The Asian Games kabaddi schedule for 2026 runs from September 21 to 26 at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium in Tokai, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, as part of the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026. Defending double champions India field both a men’s and a women’s team, and this page has the complete asian games kabaddi schedule — groups, IST match timings, squads, semi-final and final dates, and where to watch every game live in India.
Kabaddi returns for its ninth straight appearance at the Asian Games since being introduced in 1990, and India goes in as the team to beat after sweeping gold in both the men’s and women’s events at the last edition. With the asian games 2026 kabaddi schedule now finalised and groups drawn, fans searching for kabaddi asian games 2026 fixtures, timings, and squad details will find everything below in one place.
Asian Games Kabaddi 2026 Schedule at a Glance
Here is the quick-reference asian games kabaddi schedule before we break down each phase in detail.
| Phase | Dates | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Group stage (men & women) | September 21–24, 2026 | Tokai Citizens Gymnasium, Aichi, Japan |
| Semi-finals (both events) | September 25, 2026 | Tokai Citizens Gymnasium, Aichi, Japan |
| Gold medal matches (finals) | September 26, 2026 | Tokai Citizens Gymnasium, Aichi, Japan |
All matches are played at a single venue, so there is no travel between cities during the competition window — a change fans of the sport will appreciate when tracking the asian games kabaddi 2026 action across six straight days.
Asian Games Kabaddi 2026 Venue
Every men’s and women’s kabaddi match at the 2026 Asian Games is being held at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium in Tokai City, Aichi Prefecture — one of the venue clusters supporting the wider Aichi-Nagoya Games. The single-venue format for this asian games kabaddi schedule means group games, semi-finals, and the final all take place on the same court, which simplifies broadcast logistics and keeps travel and recovery time consistent for every squad, including Team India.
Kabaddi Asian Games 2026 Format: How the Competition Works
The asian games kabaddi 2026 competition features two medal events — a men’s team tournament and a women’s team tournament. Ten men’s teams and eight women’s teams have entered, split into two groups apiece for the round-robin group stage from September 21 to 24.
Here is how the format plays out:
- Group stage (Sept 21–24): Teams in each group play round-robin matches against every other team in their pool.
- Semi-finals (Sept 25): The top teams from each group cross over to face each other for a place in the final.
- Finals (Sept 26): Group winners and semi-final winners meet for gold, while both losing semi-finalists are awarded bronze medals — there is no separate third-place play-off.
This straightforward group-to-knockout structure is the same broad template used in previous editions, which is why searches for the asian games kabaddi final 2026 date spike as soon as groups are announced — fans already know roughly when the medal matches will land.
India’s Kabaddi Legacy at the Asian Games
Context matters when you’re tracking the asian games kabaddi schedule, and India’s record explains why this sport draws such huge attention every edition. India’s men have won 8 of the 9 kabaddi golds contested at the Asian Games since the sport’s introduction in 1990, with the only slip coming at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, where Iran beat India in the semi-final and pushed the men’s team to bronze. India’s women, who joined the Asian Games kabaddi programme in 2010, have a similar story — three golds, with a silver at the 2018 Games after losing the final to Iran.
Both Indian teams responded emphatically at the most recent edition (the 2022 Asian Games, held in Hangzhou in 2023), reclaiming gold in both the men’s and women’s events. That result is exactly why the indian kabaddi team asian games campaign in 2026 is being watched as a title defence rather than a fresh chase, and why Iran, Japan, Bangladesh, and Chinese Taipei will all be treated as genuine threats to India’s dominance in Aichi.
Asian Games 2026 Kabaddi Groups: Men’s and Women’s Pools
The draw for the asian games 2026 kabaddi schedule has placed India in the following groups:
Men’s Group A
- India
- Bangladesh
- Republic of Korea
- Chinese Taipei
- Japan
Women’s Group A
- India
- Iran
- Japan
- Bangladesh
Both Indian teams face familiar regional rivals in the group stage, including Bangladesh and Japan in both the men’s and women’s draws. As one of the strongest kabaddi nations at every Asian Games, indian kabaddi team asian games campaigns are always watched closely from the very first group match, and this year is no different with India chasing back-to-back gold in both categories.
