Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026: India and Uganda Set Up Women’s Final
India and Uganda will contest the women’s final of the Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026 after winning contrasting semi-finals on Day Eight in Ahmedabad. Uganda held off a determined Kenya side 23-21 in a tense finish, while India delivered a commanding 39-14 victory over Sri Lanka at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex on Friday.
The final, scheduled for October 31 at 7:30 PM IST, will bring the teams together for the second time in the tournament. India won their group-stage meeting 41-18, but Uganda’s narrow semi-final success showed that they can thrive under pressure. The rematch promises a compelling contest between India’s depth and defensive strength and Uganda’s resilience and attacking threat.
Uganda Survive Kenya’s Late Comeback
Uganda booked their place in the final by edging Kenya in one of the closest matches of the women’s semi-finals. The teams were separated by only two points at the end, with Uganda’s early advantage and composure in key raids proving decisive after Kenya mounted a late charge.
Uganda led 12-9 at half-time and appeared to be in control when they moved 18-12 ahead with seven minutes remaining. Kenya, however, refused to concede the contest. Lavenda Odhiambo spearheaded the comeback, scoring 11 of her match-high 16 raid points in the second half as Kenya outscored Uganda 9-5 during the closing stretch.
Odhiambo’s total came from 25 raids and included six bonus points, making her the standout performer for Kenya. Lizzeanne Owino contributed two tackle points, while the team’s late pressure kept the outcome uncertain until the final moments.
Uganda’s attack was led by Nakayongo Shirat and Nalwoga Nahia, who each scored eight points. Nahia made a particularly important impact after entering from the bench, collecting all eight of her points in the second half. Captain Nalubega Olivia added three tackle points as Uganda combined raiding pressure with timely defensive interventions.
The teams finished level on raid points, so the finer details of the match became crucial. Uganda inflicted one All-Out in the first half and converted all five of their do-or-die raids. Those successful high-pressure efforts gave them the cushion they needed to withstand Kenya’s surge and secure a place in the championship final.
India Dominate Sri Lanka to Reach the Final
India produced a far more comfortable semi-final performance, taking control early and maintaining their advantage throughout a 39-14 win over Sri Lanka. The defending favourites led 24-7 at half-time, leaving Sri Lanka with a substantial deficit to overcome after the break.
Sakshi led the Indian scoring with 11 points, including eight from raids and three from tackles. Captain Nidhi Sharma added 10 points from 12 raids, with two bonus points among her contributions. Their performances helped India build a balanced attack, while a disciplined defence ensured Sri Lanka had few opportunities to gain momentum.
India collected 21 raid points and 12 tackle points and inflicted three All-Outs, underlining the scale of their control. Ritu anchored the defence with four tackle points, while Suman added three. The team’s ability to score across both departments made it difficult for Sri Lanka to respond consistently.
Sri Lanka’s Diluxshana finished as her team’s top scorer with six points, five of them bonus points. Priyavarna also produced a Super Tackle, offering a bright moment for the side. But Sri Lanka managed only eight successful raids across the match, a return that left them unable to close the gap against India’s sustained pressure.
India Expect a Different Challenge in the Final
India captain Nidhi Sharma welcomed the semi-final result but cautioned that the final could be a different kind of test. Speaking after the match, she said: “I’m very happy, it feels really good to have reached the final. We have played Uganda before, but they will change their strategy because it’s the second time we’re facing them, so it will be a good match.”
Her comments reflect a key feature of tournament kabaddi: teams can use earlier meetings to identify patterns, but a rematch often requires fresh tactical adjustments. Uganda will have the group-stage defeat in mind and may look to disrupt India’s rhythm, while India will need to prepare for a more confident opponent after Uganda’s dramatic semi-final win.
What to Watch in the Women’s Kabaddi Final
India enter the final with the momentum of a dominant semi-final and a convincing group-stage win over Uganda. Their scoring balance, strong defensive contributions and ability to create All-Out opportunities make them formidable opponents. However, Uganda’s victory over Kenya demonstrated their ability to stay composed when a match becomes tight—and to rely on multiple contributors rather than a single scorer.
The final could turn on how effectively Uganda contain India’s raiders and whether India can limit the kind of late scoring burst Kenya produced. Do-or-die raids, bonus points and defensive timing may again prove decisive. With the Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship title at stake, the October 31 clash offers Uganda a chance to overturn their earlier loss and India an opportunity to cap a strong campaign with another victory.
