“Expectation of Gold Gets Converted Into Motivation”: Pawan Sehrawat Ahead of 2026 Asian Games

For Pawan Sehrawat, wearing the Indian kabaddi jersey is about much more than stepping onto the mat. It represents responsibility, pride and the expectations of a country that has traditionally looked towards kabaddi for medals at the Asian Games.

As India prepares for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, the star raider and Arjuna Awardee is clear about what the team wants to achieve: gold. Sehrawat, one of the most recognisable names in Indian kabaddi, believes being selected among the 12 players representing the country is itself a significant honour. But once the jersey is on, he says the responsibility becomes much bigger.

“I feel very proud to be one of the 12 guys chosen from such a large pool of population to represent the country…When I wear the jersey of India, I feel that I have a responsibility, as we are carrying the weight of the whole country out there and it should go in the right direction as we get the extreme best for India.”

That sense of responsibility will be particularly important when India begins its campaign in Japan, where kabaddi will once again be among the sports carrying strong expectations from Indian fans.

Kabaddi has a formidable record at the Asian Games. Across the men’s and women’s competitions, India has won 11 gold medals, along with one silver and one bronze. That history naturally brings expectations into every Asian Games campaign. However, Sehrawat does not see those expectations as an additional burden.

Instead, he believes they can become a source of motivation. 

“You expect something from someone who deserves it, and you expect gold from Kabaddi. So, it’s a proud moment for the Kabaddi team. We are seen as a team that will bring gold medal and it is a matter of pride. That expectation gets converted into motivation and makes it easier to play,” he said.

The Indian team has been putting that mindset into practice during its preparation camp at the SAI Sports Training Centre in Gandhinagar. The 12-member squad has been together at the camp from September 5 to 15 as the players work towards the Asian Games campaign. For Sehrawat, the time spent together has also been important in building the understanding required inside a kabaddi team.

Kabaddi is a sport where individual brilliance can change a match, but coordination between players remains crucial. Sehrawat believes India's current squad has developed the trust needed to operate as a unit.

“The team is very confident. We have practiced a lot together. All the 12 players who have been selected make a great combination. We trust each other. The most important thing is that we are here for one thing, and that is gold. Gold makes us all one, and this is what a team should be,” he said.

The squad combines experienced campaigners with players who have established themselves through domestic and professional kabaddi. Sunil Kumar will lead the side as captain, while Sehrawat will be among India's key raiding options.

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The team also includes Ankit Jaglan, Aslam Inamdar, Ashu Malik, Ayan Lohchab, Devank Dalal, Arjun Deshwal, Jaideep Dahiya, Rahul Sethpal, Gaurav Khatri and Sumit Sangwan. Sehrawat arrives at the Asian Games with an established record in the Pro Kabaddi League. He holds the league record for the most raid points scored by a player in a single match, having accumulated 39 raid points in one game.

At the Asian Games, however, individual records will take a back seat to the collective objective.

India’s Asian Games Campaign Begins September 21

The kabaddi competition at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games is scheduled to begin on September 21, with the final set to be played on September 26. For the Indian team, the challenge will be to translate weeks of preparation, tactical work and squad cohesion into performances when the competition begins. Sehrawat's message is clear: the expectation surrounding Indian kabaddi is not something the players intend to run from. Instead, it is something they want to use to sharpen their focus.

With the entire 12-member squad united around the same target, India will enter the Asian Games campaign carrying both its impressive history in the competition and the expectations that come with it. For Sehrawat and his teammates, the task now is to turn that expectation into performance and performance into another gold-medal campaign.