Asian Games 2026: India Women’s Kabaddi Team Storm into Semifinals with Unbeaten Run

India’s women’s kabaddi team completed an unbeaten Group A campaign at the Asian Games 2026 with a commanding 50-25 victory over Japan on Thursday, securing their place in the semifinals and continuing their title defence in Aichi-Nagoya.

The defending champions produced their most emphatic performance of the tournament so far, dominating the opening half to establish a substantial advantage before managing the contest effectively after the break.

Captain Pushpa Rana led the Indian challenge as the team finished the group stage with three wins from three matches. India will now face Nepal in the first semifinal on September 25, with a place in the gold-medal match at stake.

India made an explosive start against Japan, immediately putting pressure on the hosts through their raiding and defensive units. The defending champions accumulated 23 out points and five bonus points in the opening half, while also executing two All Outs. That combination allowed India to establish a commanding advantage before the interval.

Japan struggled to contain India's sustained pressure, while India's defenders repeatedly restricted opportunities for the Japanese raiders. The two All Outs further widened the gap and helped India move into a 32-13 lead at half-time. With a 19-point advantage at the interval, India had built a strong platform for another victory.

Japan returned from the interval with greater resistance and managed to improve its scoring rate in the second half. The hosts produced 12 points after the break, including eight out points, two bonus points and one Super Tackle. Their improved performance reduced the Indian team's momentum to some extent, but the deficit remained substantial.

India, meanwhile, continued to find ways to add points and maintain control of the contest. The Indian team registered 18 points in the second half, including 14 out points, two bonus points and another All Out. Although Japan was more competitive after half-time, India never allowed the hosts to threaten their overall advantage.

The defending champions eventually closed out the contest 50-25.

The victory completed a perfect group-stage campaign for India. The defending champions began their Asian Games campaign with a 42-21 victory over Bangladesh, establishing an early advantage in Group A. India then defeated Iran 37-23 on Wednesday, before producing their biggest victory of the tournament against Japan.

Across the three matches, India demonstrated consistency at both ends of the mat, combining their raiding points with strong defensive performances. The victory over Japan also ensured that India finished the group stage unbeaten and advanced directly into the semifinal stage.

Captain Pushpa Rana played an important role as India set the tone early in their final group match. The Indian team approached the contest aggressively from the opening exchanges and quickly established control. The 32-13 half-time score reflected the extent of India's dominance in the first half, with 23 out points, five bonus points and two All Outs forming the foundation of the victory.

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Japan's improved second-half performance tested India more than the opening period, but the Indian side responded by continuing to collect points and maintaining its defensive structure. The final 50-25 scoreline underlined India's overall control of the contest.

Nepal Awaits in the Semifinal

India's attention now turns to the knockout stage. The defending champions will face Nepal in the first semifinal on September 25. The semifinal will be India's first knockout match of the tournament, with the stakes considerably higher than during the group stage. A victory would take India into the gold-medal match on September 26, while defeat would end their campaign short of the title contest.

India's unbeaten record provides the team with momentum heading into the semifinal, but the focus will now shift towards producing another complete performance against Nepal. The victory over Japan was built around an exceptional first half, when India raced to a 32-13 advantage and effectively took control of the contest.

Japan's stronger second half demonstrated that the Indian team will need to maintain its intensity throughout the knockout stages. For now, however, the defending champions have achieved their first major objective: three wins from three in Group A and a place in the Asian Games women's kabaddi semifinals.

India will meet Nepal on September 25 with a place in the gold-medal match awaiting the winner.