AHMEDABAD, October 24: India made an encouraging start to the inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship, securing convincing victories in both the men’s and women’s competitions as the international tournament began in Ahmedabad on October 23.
The Indian men’s team defeated England 46-26, while the women’s side recorded a commanding 73-13 win over Malaysia. The opening results provided a positive start for the hosts, who are aiming to establish their dominance in a competition that gives kabaddi a dedicated platform among Commonwealth nations.
The championship is being held at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex and features men’s and women’s competitions involving teams from across the Commonwealth. The tournament runs through October 31, with the semi-finals scheduled for October 30 and the finals on the closing day. The event represents an important step in the international promotion of kabaddi, a sport with deep roots in South Asia that has increasingly attracted interest from other countries.
Indian men overcome England
The Indian men’s team delivered a strong performance against England, winning 46-26 in their opening Group A encounter.
Led by Surjeet Singh, with Naveen Kumar serving as vice-captain, India entered the competition with considerable expectations. The opening victory gave the team an early boost as it began its campaign against opponents from a growing international field.
India’s performance demonstrated the importance of coordinated raiding and defensive organisation. Kabaddi requires teams to balance aggressive attempts to collect points with disciplined tackling, particularly when opponents attempt to exploit gaps in the defensive formation.
The 20-point winning margin gave India a strong start to the group stage. However, the team will need to maintain its concentration as the competition progresses and opponents adapt their strategies.
India’s men’s squad has been placed in Group A alongside England, Nigeria, Malaysia, Uganda, Tanzania and Sri Lanka. The round-robin format means teams must produce consistent results across multiple matches to secure progression to the knockout stage.
The hosts will face Uganda on October 24 before taking on Malaysia the following day. Further group fixtures will provide a more complete assessment of India’s form and its ability to handle different styles of play.
Women’s team make a statement
India’s women’s team produced an even more emphatic result, defeating Malaysia 73-13 in their opening match.
The victory gave the hosts a substantial points advantage and underlined their ambitions in the women’s competition. The team’s attacking pressure and defensive organisation left Malaysia struggling to keep pace during the encounter.
Captained by Nidhi Sharma, India will be looking to build on the opening performance as the group stage continues. The women’s competition features ten teams divided into two groups, with India drawn in Group A alongside Malaysia, Nigeria, Singapore and Uganda.
India’s next match is against Singapore on October 24, followed by a meeting with Uganda on October 25. The results of these fixtures will be important in determining the team’s position ahead of the later stages.
A strong start is particularly valuable in kabaddi because points accumulated during the group stage can influence qualification and the confidence with which teams approach knockout matches.
India’s coaching staff will nevertheless be expected to guard against complacency. The early margin of victory offers encouragement, but upcoming opponents will study the team’s tactics and seek ways to disrupt its rhythm.
A new platform for international kabaddi
The Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship is designed to expand opportunities for the sport beyond its traditional strongholds.
India has long been one of kabaddi’s leading nations, with an established domestic structure and a history of success in international competitions. Hosting the inaugural Commonwealth event gives the country an opportunity to showcase the sport while helping participating nations gain experience against stronger opposition.
The tournament features 13 men’s teams and ten women’s teams, providing a wider international field than a bilateral series or a small invitational competition.
For countries where kabaddi is still developing, the championship offers valuable exposure to higher levels of competition. Players can gain experience in tactical preparation, match management and the physical demands of a multi-day tournament.
The presence of teams from different sporting backgrounds may also help introduce kabaddi to new audiences. International tournaments can encourage federations to invest in coaching, player development and domestic competitions, creating a pathway for athletes to progress.
For the host nation, the responsibility extends beyond winning matches. A successful event could help strengthen the sport’s visibility, encourage wider participation and support efforts to establish kabaddi more firmly on the international calendar.
Surjeet Singh and Nidhi Sharma lead the hosts
The Indian teams have entered the competition under experienced leadership.
Surjeet Singh captains the men’s side, with Naveen Kumar serving as his deputy. Nidhi Sharma leads the women’s team, supported by vice-captain Ritu Mitharwal.
Leadership is particularly important in kabaddi because matches can change rapidly. Captains must assess opponents’ defensive formations, decide when to take calculated risks and ensure that players remain organised after conceding points.
The ability to manage pressure becomes even more important as the tournament advances. While a strong opening result can build confidence, closely contested matches later in the competition are likely to demand tactical adjustments and composure.
India’s coaching teams will also need to manage player workloads. The group-stage schedule requires teams to prepare for successive encounters, leaving limited time to recover physically and analyse performances.
Maintaining fitness and avoiding unnecessary penalties will be important considerations as the tournament moves towards the knockout rounds.
Ahmedabad hosts a growing international field
Ahmedabad’s role as host places the city at the centre of a significant week for international kabaddi.
The Veer Savarkar Sports Complex is staging the tournament, which brings together men’s and women’s teams for a programme of group matches followed by the semi-finals and finals.
The competition began on October 23, with nine matches scheduled across the men’s and women’s draws on the opening day. The schedule continues on October 24, with India set to face Singapore in the women’s competition and Uganda in the men’s event.
The tournament’s closing stages are scheduled for October 30 and 31. Teams will need to maintain their form throughout the group phase to reach the decisive matches.
India’s opening victories have placed both squads in a positive position, although the final standings will depend on results across the remaining fixtures.
Focus shifts to the next round of matches
India’s early performances have given the hosts reasons for optimism, but the tournament remains at an early stage.
The men’s team will seek to carry its momentum into the meeting with Uganda, while the women’s side will aim to build on its large opening victory when it faces Singapore.
Both teams must balance confidence with careful preparation. Opponents are likely to become more cautious after India’s opening results, making adaptability an important factor in the matches ahead.
The competition also offers India an opportunity to evaluate its depth and give players experience in a new international tournament format. Strong performances across both divisions would reinforce the country’s position as a leading kabaddi nation.
With the championship continuing until October 31, attention will gradually turn towards the group standings and the race for places in the semi-finals.
India has made the kind of start it wanted on home soil. The challenge now is to sustain that performance, manage the demands of the schedule and convert the opening victories into a successful campaign.