Ahmedabad gears up for first Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship from October 23

Ahmedabad will host the inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship from October 23 to 31, featuring 13 nations, 23 squads and over 400 athletes. The tournament will include 62 men’s and women’s matches, with free entry subject to online registration

Hyderabad: Ahmedabad is set to host the inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026 from October 23 to 31 at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex, bringing together 13 nations for nine days of international competition in men’s and women’s kabaddi.

Organised by the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI), with the approval of the International Kabaddi Federation (IKF), the championship will feature 23 squads and more than 400 athletes competing in 62 matches — 39 in the men’s category and 23 in the women’s category. The tournament will crown the first Commonwealth champions in both categories.

---

The championship was formally unveiled at a curtain-raiser press conference on Wednesday, where the official jersey, team captains, anthem, logo and mascot were revealed.

India’s men’s team will be captained by Surjeet Singh, with Naveen Kumar as vice-captain. Nidhi Sharma will lead the women’s team, with Ritu as vice-captain.

The participating nations are India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, Uganda, England, Scotland and Australia.

The semifinals in both categories will be held on October 30, followed by the finals on October 31.

The inaugural championship is expected to provide fresh impetus to kabaddi’s international growth and strengthen the sport’s case for potential inclusion in the Commonwealth Games. With Ahmedabad set to host the Commonwealth Games in 2030, the tournament also offers an opportunity to showcase the city’s capacity to host international sporting events and introduce kabaddi to a wider global audience.

Speaking at the press conference, Jitendra Pran Singh Thakur, general secretary of the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India, said, “It is a proud moment for Indian kabaddi to host the first Commonwealth Championship in Ahmedabad. We look forward to welcoming the participating teams and showcasing the spirit, skill and competitive intensity of the sport on an international stage.”

Tejasvi Gehlot, general secretary of the International Kabaddi Federation, said, “The inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship marks an important step in expanding kabaddi’s international presence. Bringing national teams from across the Commonwealth together will give athletes a new platform to showcase their abilities and introduce the sport to a wider global audience.”

The championship will be held under the theme “One Breath. One Raid. One Commonwealth.”

Fans can watch the championship live on JioHotstar, with television coverage on Star Sports. Entry to matches at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex will be free, subject to prior online registration through Thumpn.