won 37 to 34 |
The Indian women’s team began its title defence with a 42 to 21 victory over Bangladesh. It then defeated Iran and Japan to progress to the semi finals.
India beat Nepal 48 to 24 in the semi final. The final against Iran was a much closer contest. India held its nerve in the closing stages to secure a 37 to 34 victory and retain the women’s gold medal.
All match timings and results in this article follow the published Indian team schedule and completed tournament records.
Asian Games Kabaddi 2026 Teams and Groups
A total of 18 teams participated in the two kabaddi competitions. Ten teams competed in the men’s event, while eight teams took part in the women’s event.
The organisers divided the participating teams into two groups in each category. India was placed in Group A in both competitions.
Men’s Kabaddi Groups
| Group A | Group B |
|---|---|
| India | Iran |
| Japan | Pakistan |
| Bangladesh | Nepal |
| Republic of Korea | Thailand |
| Chinese Taipei | Malaysia |
Women’s Kabaddi Groups
| Group A | Group B |
|---|---|
| India | Chinese Taipei |
| Iran | Sri Lanka |
| Japan | Thailand |
| Bangladesh | Nepal |
The men’s draw kept India and Iran in separate groups, allowing both teams to meet only in the knockout stage. They eventually reached the final and competed for the gold medal.
In the women’s competition, India and Iran were placed in the same group. India defeated Iran 37 to 23 during the group stage before facing them again in the final.
India Kabaddi Squad for Asian Games 2026
India selected separate 12 member squads for the men’s and women’s competitions. The teams included experienced international players and performers from the Pro Kabaddi League.
India Men’s Kabaddi Squad
| Player | Position |
|---|---|
| Sunil Kumar (Captain) | Defender |
| Pawan Sehrawat (Vice Captain) | All Rounder |
| Aslam Inamdar | All Rounder |
| Ashu Malik | Raider |
| Ayan Lohchab | Raider |
| Devank Dalal | Raider |
| Arjun Deshwal | Raider |
| Jaideep Dahiya | Defender |
| Rahul Sethpal | Defender |
| Sumit Sangwan | Defender |
| Gaurav Khatri | Defender |
| Ankit Jaglan | Defender |
The men’s squad combined the experience of players such as Sunil Kumar, Pawan Sehrawat and Aslam Inamdar with emerging performers from the Pro Kabaddi League. Arjun Deshwal, Ashu Malik, Ayan Lohchab and Devank Dalal provided India with several attacking options.
The defence also had a strong mix of experience and recent form. Captain Sunil Kumar offered leadership, while Jaideep Dahiya, Gaurav Khatri and Rahul Sethpal strengthened the defensive unit.
India Women’s Kabaddi Squad
Source: TV News
| Player | Position |
|---|---|
| Ritu Negi | Defender |
| Pushpa Rana (Captain) | Raider |
| Sonali Shingate (Vice Captain) | Raider |
| Sanju Devi | All Rounder |
| Pooja Kajla | Raider |
| Ritu Sheoran | Defender |
| Jyoti Thakur | Defender |
| Pinki Roy | Raider |
| Manisha Kumari | Raider |
| Bhavna Thakur | All Rounder |
| Rajrani | Defender |
| Nikita Kumari | Raider |
The women’s squad featured experienced players such as Ritu Negi, Pushpa Rana and Sonali Shingate. Sanju Devi also entered the tournament with strong recent international form.
The combination of experienced defenders and attacking players helped India maintain a strong performance throughout the competition. Pushpa Rana led the side as captain, with Sonali Shingate serving as vice captain.
Where Was Kabaddi Played at the Asian Games 2026?
All kabaddi matches at the 2026 Asian Games were held at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. The venue hosted both men’s and women’s competitions from September 21 to 26.
The gymnasium provided the indoor playing environment required for kabaddi. It hosted the group stage matches, semi finals and both gold medal matches.
The final day featured two major contests between India and Iran. The women’s final took place at 9:30 AM IST, followed by the men’s final at 2:30 PM IST.
How Does the Asian Games Kabaddi Format Work?
The Asian Games kabaddi competition follows a group stage and knockout format.
- Group Stage: Each team plays every other team in its group once.
- Semi Finals: The top two teams from each group qualify for the semi finals.
- Gold Medal Match: The two semi final winners compete for the gold medal.
- Bronze Medals: Both losing semi finalists receive bronze medals. There is no separate bronze medal match.
The men’s event featured two groups of five teams, while the women’s event had two groups of four teams. This format gave every participating team an opportunity to play multiple matches before the knockout stage.
The bronze medals went to Thailand and Chinese Taipei in the men’s competition. Nepal and Chinese Taipei secured bronze medals in the women’s event.
India’s Kabaddi Record at the Asian Games
India has a remarkable history in Asian Games kabaddi. The men’s competition became part of the Asian Games programme in 1990, while the women’s event was introduced in 2010.
The Indian men’s team won its ninth Asian Games gold medal in 2026. The women’s team secured its fourth gold medal after defeating Iran in the final.
India’s performance in Aichi-Nagoya also continued its strong record in the sport. The country had previously won both gold medals at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games.
Iran remains one of India’s biggest competitors in international kabaddi. The two countries met in both finals in 2026, making the final day particularly important for the Indian teams.
Conclusion
The Asian Games Kabaddi 2026 competition ended with another successful campaign for India. Both the men’s and women’s teams defended their titles by defeating Iran in the gold medal matches. The men’s side won 40 to 34, while the women secured a 37 to 34 victory.
The tournament took place at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium from September 21 to 26. With strong performances throughout the group stage and knockout rounds, India maintained its position as a leading force in Asian Games kabaddi.
FAQs
Kabaddi was held from September 21 to 26, 2026. The group stage took place from September 21 to 24, followed by the semi finals on September 25 and the finals on September 26.
India won the men’s kabaddi gold medal after defeating Iran 40 to 34 in the final on September 26, 2026.
India won the women’s gold medal by defeating Iran 37 to 34 in the final. The victory allowed India to defend its title from the 2022 Asian Games.
All kabaddi matches were played at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium in Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
A total of 18 teams participated in the kabaddi competitions. Ten teams competed in the men’s event and eight teams participated in the women’s event.
