India Begin Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026 with Double Victory
India’s men’s and women’s kabaddi teams made a confident start to the inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026, earning convincing wins at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Naranpura, Ahmedabad, on Saturday. The men defeated Uganda 44–30, while the women overcame Singapore 32–16, giving the hosts an encouraging opening-day boost in front of the home crowd.
Both results reflected India’s strength across the mat, with sharp raiding supported by organised defensive work. The men’s side built a 14-point winning margin, while the women controlled their match against Singapore and limited the opposition’s opportunities to score through tackles.
India Men Beat Uganda 44–30
India’s men produced a balanced performance to see off Uganda, combining 27 raid points with 11 tackle points and six points from all-outs. The team’s ability to contribute in both halves of the game proved important, particularly as Uganda also managed 27 raid points but could not match India’s defensive output.
Shivam Patare led the Indian raiders with eight points, including six touch points and two bonus points. Naveen Kumar and Bharat added six raid points apiece, giving India several dependable scoring options. Aditya Shinde also made a useful contribution, collecting four points as the hosts maintained pressure on Uganda’s defence.
India’s defenders helped create the difference. Ajit Pawar finished with three tackle points, while Nitesh, Yogesh Dahiya and Deepak S each recorded two. India completed 11 successful tackles, compared with just three for Uganda—a substantial gap that helped the hosts turn defensive stops into control of the contest.
Uganda Showed Raiding Threat
Uganda remained competitive in attack, led by Mulaire Daglas, who scored nine raid points. Okidi Carnold and Sengendo Jimmy contributed five points each. Their side’s matching raid total demonstrated that Uganda could challenge India when moving forward, but the visitors struggled to contain the Indian raiders and were unable to produce enough successful tackles to close the gap.
The result offers India an early indication of the value of a complete kabaddi performance: attacking points can keep a team in contention, but consistent defence is often what determines whether pressure becomes a win. India will look to carry that balance into its next fixture.
India Women Deliver Commanding Win Over Singapore
The Indian women’s team also opened its campaign in strong fashion, defeating Singapore 32–16. India scored 19 raid points, added nine tackle points and collected four points from all-outs. The team maintained a steady scoring rhythm while keeping Singapore’s attack from building sustained momentum.
Sakshi was India’s leading raider with six points. Renuka and Anu followed with four raid points each, while Nidhi Sharma added three. The spread of contributions gave India multiple ways to score rather than relying on a single raider to carry the attack.
In defence, Suman led the team with four tackle points. Muskan Sharma added two, while Riya Kumari, Sabahi Gadhavi and Ritu each recorded one. The Indian defence’s pressure was reflected in a striking match statistic: Singapore did not register a successful tackle against India.
Singapore’s Scorers and India’s Defensive Control
Singapore managed 16 raid points, with Arthi Selvan leading the side on five. Anandarajan Sindini and M. Vishwalah Devi contributed four points each. Their scoring efforts kept Singapore on the board, but the team could not find the defensive stops needed to slow India’s raiders or shift the match’s momentum.
India’s ability to score through raids while also collecting tackle points and all-out points made the difference. For the women’s team, the opening win provides a positive platform ahead of a tougher test against Uganda. Maintaining discipline in defence and making the most of each raid will be key as the competition continues.
Next Fixtures: India Face Uganda and Malaysia
India’s women are scheduled to meet Uganda at 6:45 p.m. on Sunday, October 25, while the men will take on Malaysia at 8:30 p.m. Both matches are part of the championship programme in Ahmedabad. The fixtures will give the Indian teams an early opportunity to build on their opening results and strengthen their position in the tournament.
The inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship brings together teams from across the Commonwealth, offering players a chance to test themselves against international opposition and introduce the sport to a wider audience. For India, a country with a strong kabaddi tradition, the event is also an opportunity to set the tone as hosts.
Strong Start for the Host Nation
Saturday’s double victory highlighted the depth of India’s squads and the importance of teamwork in kabaddi. The men combined a productive raiding unit with a clear advantage in successful tackles, while the women paired a spread of scoring contributions with a defence that denied Singapore a single tackle point.
There is still a long tournament ahead, and the next matches will bring different challenges. But India’s opening performances have given both teams momentum—and supporters plenty to look forward to as the Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026 continues in Ahmedabad.
