India Men’s and Women’s Kabaddi Teams Storm into Commonwealth Championship Finals

Ahmedabad, October 31: India continued their impressive run at the inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship as both the men’s and women’s teams secured places in the finals with commanding victories in their respective semi-final matches on Friday.

The Indian men’s team defeated Bangladesh 56-27, while the women’s side registered a convincing 39-14 triumph over Sri Lanka to move within one victory of securing the championship titles.

The results have set up two important title clashes for the hosts at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Ahmedabad on Saturday. The Indian women’s team will face Uganda in the final at 7:30 pm, while the men’s side will take on Sri Lanka at 9 pm.

India’s qualification in both categories represents a significant achievement in the inaugural edition of the competition, which has brought together teams from across the Commonwealth to promote the sport internationally.

Men’s team dominates Bangladesh

The Indian men’s team delivered an authoritative performance against Bangladesh, controlling the semi-final from the opening exchanges and securing a 56-27 victory.

India established an early advantage and inflicted an All-Out within the first five minutes, putting Bangladesh under considerable pressure. The early breakthrough allowed the hosts to dictate the pace of the contest and maintain their superiority in both raiding and defensive departments.

Milinda Chathuranga and Sabihan were among the leading performers for India, collecting six points each. Made Dwiki Sanjaya also made an important contribution with five tackle points, demonstrating the effectiveness of India’s defensive organisation.

Bangladesh attempted to recover but struggled to match the intensity and coordination of the Indian side. The hosts continued to collect points through successful raids and timely tackles, preventing their opponents from building any sustained momentum.

India’s victory also reflected the consistency displayed throughout the group stage. The men’s team had finished its league campaign unbeaten, winning all six matches to top Group A.

Their final group-stage performance against Sri Lanka had also been impressive, with India securing a 45-24 victory. The result underlined their strength ahead of the knockout rounds and established them as one of the leading contenders for the inaugural title.

However, the final against Sri Lanka will present another challenge, particularly as the opponents have also demonstrated their ability to compete against strong teams. Sri Lanka secured their place in the championship match by defeating Kenya 28-24 in the other men’s semi-final.

India will therefore need to maintain their defensive discipline and attacking efficiency to complete their campaign with the title.

Women’s team sets up final against Uganda

The Indian women’s team was equally impressive, overcoming Sri Lanka 39-14 to book its place in the final.

India took control early and went into the half-time interval with a commanding 24-7 lead. The team’s coordinated raiding and defensive efforts prevented Sri Lanka from recovering during the second half.

Sakshi led the Indian scoring effort with 11 points, including eight raid points and three tackle points. Captain Nidhi Sharma also played a significant role, contributing 10 points from 12 raids.

Ritu added four tackle points, while Suman collected three as India inflicted three All-Outs during the contest.

The performance demonstrated India’s depth and ability to produce contributions from different players rather than relying on individual brilliance.

Uganda, meanwhile, secured their place in the women’s final after edging past Kenya 23-21 in a closely contested semi-final.

The encounter remained competitive throughout, with Uganda holding a narrow 12-9 advantage at the interval. Kenya attempted a late comeback, led by Lavenda Odhiambo, who scored 16 raid points, including six bonus points.

However, Uganda managed to preserve their advantage in the closing stages. Nakayongo Shirat and substitute Nalwoga Nahia scored eight points each, while captain Nalubega Olivia contributed three tackle points.

The final will provide Uganda with an opportunity to challenge India’s dominance in the women’s competition. The two sides have already met during the group stage, when India secured a convincing 41-18 victory.

India will be keen to reproduce that performance, although a final is likely to bring a different level of pressure and intensity.

Ahmedabad tournament raises kabaddi’s international profile

The inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship is being held from October 23 to 31 at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Ahmedabad.

The competition features men’s and women’s events, with 13 nations participating in the men’s category and 10 teams competing in the women’s tournament.

A total of nine days of competition have provided participating nations with an opportunity to showcase their talent and strengthen the international presence of kabaddi.

The tournament also carries significance for India’s sporting ambitions, particularly as Ahmedabad prepares to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. The growing international participation in kabaddi could strengthen discussions about expanding the sport’s presence at major multi-sport events.

India’s progress to both finals has provided an encouraging boost to the organisers and supporters of the indigenous sport.

With the two title matches scheduled for Saturday, the hosts now have an opportunity to conclude the inaugural championship with victories in both categories.

The men’s team will face a determined Sri Lankan side, while the women’s team must overcome Uganda, who have demonstrated their fighting ability by defeating Kenya in the semi-finals.

Both Indian teams will enter their respective finals with strong performances behind them. However, converting their semi-final victories into championship titles will require another disciplined display.

For Indian kabaddi, winning both competitions would represent a memorable conclusion to the inaugural Commonwealth championship and further strengthen the country’s position in the international game.