Kabaddi teams from India have yet again demonstrated their supremacy on the continent by securing gold medals in both men’s and women’s competitions during the 2026 Asian Games held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Fans following Indian kabaddi through websites like 1xBet certainly have a lot to cheer about. Nevertheless, the real challenge for them would be to sustain their supremacy in view of their improving international rivals.
India’s men’s team managed to beat Iran with a scoreline of 40-34 in the final game, whereas the women’s team managed a tough 37-34 victory over the same rivals. Both games showcased India’s capability to cope with pressure during the most critical moments of their competitions.
India’s men had shown convincing performances in the group stages of the competition and managed to dominate Thailand in the semi-final match with a score of 66-28. India’s women also displayed great determination, especially in the final game, where Iran almost managed to draw closer during the second half.
These wins became a continuation of India’s successful Asian Games performance. Nevertheless, success in Japan has to be considered a stepping stone to the next step.
The Men’s Team
For the men, consistency in developing players who can take responsibility in crucial games is important. The team captain, Sunil Kumar, along with other raiders like Pawan Sehrawat, have been around in the international arena, while younger players can become consistent contributors in the future.
It is important to get a balance between players who have made names for themselves in the past and newer players who can help out in crucial times. For India, it is difficult to depend on its reputation because when its opponents look into its strategies, such as raiding, defence combinations, and game management, they learn all about it.
Pro Kabaddi League, the domestic league, offers players a tough environment where they can compete against the best in the sport.
The Women’s Team
Similarly, the win by the women’s team holds equal importance. With their cool and team spirit, Captain Pushpa Rana and her fellow players have shown that it is possible to beat any determined opponent, like Iran.
Another player who has proven herself during big tournaments is Sanju Devi, who also won the Most Valuable Player award at the 2025 Women’s Kabaddi World Cup. The development of new raiders and defenders, along with experienced ones, will prove to be useful for India in the future.
Iran is still a strong rival, whereas teams such as Chinese Taipei will increase the competition level. It is necessary to keep working on defensive techniques, use of bonus points, and attack tactics for India. More depth in each position will allow dealing with injuries and other issues effectively.
Fans interested in sports through the 1xBet app should pay attention not only to the biggest finals of women’s kabaddi but also to domestic and international matches.
What Comes Next for Indian Kabaddi?
Immediate attention is drawn towards the next cycle of competition. The schedule released by the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India indicates that the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games will be held in Riyadh on December 11–21, 2026, with the opening ceremony on December 13. The involvement of India in the games and kabaddi matches, together with the teams participating in them, should be officially announced.
At home, the calendar has listed the Junior National Kabaddi Championships for girls from 26 to 29 November 2026 in Punjab, followed by the Senior National Kabaddi Championships for men from January 15 to 18, 2027 in Karnataka.
Gold medals won in the Asian Games have helped maintain India’s standing, but what lies ahead is maintaining that level. The performance of the junior teams in upcoming matches and innovative tactics will decide whether or not both teams continue to stay ahead of their competitors.
Another victory in the form of a kabaddi double for India has come in. The next step would be making sure that the next generation does not let down their nation on the global platform.
