India Dominates in Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship Opener

India's Kabaddi teams made a remarkable start to the Commonwealth Championship, with the women's team defeating Malaysia 73-13 and the men's team overcoming England 46-26. The women's squad, led by captain Nidhi Sharma, dominated the match with a strong performance, while Naveen Kumar and Neeraj Narwal spearheaded the men's victory. Both teams displayed exceptional skills in raiding and tackling, securing multiple All-Outs. Read on to discover the highlights of these thrilling matches and the standout performances that led to India's success.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 23, 2026, 23:41 IST

India's Women and Men Shine in Kabaddi Championship

Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], October 23: India kicked off their Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship journey with impressive victories on Friday. The women's team showcased their strength with a decisive 73-13 win against Malaysia, while the men's team triumphed over England with a score of 46-26 at the Veer Savarkar Stadium.

The Indian women's squad took control early, establishing a commanding 20-3 lead and extending it to 30-11 by halftime. Captain Nidhi Sharma led the charge, contributing eight raid points as India excelled in both raiding and tackling, as reported in a release.

India amassed 40 raid points and 20 tackle points, significantly outpacing Malaysia, who managed only nine raid points and two tackle points, while executing six All-Outs without conceding any.

Sakshi was the standout performer, scoring 13 points, which included eight raid points and five tackle points. Renuka made a notable impact off the bench, adding nine raid points from her nine raids. Anu contributed six points, while Karthika Ramesh and Jyoti added six and four tackle points, respectively. Malaysia's captain, Darsini, led her team with three raid points.

After the break, India continued their dominance, winning the second half 43-2, with Renuka scoring seven points from six raids, culminating in a 20-0 run in the final quarter.

The men's team followed suit with a solid 46-26 victory over England, spearheaded by Naveen Kumar and Neeraj Narwal. Under the leadership of Captain Surjeet Singh, India won the raid battle 32-23 and the tackle battle 8-3, achieving three All-Outs without conceding any.

Naveen emerged as the top scorer for India with 12 points, including 11 raid points and one tackle point, while Neeraj Narwal added 11 raid points. Pankaj Mohite and Sachin contributed four and three points, respectively, with Nitesh and Deepak S providing three and two tackle points.

India established an early lead of 15-5, which they extended to 23-9 by halftime. The hosts recorded 14 raid points and five tackle points in the first half, executing two All-Outs to secure a comfortable lead.

Although England attempted a comeback, winning the third period 10-7 to narrow the gap to 30-19, India responded decisively in the final quarter, winning it 16-7. Neeraj Narwal scored six points from four successful raids, while Naveen added four points from two raids, and Nitesh contributed two tackle points, leading India to their third All-Out of the match.