Defending Asian Games Gold
Indian kabaddi teams depart for Japan to defend their Asian Games gold medals
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Key Points
1
India’s 2022 gold-medal victories came against different opponents: the women defeated Chinese Taipei 26–25 in the final, while the men beat Iran for the title.
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The coaching staffs include BC Ramesh and Anup Kumar as assistants for the men, and Neeta Dadwe with Mamtha Poojari as assistants for the women. Both squads consist of 12 players, coaches and support staff.
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Both captains are taking charge of India at the Asian Games for the first time. Sunil Kumar is one of only four men retained from the 2022 gold-medal squad, while eight of the 12 men are Asian Games debutants.
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Sunil Kumar is described as the Pro Kabaddi League’s most successful captain and currently leads U Mumba; he succeeds Pawan Sehrawat, who captained India to gold in Hangzhou and now serves as vice-captain.
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Although India’s Pro Kabaddi League is a 12-team men’s franchise competition that has operated for more than a decade, there is no equivalent women’s league apart from exhibition games.
India's kabaddi teams departed for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, ready to defend their gold medals from Hangzhou 2022. Both squads completed final training at the Sports Authority of India's Gandhinagar center from September 5 to 14, according to India Sports Hub. Sunil Kumar will captain the men's team while Pushpa Rana leads the women, marking their first Asian Games in those roles.
The teams face tougher global competition as kabaddi expands worldwide. Chinese Taipei and Iran are identified as major women's rivals, MyKhel reported. Coaches credit India's professional kabaddi league and improved facilities for strengthening the national squads and raising the sport's international standard.
Sunil Kumar Takes Over Men's Team Leadership
Sunil Kumar, the Pro Kabaddi League's most successful captain, now leads India at the Asian Games for the first time. The U Mumba star replaces Pawan Sehrawat, who captained India to gold in Hangzhou and now serves as vice-captain, according to India Sports Hub. Sunil Kumar is one of only four men retained from the 2022 gold squad.
The men's team includes eight Asian Games debutants alongside experienced veterans. BC Ramesh and Anup Kumar serve as assistant coaches under head coach Balwan Singh, who returns for the 2026 Games. The squad consists of 12 players plus coaches and support staff.
Women's Kabaddi Eyes Back-to-Back Gold With Pushpa Rana
Pushpa Rana captains India's women's kabaddi team in her first Asian Games, according to India Sports Hub. She leads a squad of 12 players aiming to repeat their 2022 victory, when India defeated Chinese Taipei 26–25 in the Hangzhou final. Sonali Shingate serves as vice-captain under assistants Neeta Dadwe and Mamtha Poojari.
Unlike the men's 12-team professional league operating over a decade, India has no dedicated women's kabaddi league outside exhibition games. This gap makes the national team's gold-medal success even more remarkable. Coaches say improved training facilities and international exposure have lifted the women's program's competitive level.
2026 Campaign Begins September 21 Against Stiffer Competition
Both squads start their Asian Games campaigns on September 21 in Aichi-Nagoya, MyKhel reported. The men beat Iran for gold in 2022, while the women topped Chinese Taipei. Those same teams remain India's toughest opponents this time around.
Kabaddi's global expansion means India faces deeper competition than 2022. Players and coaches say the sport's growth—driven partly by India's Pro Kabaddi League—has raised other nations' standards. Both captains take the field with pressure to repeat, but also with confidence built from thorough preparation and world-class training resources.
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