India Women Crown Inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship with Dominant Win Over Uganda

India's women made history in Ahmedabad, becoming the first champions of the Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship after defeating Uganda 35-15 in the final on October 31. 

Led by captain Nidhi Sharma, the World Champions completed an unbeaten campaign, winning all six matches to claim the inaugural title in emphatic fashion. The final on Day 9 was a fitting conclusion to India's dominant run. While Uganda had impressed on its way to the championship match, India demonstrated the difference in attacking depth, defensive organisation and consistency that had defined its campaign.

Sakshi led the Indian attack with nine raid points from 10 raids, while Anu and Nidhi Sharma provided valuable contributions. At the other end, Ritu and Suman delivered four tackle points each to ensure Uganda struggled to build sustained pressure.

The opening exchanges were relatively competitive, with India leading 7-3 with 10 minutes remaining in the first half. However, once the Indian raiders and defenders settled into their rhythm, Uganda found it increasingly difficult to contain the pressure.

India outscored Uganda 15-4 during the remainder of the half, including an All-Out, to take a commanding 22-7 lead into the interval.

The first-half statistics highlighted India's control. The Indian raiders did not lose a single raid, while Uganda failed to score from any of its nine tackle attempts. India, meanwhile, registered six successful tackles, reflecting the gap between the two sides in defensive execution.

Sakshi was particularly influential during this period. She scored seven of her nine raid points in the first half and was successful in all six of her raids. Her ability to return with points consistently gave India the platform to maintain its advantage.

The Indian attack was not dependent on one player. Anu contributed six raid points across the match, while captain Nidhi Sharma added five, including three bonus points. This distribution of scoring responsibility made it difficult for Uganda to focus its defensive efforts on a single raider.

Uganda fight back, but India remain in control

Uganda showed greater resistance after the break, edging India 7-6 on raid points in the second half. Nakayongo Shirat was central to the visitors' attacking efforts, attempting 24 of Uganda's 35 raids and scoring 11 of the team's 15 points, including three bonus points.

However, Shirat received limited support from the rest of the attack. Uganda's other raiders managed only three points between them, while semi-final standout Nalwoga Nahia was restricted to just one point. India's defence ensured that Uganda's improved second-half performance did not threaten the result. Ritu and Suman contributed four tackle points apiece, helping India finish with 10 tackle points overall.

Zalwango Jemima's second-half tackle was the only occasion on which Uganda successfully stopped an Indian raider throughout the match. India also tackled Uganda's raiders 10 times and converted three of their four do-or-die raids, underlining their effectiveness in crucial situations.

The decisive moment arrived when India inflicted their second All-Out with less than 10 minutes remaining. With the lead already substantial, the additional points effectively ended Uganda's hopes of mounting a comeback.

India eventually closed out the contest 35-15, securing the inaugural women's Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship title.

Sakshi finished the championship with 52 points from six matches, establishing herself as India's leading performer in the tournament. Her nine-point contribution in the final was another example of her consistency throughout the competition.

Speaking after the victory, Sakshi expressed her happiness at contributing to the title. "I'm feeling great that I could score 9 raid points and help the team win. The atmosphere in the team is euphoric after winning the gold medal, and everyone is very happy," she said.

She also highlighted the importance of international tournaments for the development of kabaddi and the experience they provide to emerging players.

"This event was very important for Kabaddi as such International tournaments will help the growth of the sport and our young players will benefit a lot from this experience. I could see a lot of improvement in other teams from last year," Sakshi added, while thanking the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI) for organising the championship.

India's title triumph was built on a flawless run through the tournament. They began with a commanding 73-13 victory over Malaysia before defeating Singapore 32-16. Their group-stage campaign also included a 41-18 win over Uganda and a 38-10 victory against Nigeria, ensuring they finished at the top of Group A.

India then progressed to the final with a convincing 39-14 semifinal win over Sri Lanka before completing the job against Uganda. Six matches, six victories and a championship trophy marked a memorable campaign for the Indian women.

The inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship provided an important international platform for the sport, bringing together teams from different regions and offering players valuable competitive exposure. India's dominant performance ensured that the first women's title belonged to them.

For Nidhi Sharma's side, the 35-15 final victory was more than the culmination of an unbeaten tournament. It was a statement of India's strength in women's kabaddi and a historic beginning to the Commonwealth championship's legacy.