India Open Inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship Against Malaysia and England

The inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship will begin on Friday, October 23, 2026, at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Ahmedabad. India will open its campaign in the women’s competition against Malaysia and in the men’s event against England. The Indian women’s team, led by captain Nidhi Sharma, will face Malaysia at 6:45 PM, while the men’s side, captained by Surjeet Singh, will take on England at 8:30 PM. The nine-day tournament will run from October 23 to 31 and will feature 23 teams from 13 nations competing in 62 matches, including 39 men’s and 23 women’s fixtures. The championship will get underway with a men’s Group B encounter between Kenya and Singapore at 11:00 AM. The men’s competition features 13 teams divided into two groups. India is placed in Group A alongside Nigeria, Malaysia, Uganda, England, Tanzania and Sri Lanka. Group B comprises Bangladesh, Kenya, Canada, Australia, Scotland and Singapore. India’s 14-member men’s squad includes vice-captain Naveen Kumar, Sachin Tanwar, Pankaj Mohite, Bharat Hooda, Shubham Shinde and Parvesh Bhainswal. After facing England, India will meet Uganda on October 24, Malaysia on October 25, Nigeria on October 26, Tanzania on October 27 and Sri Lanka on October 29. The women’s competition features 10 teams across two groups of five. India shares Group A with Singapore, Nigeria, Uganda and Malaysia, while Bangladesh, Kenya, England, Scotland and Sri Lanka make up Group B. Ritu will serve as vice-captain of the Indian women’s team, which also features Muskan Sharma, Riya Kumari, Simran Kamboj and Karthika Ramesh. After facing Malaysia, India will meet Singapore on October 24, Uganda on October 25 and Nigeria on October 26. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semifinals on October 30, with the women’s and men’s finals scheduled for October 31. The tournament is organised by the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India with approval from the International Kabaddi Federation. It comes as Ahmedabad prepares to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, and the event is being seen as an important step toward raising kabaddi’s global profile and supporting its case for inclusion in future Commonwealth Games programmes. The opening day will feature a busy schedule, with Kenya and Singapore starting proceedings before India’s women’s and men’s teams take the mat in the evening. India’s men’s team will look to use home advantage and a balanced squad in a competitive Group A. England, Sri Lanka and Nigeria are expected to provide strong challenges, while Malaysia, Uganda and Tanzania will also aim to make an impact. For the women’s team, Malaysia and Nigeria are likely to be the main group-stage tests, with Singapore and Uganda also capable of pushing the pace. The top-two semifinal format means every match and every point difference could matter. With 62 matches in nine days, fitness, recovery and squad rotation will be crucial. Teams will need to manage the workload of players across a packed schedule. The venue in Ahmedabad is expected to provide a strong home atmosphere for the Indian sides, while the presence of teams from Africa, Europe, Asia and North America underlines kabaddi’s growing international reach. The event is also expected to boost grassroots interest in the sport and add momentum to Ahmedabad’s preparations for the 2030 Commonwealth Games.