India Women’s Kabaddi Team Ready to Defend Asian Games Gold in Aichi-Nagoya 2026

India’s women’s kabaddi team will begin its Asian Games 2026 campaign on September 21 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with the defending champions aiming to continue the country’s remarkable record in the continental competition.

India will enter the tournament as the reigning gold medallists after their dramatic triumph at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, where they defeated Chinese Taipei 26-25 in a thrilling final. The narrow victory underlined both India’s dominance and the growing competitiveness of women’s kabaddi in Asia.

Now, with a new 12-member squad combining experience, international pedigree and emerging talent, India will look to defend the gold medal at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium in Aichi Prefecture. The women’s kabaddi competition will be held from September 21 to 26 as part of the 20th Asian Games. Eight teams have been divided into two groups of four, with the top two teams from each group progressing to the semi-finals.

India has been drawn in Group A alongside Iran, Japan and Bangladesh. Their campaign will begin against Bangladesh on September 21 before the crucial clash against Iran on September 23. India will conclude their group-stage campaign against hosts Japan on September 24.

Defending champions begin another quest for gold

India’s position as the team to beat is backed by an exceptional Asian Games record. The women’s kabaddi competition was introduced at the Asian Games in 2010, and India immediately established itself as the dominant force by winning gold. The Indian women retained their title in 2014 before finishing with silver in 2018.

India returned to the top of the podium in Hangzhou, winning a dramatic final against Chinese Taipei by a single point. That success ensured that India had won three of the four women’s kabaddi gold medals available since the event was introduced. The challenge in Aichi-Nagoya, however, will be different.

The standard of women’s kabaddi across Asia has continued to rise, and India can no longer rely on reputation alone. Every group-stage match will carry importance because only the top two teams will advance to the semi-finals.

The compact nature of the competition also leaves little room for recovery after a poor performance. India will therefore need to be sharp from their opening match.

India’s squad features three players who were part of the gold-medal-winning campaign at the 2022 Asian Games.

Ritu Negi returns as one of the most experienced players in the team and is expected to lead the side once again. A strong defensive presence, Negi was central to India’s successful campaign in Hangzhou and will bring valuable leadership to a squad featuring several players preparing for a major multi-sport event. Pushpa Rana also returns and is expected to serve as deputy. She played a memorable role during the tense closing stages of the 2022 final, holding her nerve when the pressure was at its highest.

Sonali Shingate is the third member of the Hangzhou gold-medal-winning team to make the squad. Their experience could prove invaluable, particularly in close knockout matches where composure often becomes as important as physical ability.

India has surrounded that core with fresh talent capable of bringing new energy to the squad.

One of the most significant additions to the Indian team is Sanju Devi. Sanju arrives at the Asian Games after being named the Most Valuable Player at the 2025 Women’s Kabaddi World Cup. She played a major role as India retained the world title with a 35-28 victory over Chinese Taipei in the final in Dhaka.

Her presence gives India another player with experience of delivering on the biggest stage. The squad also includes Pooja Kajla, Ritu Sheoran, Jyoti Thakur, Pinki Roy, Manisha Kumari, Bhavna Thakur, Rajrani and Nikita Kumari.

Together, the group reflects a balance between established performers and players representing the next phase of Indian women’s kabaddi.

With the sport continuing to gain greater visibility and competitive depth, India’s challenge will be to maintain its position at the top while adapting to increasingly stronger opposition.

Iran and Chinese Taipei are among the key challengers.

Iran will be India’s most significant group-stage challenge. The two Asian powers have been drawn together in Group A and will meet on September 23. Iran remains the only country apart from India to have won Asian Games kabaddi gold in both the men’s and women’s competitions, making them a major threat to the defending champions.

The India-Iran encounter could also have a significant impact on the group standings and the semi-final match-ups. Japan will have the advantage of competing at home, while Bangladesh will be India’s opening opponent. On the other side of the draw, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Chinese Taipei and Nepal will compete in Group B.

Chinese Taipei remain one of the biggest teams India could encounter later in the tournament. Their performance in the 2022 final showed how close the gap at the top has become, with India eventually surviving a one-point thriller to secure gold.

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A potential India-Chinese Taipei clash in the knockout rounds would therefore bring back memories of Hangzhou.

India’s immediate objective will be to finish in the top two of Group A and qualify for the semi-finals on September 25. A victory in the last four would guarantee India another Asian Games medal and a place in the gold medal match. Both losing semi-finalists will receive bronze medals, meaning there will be no separate bronze medal match.

The women’s final is scheduled for the morning session on September 26. For India, the equation is straightforward: navigate the group stage, win the semi-final and then deliver under pressure in the final.

But the larger objective is clear. India has built a proud legacy in Asian Games kabaddi. With experienced champions such as Ritu Negi and Pushpa Rana, world-class performers such as Sanju Devi and a fresh group of emerging players, the defending champions will arrive in Japan determined to add another chapter to that history.

The road to gold begins on September 21.

India Women’s Kabaddi Squad for Asian Games 2026: Ritu Negi, Pushpa Rana, Sonali Shingate, Sanju Devi, Pooja Kajla, Ritu Sheoran, Jyoti Thakur, Pinki Roy, Manisha Kumari, Bhavna Thakur, Rajrani and Nikita Kumari.