Kabaddi will be one of the major team sports at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with India entering the competition as defending champions in both the men’s and women’s events. The Asian Games 2026 kabaddi competition will run from September 21 to September 26, with teams competing for gold across six days.
India have strong ambitions of retaining both titles after winning the men’s and women’s gold medals at the Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games. The tournament will also provide an opportunity for several young players to make their mark on the international stage.
Asian Games Kabaddi Schedule and Venue
The Asian Games kabaddi schedule will begin on September 21 and continue until September 26. The group stage will be played from September 21 to September 24, followed by the semi-finals on September 25.
The gold medal matches will take place on September 26, with the women’s final followed by the men’s final as the competition reaches its conclusion.
All kabaddi matches will be held at the Tōkai Citizens Gymnasium in Tōkai, Aichi Prefecture. The venue will host the complete kabaddi competition during the Games.
India Kabaddi Squad Asian Games 2026
India have selected 12-member squads for both the men’s and women’s competitions. The India kabaddi squad Asian Games 2026 men’s team includes a combination of experienced players and emerging PKL stars.
The men’s raiding group features Ayan Lohchab, Devank Dalal, Arjun Deshwal and Ashu Malik. The defensive unit includes Sunil Kumar, Sumit Sangwan, Jaideep Dahiya, Rahul Sethpal, Gaurav Khatri and Ankit Jaglan.
Pawan Sehrawat and Aslam Inamdar will provide all-round ability to the squad. Only four players from India’s gold medal winning Hangzhou 2023 team have been retained: Arjun Deshwal, Sunil Kumar, Pawan Sehrawat and Aslam Inamdar.
The Indian women’s squad consists of Ritu Negi, Pushpa Rana, Sonali Shingate, Sanju Devi, Pooja Kajla, Ritu Sheoran, Jyoti Thakur, Pinki Roy, Manisha Kumari, Bhavna Thakur, Rajrani and Nikita Kumari.
Asian Games Kabaddi Groups
The Asian Games kabaddi groups have been divided according to the number of participating nations in each competition.
The men’s event features 10 nations divided into two groups of five.
Group A
- India
- Bangladesh
- Republic of Korea
- Chinese Taipei
- Japan
Group B
- Iran
- Pakistan
- Malaysia
- Thailand
- Nepal
The women’s competition features eight nations divided into two groups of four. India, Chinese Taipei, Iran and Bangladesh are joined by Japan, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Nepal.
Group A
- India
- Iran
- Japan
- Bangladesh
Group B
- Sri Lanka
- Thailand
- Chinese Taipei
- Nepal
The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals in both competitions.
Asian Games 2026 Kabaddi Timings and Format
The group stage will take place across the first four days of competition. September 25 will be dedicated to the men’s and women’s semi-finals, while September 26 will feature both gold medal matches.
The session timings have already been confirmed for India:
Sep 21: India men vs Japan — morning session from 6:00 AM IST
Sep 21: India women vs Bangladesh — evening session from 12:30 PM IST
Sep 22: India men vs Republic of Korea — from 6:00 AM IST
Sep 23: India men vs Bangladesh — from 6:00 AM IST
Sep 23: India women vs Iran — from 6:00 AM IST
Sep 24: India men vs Chinese Taipei — from 6:00 AM IST
Sep 24: India women vs Japan — from 12:30 PM IST
Sep 25: Semi-final sessions from 9:30 AM and 2:30 PM IST
Sep 26: India women’s final from 9:30 AM IST
Sep 26: India men’s final from 2:30 PM IST
India’s objective will be straightforward: defend both Asian Games titles. The men’s squad has a strong mix of experienced PKL performers and young talent, while the women’s team will look to maintain India’s dominance in continental kabaddi.
With six days of competition and strong teams from across Asia involved, the Asian Games 2026 kabaddi tournament promises plenty of high-intensity action. For India, the focus will be on progressing through the group stage, reaching the finals and finishing the Games with another two gold medals.