India Kabaddi Schedule in IST: Match-by-Match Timings
Fans searching for the asian games kabaddi india fixtures in Indian Standard Time (IST) can use the table below to track every group match involving Team India.
| Date | Team | Opponent | IST Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 21 | Men | Japan | 6:00 AM |
| September 21 | Women | Bangladesh | 12:30 PM |
| September 22 | Men | Republic of Korea | 6:00 AM |
| September 23 | Men | Bangladesh | 6:00 AM |
| September 23 | Women | Iran | 6:00 AM |
| September 24 | Men | Chinese Taipei | 6:00 AM |
| September 24 | Women | Japan | 12:30 PM |
Because Japan is 3.5 hours ahead of India, most morning matches in Aichi fall in the early-morning IST slot, so fans planning to watch India’s group games live should set alarms accordingly. This table will be updated with any official changes to the asian games kabaddi schedule as they are announced.
Semi-Final and Final Dates for Asian Games Kabaddi 2026
Once the group stage wraps up on September 24, the knockout rounds follow immediately:
| Date | Round | IST Time |
|---|---|---|
| September 25 | Semi-finals (men’s & women’s) | 9:30 AM and 2:30 PM |
| September 26 | Women’s final | 9:30 AM |
| September 26 | Men’s final | 2:30 PM |
If India tops Group A in both categories, as expected given their squad depth, the semi-final berths should be confirmed with matches to spare — keeping the pressure on rivals rather than the defending champions. The asian games kabaddi final 2026 for both men and women falls on the same day, September 26, giving fans a complete kabaddi finale to close out the tournament.
Indian Kabaddi Team for Asian Games 2026: Full Squad
India has announced 12-player squads for both the men’s and women’s events, built around a mix of Pro Kabaddi League stars and experienced international raiders and defenders. For the full list of Indian athletes across every sport, see our guide to Indian athletes qualified for Asian Games 2026.
India Men’s Squad
Ashu Malik, Ayan Lohchab, Devank Dalal, Arjun Deshwal, Sunil Kumar, Jaideep Dahiya, Rahul Sethpal, Gaurav Khatri, Sumit Sangwan, Ankit Jaglan, Pawan Sehrawat, Aslam Inamdar.
India Women’s Squad
Ritu Negi, Pushpa Rana, Sonali Shingate, Sanju Devi, Pooja Kajla, Ritu Sheoran, Jyoti Thakur, Pinki Roy, Manisha Kumari, Bhavna Thakur, Rajrani, Nikita Kumari.
Star raiders Pawan Sehrawat and Arjun Deshwal headline the men’s raiding unit, while Sunil Kumar anchors the defence — a combination India will lean on heavily through the group stage and into the knockouts. On the women’s side, the squad blends recent Pro Kabaddi and domestic circuit performers tasked with defending India’s women’s gold from the previous Games.
Where to Watch Asian Games Kabaddi 2026 Live in India
Sony Pictures Networks India holds the exclusive broadcast and streaming rights for the entire 20th Asian Games, including every kabaddi match. Indian fans can follow the complete asian games kabaddi schedule through these options:
- TV: Live telecast on Sony Sports Network channels.
- Streaming: Live streaming on the SonyLIV app and website.
- Live results: Official standings and medal updates via the Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 organising committee.
Given the early IST kick-off times for most morning matches, streaming on SonyLIV is likely to be the most convenient option for fans catching live action on mobile before heading to work or college.
Asian Games Kabaddi Schedule 2026: FAQs
When does the Asian Games kabaddi schedule 2026 start?
The kabaddi competition at the 2026 Asian Games begins on September 21 and concludes with the finals on September 26.
Where is kabaddi being played at the 2026 Asian Games?
All kabaddi matches, from the group stage through the final, are held at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium in Tokai, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
Which group is India in for kabaddi at the Asian Games 2026?
India’s men’s team is in Group A with Bangladesh, Republic of Korea, Chinese Taipei, and Japan. India’s women’s team is in Group A with Iran, Japan, and Bangladesh.
What time do India’s kabaddi matches start in IST?
Most of India’s group matches begin at 6:00 AM IST for the men’s team and 12:30 PM IST for the women’s team, though timings can shift for the knockout rounds — check the match-by-match table above for exact slots.
When is the Asian Games kabaddi final 2026?
Both the men’s and women’s kabaddi finals are scheduled for September 26, 2026, with the women’s final at 9:30 AM IST and the men’s final at 2:30 PM IST.
Is India defending champion in kabaddi at the Asian Games?
Yes. India enters the 2026 Games as the defending champion in both the men’s and women’s kabaddi events after winning gold in both categories at the previous edition.
Where can I watch the Asian Games kabaddi schedule 2026 matches live in India?
Every match is available live on Sony Sports Network TV channels and via streaming on the SonyLIV app in India.
For the complete multi-sport lineup, check the full Asian Games 2026 India schedule.
Sources: Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Organising Committee, Pro Kabaddi League, Wikipedia, Sony Pictures Networks India.
