India Triumphs in First Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship

India has made history by winning the inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026, defeating Sri Lanka 54-20. This victory not only marks a significant achievement for the men's team but also complements the women's team's earlier win against Uganda. Key players like Aditya Shinde and Yogesh Dahiya showcased exceptional performances, leading India to a flawless tournament run with eight consecutive victories. The match highlighted India's dominance in the sport, with a remarkable scoring record and strong defensive strategies. Read on to discover more about the match details and player performances.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 31, 2026, 23:07 IST

India Secures First Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship Title

Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], October 31: India has emerged as the inaugural men's champions of the Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026, achieving a decisive 54-20 victory against Sri Lanka. This win also marked a double celebration for India, as the women's team had earlier defeated Uganda 35-15 in the women's final.

Outstanding Performances and Key Contributors

Aditya Shinde was the standout performer for India, achieving a Super 10 with 10 raid points from 14 attempts, including four bonus points. Bharat Hooda contributed eight points, all scored in the second half without being tackled. Pankaj Mohite added six points, while vice-captain Naveen Kumar scored five. Defensively, Yogesh Dahiya excelled with a High 5, successfully tackling five times out of five attempts in the first half. Other contributors included Shubham Shinde, captain Surjeet Singh, Pravesh Malik, and Deepak Sankar, each adding two tackle points. India recorded 30 raid points and 14 tackle points, executing four All-Outs without conceding any.

Challenges Faced by Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka's top scorer, Maduwantha, managed six tackle points, including two Super Tackles, while teammates Ansaf and Viduranga each scored three points. The Sri Lankan raiders struggled significantly, with Sabihan, Milinda Chathuranga, and Viduranga, who had previously led in scoring during their semi-final victory over Kenya, only managing five raid points from 31 attempts in the final. They also failed in seven out of nine crucial do-or-die raids, finishing with a total of 11 raid points and nine tackle points.

Match Progression and Scoring Analysis

India took an early lead of 15-8 with 10 minutes left in the first half, having already executed an All-Out. They then dominated the scoring, outpacing Sri Lanka 15-2 to end the first half at 30-10, with another All-Out occurring in the final minutes of the half. Sri Lanka managed only two successful raids out of 21 attempts in the first half, while India's defenders achieved nine successful tackles from 10 attempts. After the break, India inflicted two additional All-Outs, winning the second half 24-10. Overall, India completed 24 successful raids from 40 attempts, compared to Sri Lanka's seven from 41.

Post-Match Reflections

Following the match, Aditya Shinde expressed his excitement, stating, "With more tournaments being organized, it’s wonderful for the people of Ahmedabad, and we received tremendous support from them. We hope everyone continues to support us in future competitions. There will be a grand celebration, and it’s already underway here!"

India's Dominance in the Tournament

India's championship victory capped off a flawless campaign, winning all eight matches. They topped Group A with six victories, defeating England (46-26), Uganda (44-30), Malaysia (37-23), Nigeria (50-23), Tanzania (48-20), and Sri Lanka (45-24). In the semi-finals, they overwhelmed Bangladesh with a score of 56-27 before clinching the title against Sri Lanka. Throughout the tournament, India scored a total of 380 points while conceding only 193, with no opponent managing to score more than 30 points against them.