Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026: Ahmedabad Set to Host Inaugural Edition as India Targets Double Gold

Ahmedabad will host the inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship from October 23 to 31, bringing together national teams from across the Commonwealth for nine days of competition. 

Organised by the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI) with the approval of the International Kabaddi Federation (IKF), the tournament is expected to feature 23 squads, more than 400 athletes and 62 matches across the men’s and women’s categories.

The championship will be held at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex, with India fielding separate 14-member squads in both categories. The opening edition offers the hosts an opportunity to establish themselves as the first champions while giving kabaddi a platform to reach a wider international audience.

The event was formally unveiled at a curtain-raiser on Wednesday, October 21, ahead of the opening matches on Friday.

India’s men’s and women’s teams will begin their campaigns on the opening day, with both sides facing opponents from different kabaddi traditions.

The Indian women’s team is scheduled to face Malaysia at 6:45 pm IST, while the men’s team will take on England at 8:30 pm IST. The opening fixtures will provide the Indian squads with an early opportunity to establish momentum in the inaugural tournament.

With the championship running for nine days, a strong start could be important in navigating the competition schedule. The teams will need to balance aggressive raiding with disciplined defensive coordination as they look to progress through the tournament.

The event is expected to feature 13 men’s teams and 10 women’s teams, according to recent reports. The men’s field includes India, Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, England, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Scotland, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Uganda.

The reported women’s lineup comprises India, Singapore, Scotland, England, Kenya, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Uganda, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. The final entries and fixtures should be confirmed through the organisers’ latest announcements, as earlier reports have contained differing team totals.

India Men’s Squad Features Established League Performers

India have selected a 14-member men’s squad featuring several familiar names from the domestic circuit and the Pro Kabaddi League. The raiding unit comprises Sachin Tanwar, Naveen Kumar, Pankaj Mohite, Aditya Shinde and Shivam Patare. The group offers India multiple attacking options as the team looks to build scoring pressure and exploit gaps in opposing defences.

The defensive contingent includes Surjeet Singh, Ajit Pawar, Parvesh Malik, Shubham Shinde, Nitesh Kumar, Yogesh Dahiya and Deepak Sankar. Bharat Hooda and Neeraj Narwal have been listed as all-rounders, providing additional flexibility across both departments.

One of the notable aspects of the selection is the reported absence of all 12 players from India’s men’s squad that won gold at the 2026 Asian Games. The Commonwealth championship therefore presents another group of Indian players with an opportunity to represent the country in an international competition.

For the selected athletes, the tournament offers a chance to establish themselves in a new championship and demonstrate their ability to perform under international pressure.

India’s 14-member women’s squad combines raiding options with a substantial defensive group.

The raiders are Anu, Sakshi, Karthika Ramesh, Simran Kamboj and Nidhi Sharma. Renuka has been named as an all-rounder, while Muskan Sharma, Sabhai Vachhiyabhai Gadhavi, Priya, Champa Thakur, Riya Kumari, Suman, Jyothi and Ritu form the defensive unit.

The balance between attack and defence will be central to India’s campaign. Effective raiding can create scoring opportunities and put opponents under pressure, but defensive coordination will be equally important in preventing opponents from building momentum.

The opening match against Malaysia will offer an early test of the team’s combinations. With the tournament introducing a new international platform for the women’s game, a strong campaign could help raise the profile of the selected players and the broader women’s kabaddi programme.

Kabaddi has deep roots in India and a strong following across parts of South Asia. A Commonwealth-wide championship creates an opportunity to expand its competitive footprint by bringing together teams from Asia, Africa, Europe and other regions.

For emerging programmes, international competition provides experience against unfamiliar playing styles and an opportunity to assess coaching systems, player development and tactical approaches. For established teams such as India, it offers another platform to test squad depth and develop players for future international assignments.

The inaugural edition also carries significance for Ahmedabad, which is scheduled to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. A successful championship could help demonstrate the city’s capacity to organise international sporting events and provide additional visibility for kabaddi within the Commonwealth sporting community.

However, hosting this championship does not guarantee the sport’s inclusion in the 2030 Games programme. Its longer-term significance will depend on several factors, including the sport’s international development, audience appeal and decisions by the relevant organisers.

The competition will run from October 23 to 31, with 62 matches scheduled across the two categories. The reported participation of 23 squads and more than 400 athletes makes the inaugural championship a substantial international gathering for the sport.

For India, the immediate objective is clear: begin strongly, maintain consistency across the competition and contend for both titles. The men’s team will draw on its mix of experienced league performers and emerging talent, while the women’s squad will seek to establish its credentials against an international field.

The opening fixtures against England and Malaysia will begin that journey on Friday. Beyond the pursuit of medals, the championship represents an opportunity to introduce kabaddi to a broader Commonwealth audience and create a foundation for future editions.

As Ahmedabad prepares to welcome the participating teams, the inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship will offer nine days of competition and a chance for India to set the benchmark in a new international tournament.