The Indian men’s kabaddi team created history by winning the inaugural edition of the Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026, defeating Sri Lanka 54–20 in the final at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Ahmedabad on October 31.
Led by Surjeet Singh, India produced a dominant and unbeaten campaign, winning all eight matches to become the first-ever men’s champions of the competition. The hosts showcased their superiority throughout the tournament, combining an aggressive raiding unit with a formidable defensive setup.
India finished the championship with 380 points scored and 193 conceded, underlining their dominance across the nine-day competition.
Unbeaten Group Stage: India Finish on Top of Group A
India were placed in Group A alongside England, Uganda, Malaysia, Nigeria, Tanzania and Sri Lanka.
The Indian team began its campaign with a convincing 46–26 victory over England on October 23. They continued their winning momentum with a 44–30 victory against Uganda before defeating Malaysia 37–23.
India registered another comprehensive victory against Nigeria, winning 50–23. They subsequently defeated Tanzania 48–20 before completing their group-stage campaign with a 45–24 win against Sri Lanka.
With six victories from six matches, India finished at the top of Group A with 12 points and secured their place in the semi-finals.
India’s Group Stage Results
| Date | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|
| October 23 | England | 46–26 |
| October 24 | Uganda | 44–30 |
| October 25 | Malaysia | 37–23 |
| October 26 | Nigeria | 50–23 |
| October 27 | Tanzania | 48–20 |
| October 29 | Sri Lanka | 45–24 |
India Overpower Bangladesh to Reach Final
India faced Bangladesh in the semi-final on October 30, looking to secure their place in the championship final.
The Indian team delivered another commanding performance, defeating Bangladesh 56–27 to book their place in the title clash.
India’s raiders and defenders worked in tandem to keep Bangladesh under pressure throughout the encounter, ensuring a comfortable victory.
India Defeat Sri Lanka to Win Inaugural Title
India faced Sri Lanka once again in the final on October 31, following their earlier group-stage victory.
The Indian team dominated the contest from the opening exchanges and secured a convincing 54–20 victory to lift the inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship trophy.
Aditya Shinde emerged as India’s leading scorer with 10 raid points, registering a Super 10. Bharat Hooda contributed eight raid points, while Pankaj Mohite added six and vice-captain Naveen Kumar scored five.
In defence, Yogesh Dahiya delivered an outstanding performance, recording a High 5 with five successful tackles from five attempts.
India accumulated 30 raid points and 14 tackle points, while inflicting four All-Outs on Sri Lanka without conceding one.
The victory confirmed India’s status as the first-ever men’s champions of the Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship.
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