The official draw for the kabaddi competition at the 20th Asian Games 2026 has been completed in Nagoya, Japan. The Asian Games 2026 kabaddi groups have now been confirmed for both the men’s and women’s events, setting the stage for another exciting battle for gold medals.
The kabaddi competition will be held from September 21 to September 26 at the Tōkai Citizens Gymnasium in Tōkai, Aichi Prefecture. Both the men’s and women’s tournaments will begin with a group stage before moving into the semi-finals and medal matches.
Asian Games Kabaddi Draw: Men’s Groups
The Asian Games kabaddi draw has divided the 10 participating men’s teams into two groups of five teams each.
Group A features defending champions India alongside Bangladesh, Republic of Korea, Chinese Taipei, and hosts Japan.
Group B includes Iran, Pakistan, Thailand, Nepal, and Malaysia.
One of the biggest highlights of the draw is that traditional rivals India and Iran have been placed in separate groups. This means the two strongest kabaddi nations can only meet in the knockout stages if they qualify.
Each team will play every other team in its group during the preliminary stage. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals.
Women’s Draw Sets Up India vs Iran Clash
The women’s Asian Games kabaddi draw has produced an exciting early contest between two of Asia’s strongest teams.
India and Iran have both been placed in Group A along with hosts Japan and Bangladesh. Their group stage meeting is expected to be one of the biggest matches of the tournament.
Group B consists of Chinese Taipei, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.
Like the men’s competition, the top two teams from each group will advance directly to the semi-finals.
Kabaddi Asian Games Schedule Confirmed
The kabaddi Asian Games schedule has also been officially announced.
The tournament will begin on September 21, with the preliminary group stage continuing until September 24. Teams will battle for qualification before the semi-finals take place on September 25.
The men’s and women’s gold medal matches are scheduled for September 26, bringing the six-day kabaddi competition to an exciting conclusion.
The compact schedule means every group stage match will be important, with little room for mistakes.
India Aim to Defend Their Titles
India will once again enter the Asian Games as one of the strongest favourites in both categories. The men’s team has received a relatively balanced group after avoiding Iran in the preliminary stage.
The women’s team, however, faces a tougher challenge with an early clash against Iran likely to decide the top spot in Group A.
Both Indian teams will be aiming to finish in the top two positions in their respective groups to secure places in the semi-finals and stay on course for another gold medal.
Exciting Tournament Ahead
The confirmation of the Asian Games 2026 kabaddi groups has increased excitement ahead of one of the biggest kabaddi events in the world. Fans can now look forward to several high quality matches as Asia’s top teams compete for medals in Japan.
With strong competition in both the men’s and women’s tournaments, the Asian Games kabaddi draw promises plenty of thrilling contests. The kabaddi Asian Games schedule also ensures six action-packed days of kabaddi, with every match playing an important role in the race for gold.
