The second day of kabaddi action at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya delivered another packed schedule, with India’s men extending their winning run in emphatic fashion and Iran’s men making a stunning start after sitting out the opening day. While India’s women had a rest day, several crucial group-stage matches helped shape the race for the semi-finals.
Below are the complete Day 2 results, key storylines and the latest outlook from the group stage.
Asian Games 2026 Kabaddi Groups
Men
Group A: India, Japan, Bangladesh, Republic of Korea, Chinese Taipei
Group B: Iran, Pakistan, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia
Women
Group A: India, Iran, Japan, Bangladesh
Group B: Chinese Taipei, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Nepal
Day 2 Schedule and Results
| Time (IST) | Category | Match | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6:00 AM | Men | Nepal vs Pakistan | Pakistan won 58-43 |
| 7:15 AM | Men | Republic of Korea vs India | India won 63-31 |
| 8:30 AM | Women | Thailand vs Nepal | Nepal won 46-43 |
| 9:45 AM | Men | Thailand vs Malaysia | Thailand won 65-23 |
| 12:30 PM | Men | Bangladesh vs Japan | Japan won 40-37 |
| 1:45 PM | Women | Iran vs Bangladesh | Iran won 54-19 |
| 3:00 PM | Men | Nepal vs Iran | Iran won 76-23 |
| 4:15 PM | Women | Sri Lanka vs Chinese Taipei | Chinese Taipei won 63-17 |
Nepal’s men were the only team to feature twice on Day 2, taking on Pakistan in the morning before facing Iran later in the afternoon.
Teams in Focus
India
India continued their title defence with a comprehensive victory over the Republic of Korea. Captained by Sunil Kumar, the defending champions dominated both offensively and defensively to record their second convincing win of the tournament.
Only four members of India’s Hangzhou 2022 gold-medal-winning squad remain in the current side, but the blend of experienced players and debutants has made an impressive start in Aichi-Nagoya.
Republic of Korea
Korea entered the day needing a positive result after narrowly losing to Bangladesh on the opening day. However, India proved far too strong as Korea slipped to a second consecutive defeat, leaving their qualification hopes hanging by a thread.
Iran
Iran finally entered the men’s competition after receiving a bye on Day 1 and immediately reminded everyone why they remain one of India’s biggest rivals. The men’s team overwhelmed Nepal with a 76-23 victory, while the women’s side comfortably defeated Bangladesh 54-19 to remain unbeaten.
Nepal
It proved to be a demanding day for Nepal. The men’s team suffered defeats to Pakistan and Iran, while the women’s side produced one of the day’s biggest results by edging Thailand 46-43 in a closely contested encounter.
Pakistan
Pakistan maintained their strong start by beating Nepal 58-43. Following their dominant victory over Malaysia on Day 1, they remain firmly in contention for a semi-final place from Group B.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh’s men’s team could not extend their unbeaten start, falling 40-37 to hosts Japan after opening the tournament with two victories. The women’s side also endured another difficult outing, losing heavily to Iran.
Japan
The hosts revived their semi-final hopes with an important 40-37 victory over Bangladesh after suffering defeat to India on the opening day.
Thailand
Thailand’s men continued their impressive campaign by routing Malaysia 65-23, while the women’s side narrowly missed out against Nepal in one of the closest matches of the day.
Malaysia
Malaysia remain without a victory after another heavy defeat, this time against Thailand.
Chinese Taipei
Chinese Taipei’s women made an emphatic tournament debut, defeating Sri Lanka 63-17 to underline their credentials as one of the strongest teams in Group B.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s women suffered a second defeat of the tournament and now face an uphill battle to reach the semi-finals.
Day 2 Match Results
Match 1: Nepal vs Pakistan (Men)
Result: Pakistan 58-43 Nepal
Pakistan continued their unbeaten run with another convincing performance. Nepal, already beaten on the opening day, found themselves under pressure early and could not recover.
Match 2: Republic of Korea vs India (Men)
Result: India 63-31 Republic of Korea
India produced another dominant display, comfortably defeating one of Group A’s strongest sides. The defending champions controlled the contest throughout to move closer to the knockout stage.
Match 3: Thailand vs Nepal (Women)
Result: Nepal 46-43 Thailand
Nepal edged a thrilling contest to register an important victory in Group B. The result could prove decisive in the race for the semi-finals.
Match 4: Thailand vs Malaysia (Men)
Result: Thailand 65-23 Malaysia
Thailand recorded their second successive victory with another dominant attacking display, while Malaysia remained winless.
Match 5: Bangladesh vs Japan (Men)
Result: Japan 40-37 Bangladesh
Japan bounced back from their opening defeat by handing Bangladesh their first loss of the tournament in front of the home supporters.
Match 6: Iran vs Bangladesh (Women)
Result: Iran 54-19 Bangladesh
Iran continued their outstanding form with another comprehensive victory, strengthening their position ahead of the highly anticipated clash against India.
Match 7: Nepal vs Iran (Men)
Result: Iran 76-23 Nepal
Iran made an explosive start to their campaign, overwhelming Nepal with the biggest winning margin of the men’s tournament so far.
Match 8: Sri Lanka vs Chinese Taipei (Women)
Result: Chinese Taipei 63-17 Sri Lanka
Chinese Taipei dominated from start to finish to begin their campaign with an emphatic victory.
Group Stage Outlook After Day 2
The race for the semi-finals is becoming clearer.
India remain unbeaten in Group A after two commanding victories, while Iran have immediately established themselves as the strongest side in Group B after their opening match.
In the women’s competition, India and Iran remain on course for a decisive Group A meeting, while Chinese Taipei’s dominant opening victory has strengthened their position in Group B.
As always, group standings are determined first by wins and then by net points, making every scoring margin increasingly important as the tournament progresses.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many kabaddi matches were played on Day 2?
Eight matches were played in total, including five men’s fixtures and three women’s matches.
Why did Iran’s men begin their campaign on Day 2?
Group B of the men’s competition contains five teams, meaning one side has a bye during each round of the group stage. Iran were the team resting on the opening day.
Which team played twice on Day 2?
Nepal’s men’s team played two matches, facing Pakistan in the morning before returning to take on Iran later in the afternoon.
Conclusion
The second day of competition significantly reshaped both tournaments. India continued to justify their status as defending champions, Iran announced themselves with dominant victories, and several teams now face must-win matches as the battle for the semi-finals intensifies.
