Asian Games 2026: India Begin Kabaddi Title Defence with Commanding 49-24 Win Over Japan

India made a confident start to their men’s kabaddi campaign at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026, defeating hosts Japan 49-24 in their Group A opener at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium on Monday.

The defending champions controlled the contest from the opening minutes, establishing a commanding advantage before half-time and never allowing Japan a realistic route back into the match. The performance also offered an encouraging glimpse of India’s next generation, with Asian Games debutants Ayan Lohchab and Devank Dalal making immediate contributions.

India entered the competition as defending champions after winning gold at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2022. Kabaddi competition at Aichi-Nagoya runs from September 21 to 26, with India drawn alongside Japan, the Republic of Korea, Bangladesh and Chinese Taipei in Group A. (Pro Kabaddi League)

The opening half belonged almost entirely to India. Debutant Ayan Lohchab quickly established himself as an attacking threat, combining effectively with Ashu Malik as India repeatedly found ways through the Japanese defence.

Lohchab’s movement and attacking intent helped India build momentum early, while Ashu provided crucial support as the defending champions steadily extended their advantage. 

Another debutant, Devank Dalal, also impressed in attack. The youngster arrived in Japan after a highly productive Pro Kabaddi League season and was among the key attacking options selected for India’s Asian Games campaign. Dalal had finished the previous PKL season as the league’s second-highest-scoring raider with 271 raid points.

The combination of experienced campaigners and new faces worked effectively against Japan, allowing India to dominate the first 20 minutes.

By half-time, India had opened up a 31-9 lead.

India establish complete control

The 22-point half-time advantage effectively put India in control of the contest. Japan struggled to contain India’s raiders and found it difficult to generate sustained pressure against the Indian defence. India’s ability to repeatedly collect points through successful raids ensured that the gap continued to remain substantial.

India’s scoring breakdown reflected that dominance. The defending champions finished with 36 out points, eight points from all-outs and two super-tackle points. Japan, meanwhile, collected nine bonus points but could not generate enough successful raids or defensive interventions to seriously threaten India.

The contest also provided India’s coaching staff with an opportunity to assess a relatively new-look squad under competitive conditions. Eight members of the 12-man squad are making their Asian Games debuts, highlighting the generational transition taking place within the team.

Japan returned from half-time with a better showing. India still controlled the match, but Japan managed to reduce the extent of the second-half deficit compared with the opening 20 minutes. Japan scored 15 points after the interval, while India added 18.

The improved Japanese performance ensured that the second half was more competitive, but India's early advantage had already proved decisive. India opened the second half with a successful raid from Aslam Inamdar, setting the tone for the remaining period. With the scoreboard heavily in their favour, India were able to maintain their structure and see out the contest without significant pressure.

The final score of 49-24 reflected India's superiority across the 40 minutes.

The victory gives India an important opening win in Group A as they begin their pursuit of another Asian Games gold medal. The team's preparations had included a training camp at the SAI sports training centre in Gandhinagar earlier in September, with the squad spending significant time together before travelling to Japan. Captain Sunil Kumar and experienced players such as Pawan Sehrawat and Aslam Inamdar provide the senior presence around a group containing several Asian Games debutants.

The result against Japan also maintains India's strong record against the hosts at the Asian Games. India had never lost to Japan in the competition before Monday's match, and the defending champions extended that record with a comprehensive victory.

South Korea next for India

There is little time for India to celebrate the opening win.

The defending champions will return to action against the Republic of Korea on September 22 in their second Group A match. They will then face Bangladesh on September 23 before completing the group stage against Chinese Taipei on September 24. 

The top two teams from each group will progress to the semifinals on September 25, with the men's gold-medal match scheduled for September 26. 

For now, India can take plenty of encouragement from their opening performance. The combination of experienced players and debutants clicked from the start, the attack produced consistently, and the defence kept Japan under pressure for long periods.

A 49-24 victory gives India exactly the kind of start the defending champions would have wanted emphatic, controlled and built around contributions from both established players and the next generation.