Pakistan Athletes Withdraw from Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026 in Ahmedabad

Withdrawal of Pakistani Athletes

Tejasvi Gehlot, the General Secretary of the International Kabaddi Federation (IKF), has announced that athletes from Pakistan will not be participating in the upcoming Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026, scheduled to take place in Ahmedabad. This decision comes after the Pakistani government denied permission for their athletes to travel to India. Gehlot stated that while the necessary arrangements were made by the organizers, they received notification that the Pakistani team would not be able to attend. 'The Pakistani government hasn't allowed their athletes to travel to our country. I don't know the reason, but our government permitted, and we sent them all the paperwork. However, we got an intimation that they won't be able to come,' he explained.

Significance of the Championship

Gehlot emphasized the importance of the championship in the context of Ahmedabad being a Commonwealth host city. He noted that this inaugural event is crucial for the inclusion of kabaddi as a medal sport in future Commonwealth Games. 'You will see a lot of countries participating in this tournament here. Because Ahmedabad is a Commonwealth host city, it was the perfect venue for us to come back and hold the Commonwealth Championship here. To get included as a medal event for the next games, we needed to come to Ahmedabad,' he stated.

Details of the Inaugural Tournament

The Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026 is set to take place from October 23 to 31 at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Ahmedabad. This event will feature 13 nations competing over nine days in both men's and women's kabaddi. Organized by the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI) with IKF's approval, the championship will include 23 teams and over 400 athletes participating in 62 matches, comprising 39 men's and 23 women's games. The tournament will determine the first Commonwealth champions in both categories.

Tournament Launch and Team Captains

The championship was officially launched during a press conference, where the jersey, team captains, anthem, logo, and mascot were unveiled. Surjeet Singh will captain India's men's team, with Naveen Kumar as vice-captain, while Nidhi Sharma will lead the women's team, supported by vice-captain Ritu. Participating nations include India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, Uganda, England, Scotland, and Australia.

Future Prospects for Kabaddi

The inaugural championship is anticipated to boost kabaddi's international profile and strengthen its case for inclusion in the Commonwealth Games. With Ahmedabad set to host the Commonwealth Games in 2030, this tournament serves as a platform to demonstrate the city's capability to host international sporting events and promote kabaddi to a broader audience. Jitendra Pran Singh Thakur, General Secretary of the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India, expressed pride in hosting this championship, stating, 'We look forward to welcoming the participating teams and showcasing the spirit, skill, and competitive intensity of the sport on an international stage.' Gehlot added, 'The inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship marks an important step in expanding kabaddi's international presence.'