Ahmedabad to Host Inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026
Ahmedabad will welcome some of the world’s leading kabaddi teams when it hosts the inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship from October 23 to 31, 2026. The nine-day tournament will be staged at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex, bringing together athletes from 13 nations for a landmark international competition in men’s and women’s kabaddi.
More than 400 athletes are expected to take part across 23 squads and 62 matches. The schedule includes 39 men’s matches and 23 women’s matches, with the first-ever Commonwealth champions in both categories to be crowned at the end of the event. The championship is organised by the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI), with approval from the International Kabaddi Federation (IKF).
India Names Captains for Men’s and Women’s Teams
India’s men’s side will be led by Surjeet Singh, with Naveen Kumar named vice-captain. Nidhi Sharma will captain the Indian women’s team, supported by vice-captain Ritu. Their appointments add a prominent national storyline to a tournament that will place athletes from across the Commonwealth on the same stage.
The participating nations are India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, Uganda, England, Scotland and Australia. The mix of teams from Asia, Africa, Europe and Oceania reflects kabaddi’s widening reach and creates opportunities for new rivalries, tactical matchups and international exposure.
Key Dates: Semifinals and Finals
The competition will build toward its decisive rounds during the final weekend. Semifinals in both the men’s and women’s categories are scheduled for October 30, followed by the championship finals on October 31. With a packed programme of 62 matches, fans can expect a fast-moving tournament that tests teams’ fitness, coordination and ability to adapt under pressure.
Kabaddi’s distinctive combination of strength, agility and strategy makes it especially compelling to watch. A single raid can shift momentum, while defenders must work together to stop an opponent and send them back across the midline. For audiences new to the sport, the championship offers a chance to experience its pace and tactical depth through a high-profile international event.
Major Platform for Kabaddi’s Global Growth
The inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship arrives at an important moment for the sport. Kabaddi has a strong following in South Asia and is steadily building recognition in other regions. A Commonwealth competition can help broaden that audience by bringing national teams together, giving athletes a larger international platform and creating a more visible calendar of elite matches.
The event may also strengthen the sport’s case for consideration in future Commonwealth Games programmes. While the championship itself does not guarantee inclusion, a successful tournament can demonstrate kabaddi’s competitive format, international participation and appeal to spectators. Consistent organisation, strong team representation and accessible broadcasts will all contribute to how the sport is viewed by fans and sporting administrators.
Ahmedabad has an additional reason to make the championship memorable: the city is set to host the Commonwealth Games in 2030. Staging an international kabaddi event ahead of those Games gives the city an opportunity to showcase its venue, event operations and ability to welcome teams and visitors from across the Commonwealth. It also offers a preview of how local audiences respond to major international sport.
Organisers Highlight the Championship’s Significance
At the tournament’s curtain-raiser press conference, organisers unveiled the official jersey, team captains, anthem, logo and mascot. The event was presented under the theme “One Breath. One Raid. One Commonwealth.” The phrase captures both the intensity of kabaddi’s defining raid and the shared sporting spirit the championship aims to promote.
Jitendra Pran Singh Thakur, General Secretary of the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India, described the event as a proud moment for Indian kabaddi. He said the organisers look forward to welcoming participating teams and presenting the sport’s skill, spirit and competitive intensity to an international audience.
Tejasvi Gehlot, General Secretary of the International Kabaddi Federation, called the inaugural championship an important step in expanding kabaddi’s international presence. He noted that bringing national teams from across the Commonwealth together gives athletes a fresh platform to demonstrate their abilities and helps introduce the sport to more viewers worldwide.
How to Watch the Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship
Fans unable to attend in person can follow the matches live on JioHotstar, with television coverage available on Star Sports. Spectators can also watch at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex free of charge, subject to prior online registration through Thumpn. The free entry option is expected to make the tournament more accessible to local supporters and families interested in discovering kabaddi.
With a diverse field, a full schedule and historic titles at stake, the Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026 will be more than a new addition to the international calendar. It will be a test of the sport’s growing reach and a chance for Ahmedabad to build momentum ahead of 2030. For players and supporters alike, the first champions will help set the tone for the future of Commonwealth kabaddi.
