Published:
The meeting brought together the minister and members of the team, who are employees of Indian Railways. According to The News Mill, Vaishnaw congratulated the players and praised their dedication, determination and sporting excellence, saying their achievement had brought honour to the country.
The meeting was held at Rail Bhawan, the ministry’s headquarters in New Delhi. The government’s Press Information Bureau also reported the meeting on October 16, describing it as a recognition of the Indian Railways women sportspersons’ gold-medal achievement.
The interaction followed a close final against Iran. India won 37-34 on September 26, a three-point margin that secured the title and allowed the team to retain its Asian Games crown. The result was the central sporting achievement behind the minister’s meeting with the players.
- 37-34: India’s score against Iran in the Asian Games final.
- September 26, 2026: the date of the women’s kabaddi final.
- October 16, 2026: the date of the meeting at Rail Bhawan.
- Three points: India’s winning margin in the final.
- Six named railway sportspersons: Neeta Moreshwar Dadwe, Ritu Negi, Pooja, Pinky Roy, Sonali Vishnu Shingate and Raj Rani were listed among those present.
The scoreline shows how closely contested the final was. The team’s success also reflects the role of players who combine sporting careers with employment in the railway system, as the government and The News Mill noted in their accounts of the meeting.
Neeta Moreshwar Dadwe coached the team, while Pushpa Rana served as captain, according to The News Mill. Dadwe, who was among those present at Rail Bhawan, is associated with South Central Railway.
The other railway sportspersons named in the report were Ritu Negi of South Central Railway, Pooja of Northern Railway, Pinky Roy of South Central Railway, and Sonali Vishnu Shingate and Raj Rani of Western Railway. The list illustrates how the team’s players are connected to different railway zones while representing India in international competition.
The published report does not provide a full roster of the gold-winning squad or identify every player who attended the meeting. It also does not detail any cash awards, promotions or other benefits announced during the interaction, so no such commitments can be inferred from the meeting alone.
The Ministry of Railways said the organisation has a long history of supporting sporting talent through the Railway Sports Promotion Board. Railway athletes have represented India at major competitions, including the Olympic Games, World Championships, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.
The institutional model gives athletes opportunities to pursue sport alongside employment. The official release presents this support as part of Indian Railways’ continued contribution to the development of sporting talent. The meeting with the kabaddi players put that relationship in focus after a major international result.
For young kabaddi players, the achievement offers a current example of athletes reaching the top level while being part of a wider institutional sports structure. The report, however, does not specify any new recruitment scheme, training initiative or policy announced during Vaishnaw’s meeting.
Defending the Asian Games title confirms India’s continued success in women’s kabaddi at the continental event. The 37-34 result against Iran also gives the team a clear benchmark from a high-pressure final, while the subsequent meeting recognised the players’ achievement at the national level.
The next steps for the players will depend on the team’s competition calendar and any announcements from the relevant sports authorities. Neither the News Mill report nor the cited official release sets out a specific upcoming fixture or a new programme linked to the meeting.
