India Shines at First Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship
India's Kabaddi Teams Excel at Commonwealth Championship
On Saturday, both the Men's and Women's Kabaddi teams of India showcased remarkable skills at the inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026, taking place at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Naranpura, Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The men's squad triumphed over Uganda with a score of 44-30, while the women's team secured a convincing 32-16 win against Singapore.
Men's Team Triumphs Over Uganda
In the men's competition, India demonstrated a robust performance, achieving a 14-point victory against Uganda. Shivam Patare was the standout raider, scoring eight points, which included six touch points and two bonus points. Both Naveen Kumar and Bharat contributed six raid points each, while Aditya Shinde added four points. Overall, India amassed 27 raid points, 11 tackle points, and six all-out points during the match.
Defensive Strength
Ajit Pawar led the defensive efforts with three tackle points, supported by Nitesh, Yogesh Dahiya, and Deepak S, who each secured two tackle points. India successfully executed 11 tackles, in contrast to Uganda's three. Mulaire Daglas was Uganda's top scorer with nine raid points, followed by Okidi Carnold and Sengendo Jimmy, who each scored five points. Despite matching India's raid points, Uganda's defense faltered, leading to India's 44-30 victory.
Women's Team Dominates Against Singapore
The Indian women's team also delivered an impressive performance, defeating Singapore 32-16. Sakshi led the raiding efforts with six points, while Renuka and Anu contributed four points each. Nidhi Sharma added three points to the total, resulting in 19 raid points, nine tackle points, and four all-out points for the Indian women.
Defensive Highlights
Suman was pivotal in defense, securing four tackle points, while Muskan Sharma added two. Riya Kumari, Sabahi Gadhavi, and Ritu each contributed one tackle point. For Singapore, Arthi Selvan was the leading scorer with five raid points, while Anandarajan Sindini and M. Vishwalah Devi each scored four points. Singapore managed 16 raid points but failed to achieve any successful tackles against the Indian team.
Looking Ahead
These victories underscore India's well-rounded performance in both raiding and defense at the Commonwealth Kabaddi Championships. The Indian women's team is set to face Uganda at 6:45 PM, while the men's team will compete against Malaysia at 8:30 PM on Sunday, October 25.