The Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI) has officially released an extensive roster of candidates for the national men’s squad in preparation for the upcoming 2026 Asian Games. Every athlete named to this preliminary pool is expected to participate in a rigorous coaching camp designed to evaluate their physical conditioning, technical skills, and on-mat reliability. Following this intensive assessment period, the selection committee will narrow the group down to a final 14-man lineup tasked with representing the country on the continental stage.
The current list of candidates represents a strategic blend of seasoned legends and high-potential newcomers. Icons of the sport such as Pawan Sehrawat, Naveen Kumar, and Arjun Deshwal are the primary attractions, offering the offensive depth and leadership necessary for such high-stakes competition. To ensure a well-rounded team, the federation has also included versatile all-rounders and a formidable defensive unit featuring the likes of Sunil Kumar and Shubham Shinde.
Key groups within the preliminary roster include:
- Elite Raiders: Leading scorers like Ashu Malik, Sachin Tanwar, and Aslam Inamdar.
- Defensive Anchors: Reliable stoppers including Sumit Sangwan, Jaideep Dahiya, and Surjeet Singh.
- Rising Prospects: Young talents such as Narender Kandola, Yogesh Dahiya, and Ayan Lohchab aiming for a breakthrough.
- Experienced All-rounders: Versatile players like Vijay Malik and Nitesh Kumar who provide tactical flexibility.
The 2026 iteration of the Asian Games is set to take place in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, spanning from September 19 to October 4. This massive continental gathering will host over 15,000 competitors from 45 different countries across a wide array of sporting disciplines. Given India’s historical dominance in this sport, the pressure is on this group to maintain their status as the top contenders for the gold medal once again.
The complete list of 45 probables currently competing for a spot includes: Rahul Sethpal, Gaurav Khatri, Shubham Shinde, Sumit Sangwan, Ankit Jaglan, Sagar Kumar, Sunil Kumar, Deepak Singh, Ashu Singh, Jaideep Dahiya, Parvesh Malik, Pawan Sehrawat, Ashu Malik, Naveen Kumar, Devank Dalal, Pankaj Mohite, Sachin Tanwar, Arjun Deshwal, Bhavani Rajput, Ayan Lohchab, Bharat Hooda, Ajit Chouhan, Shivam Patare, Vijay Malik, Jayesh Mahajan, Nitesh Kumar, Sanjay Dhull, Deepak Sankar, Gurdeep Sangwan, Aslam Inamdar, Yogesh Dahiya, Aditya Shinde, Rakesh Sungroya, Neeraj Narwal, Narender Kandola, Vishva Asalavan, Anil Jasta, Shivam Choudhary, Navdeep Duhan, Sourabh Nandal, Adithyan, Surjeet Singh, Ajit Pawar, Adesh Warkhade, and Mitesh Prajapati.
