Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026: India open with wins over England, Malaysia
By Rohan SalujaGeopolitics Editor, Peepals Global
Representative image: AndrzejRembowski / Pixabay
At the first Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship in Ahmedabad, India's men beat England 46-26 and the women beat Malaysia 73-13 on October 23, 2026.
What Happened
India began the first Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026 with two big wins in Ahmedabad on Friday, October 23. The men's team beat England 46-26 in its Group A opener, and the women's team beat Malaysia 73-13 in theirs. The tournament runs until October 31, with 13 nations in the men's event and 10 in the women's, all chasing titles that have never been awarded before.
Key Facts
- Dates and place: October 23 to October 31, 2026, in Ahmedabad.
- Men's result: India 46, England 26, a margin of 20 points.
- Women's result: India 73, Malaysia 13, a margin of 60 points.
- Another opening-day men's match: Uganda beat Malaysia 45-29.
- Men's groups: Group A has India, Nigeria, Malaysia, Uganda, England, Tanzania and Sri Lanka; Group B has Bangladesh, Kenya, Canada, Australia, Scotland and Singapore.
- Women's groups: Group A has India, Nigeria, Singapore, Uganda and Malaysia; Group B has Bangladesh, Kenya, England, Sri Lanka and Scotland.
- Knockouts: semi-finals on October 30 and the gold medal matches on October 31.
Why It Matters
Kabaddi is a contact team sport with deep roots in India, and the country also runs the professional Pro Kabaddi League. What is new here is the stage. This Commonwealth championship brings together countries from four continents: South Asian neighbours Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, Asian sides Malaysia and Singapore, England, Scotland, Canada and Australia, and four African nations, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda. Because the titles have never been awarded before, the teams that win on October 31 will be the first Commonwealth kabaddi champions.
For India, the tournament is a chance to show that the game can travel. The size of the opening wins also shows the gap that still exists. A 20-point win over England and a 60-point win over Malaysia suggest that most visiting teams are still far behind the hosts. A competitive event needs closer matches, and how the newer teams perform over the next week will say a lot about where the sport stands outside South Asia.
There is also a practical side. Each new international event gives players from smaller kabaddi nations matches against top opposition, which they rarely get. Uganda's 16-point win over Malaysia on the opening day is a sign that some African teams are already competitive against Asian sides.
| Match (October 23, 2026) | Result |
|---|---|
| Men's Group A: India vs England | India won 46-26 |
| Women's Group A: India vs Malaysia | India won 73-13 |
| Men's Group A: Uganda vs Malaysia | Uganda won 45-29 |
Group listings differ slightly between published tables; the groups above are those given consistently by the tournament's results listings.
Impact
Short-term: India's men lead Group A after the first day with a 20-point difference, and the women lead their Group A with a 60-point difference. With seven teams in the men's Group A, India have several more group games before the semi-finals on October 30, and the women face Nigeria, Singapore and Uganda in their group.
Long-term: If the championship becomes a regular fixture, it could give kabaddi a steady international calendar outside Asia, help countries such as Kenya, Uganda and Canada develop national teams. For young Indian players, a wider international circuit means more chances to represent the country.
Who is affected: India's men's and women's kabaddi players and coaches, the 12 other men's teams and nine other women's teams, kabaddi fans in India and in the South Asian diaspora, and sports administrators trying to grow the game beyond its traditional base.
Key Takeaway
India opened the first Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship in Ahmedabad on October 23, 2026 with a 46-26 men's win over England and a 73-13 women's win over Malaysia, with the finals on October 31.
Questions and Answers
What were India's results on day one of the Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026?
On October 23, 2026, India's men beat England 46-26 and India's women beat Malaysia 73-13, both in Group A matches in Ahmedabad.
Where and when is the Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026 being held?
It is being held in Ahmedabad from October 23 to October 31, 2026, with semi-finals on October 30 and the gold medal matches on October 31.
How many teams are taking part?
Thirteen nations are in the men's event, split into groups of seven and six, and 10 nations are in the women's event, split into two groups of five.
Which teams are in India's groups?
India's men are in Group A with Nigeria, Malaysia, Uganda, England, Tanzania and Sri Lanka. India's women are in Group A with Nigeria, Singapore, Uganda and Malaysia.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
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