13 nations, 400-plus athletes and 62 matches to put India’s indigenous sport on the international stage
AHMEDABAD, October 21, 2026: The spirit, strength and electrifying energy of kabaddi are set to captivate Ahmedabad as the city prepares to host the inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026 from October 23 to 31 at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex. Bringing together 13 nations, more than 400 athletes and 62 matches, the nine-day tournament promises to be a landmark moment in the international journey of the traditional Indian sport.
Organised by the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI), with the approval of the International Kabaddi Federation (IKF), the championship will feature 23 squads competing in men’s and women’s categories. The tournament comprises 39 men’s matches and 23 women’s matches, culminating in the crowning of the first-ever Commonwealth champions in both categories.
The championship was officially unveiled at a curtain-raiser press conference on Wednesday, where the tournament’s jersey, anthem, logo, mascot and team captains were introduced.
India’s men’s team will be led by Surjeet Singh, with Naveen Kumar as vice-captain, while Nidhi Sharma will captain the women’s team, supported by vice-captain Ritu.
The participating nations are India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, Uganda, England, Scotland and Australia, reflecting the growing geographical reach of the sport. The semifinals in both categories are scheduled for October 30, followed by the grand finals on October 31.
Addressing the press conference, Jitendra Pran Singh Thakur, General Secretary of AKFI, described the occasion as a proud moment for Indian kabaddi, expressing confidence that the championship would showcase the sport’s skill, competitive intensity and distinctive spirit on an international platform.
Tejasvi Gehlot, General Secretary of IKF, said the inaugural event marked an important step towards expanding kabaddi’s global presence and providing athletes with a wider platform to demonstrate their abilities.
Held under the inspiring theme “One Breath. One Raid. One Commonwealth,” the championship is expected to strengthen kabaddi’s international profile and support aspirations for its potential inclusion in the Commonwealth Games.
With Ahmedabad scheduled to host the Commonwealth Games in 2030, the event also presents an opportunity for the city to demonstrate its ability to stage major international sporting competitions.
Fans can watch the action live on JioHotstar and Star Sports. Spectators wishing to attend the matches at Veer Savarkar Sports Complex can obtain free tickets online through Thumpn.
