India’s kabaddi team for the 2026 Asian Games has several notable names missing from the 12-member squad. Among the biggest omissions are Naveen Kumar and Surjeet Singh who were part of India’s gold-medal-winning team at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games. Their absence has raised questions, especially because both players have been important figures in Indian kabaddi over the past few years.
The reasons behind their exclusion are different. For Naveen Kumar Asian Games 2026, injury concerns, fitness and strong competition among raiders played an important role. For Surjeet Singh Asian Games 2026, the main issue was squad balance and the strict 12-player limit rather than a major decline in his ability.
Why Naveen Kumar Was Not Selected
Naveen Kumar has struggled with recurring knee and soft tissue injuries during recent domestic campaigns. These problems have kept the star raider away from the mat for extended periods and have affected his ability to maintain his best rhythm.
Naveen’s game depends heavily on explosive acceleration, quick toe touches and sharp movement. With concerns over his recent fitness and durability, the selectors appear to have preferred players who were in stronger form and could handle several high intensity matches in a short period.
The competition for places in India’s raiding department was also extremely strong. Ayan Lohchab enjoyed an outstanding PKL 12 campaign and finished as the league’s top scorer with 316 raid points. Devank Dalal and Ashu Malik also impressed, while Arjun Deshwal remained one of India’s most reliable point scorers.
With Pawan Sehrawat and Aslam Inamdar selected as all-rounders, there was limited space for another raider. As a result, Naveen was unable to make the final squad despite his previous international success.
Why Surjeet Singh Was Not Selected
The situation surrounding Surjeet Singh is different. His exclusion does not appear to be primarily about poor form. Surjeet played an important role in Dabang Delhi’s PKL 12 title-winning campaign and was also recently honoured with the Arjuna Award.
The biggest problem was India’s need to balance a squad of only 12 players. The team selected four specialist raiders along with two all-rounders, leaving limited space for defensive specialists.
Surjeet is a specialist right cover, but that position is already occupied by captain Sunil Kumar. With Sunil also providing leadership and defensive organisation, the selectors decided against carrying a second specialist right cover as a backup.
Squad Balance Worked Against Surjeet
Instead, India used the available defensive positions to strengthen other areas. Jaideep Dahiya was selected as the main left cover, while Gaurav Khatri, Rahul Sethpal, Sumit Sangwan and Ankit Jaglan provide options in the corner positions.
This approach meant there was no room for experienced defenders such as Surjeet. His exclusion therefore appears to be more about tactical planning and squad mathematics than his individual quality.
India’s Youth Transition
The omission of both players also reflects a wider change in India’s kabaddi setup. The selectors have given opportunities to younger players such as Ayan Lohchab and Devank Dalal while building a squad around a mixture of youth and experience.
For Naveen, a return to peak fitness could put him back in contention for future international tournaments. For Surjeet, his recent performances show that he remains capable of competing at the highest level.
Both players remain important names in Indian kabaddi, but the strict 12-player limit has forced the selectors to make difficult choices. For Naveen Kumar and Surjeet Singh, Asian Games 2026 squad omission is therefore a result of injuries, competition, tactical balance and India’s decision to build a compact team rather than simply a reflection of their overall careers.
