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The inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026 is scheduled to bring national teams to Ahmedabad, Gujarat, from October 23 to 31, with recent reports listing 13 teams in the men’s competition and 10 in the women’s event. India will field separate 14-member squads in both categories as the hosts look to make an early mark in a new international championship.
The tournament is scheduled at Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Ahmedabad. Published information about entries and dates has changed across tournament and media pages, so the final team count and match schedule should be checked against the latest organiser update. The numbers below reflect recent reports available as of October 20, 2026.
Recent reporting by Khel Now says 13 men’s teams and 10 women’s teams are expected to take part. The men’s list reported includes India, Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, England, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Scotland, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Uganda. Pakistan was included in earlier lists but was reported to have withdrawn, which helps explain why the men’s total differs from some earlier announcements.
The reported women’s field includes India, Singapore, Scotland, England, Kenya, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Uganda, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. That means the event is expected to feature 23 team entries across the two categories, although the final confirmed entries remain subject to the organiser’s official announcement. Some nations are entered in both competitions, so the total number of squads is not the same as the number of participating countries.
India have named a 14-player men’s squad featuring familiar names from the domestic and Pro Kabaddi League circuit. The raiders listed in Khel Now’s squad announcement are Sachin Tanwar, Naveen Kumar, Pankaj Mohite, Aditya Shinde and Shivam Patare. Their task will be to build scoring pressure through raids and give India options against different defensive systems.
The defensive group comprises Surjeet Singh, Ajit Pawar, Parvesh Malik, Shubham Shinde, Nitesh Kumar, Yogesh Dahiya and Deepak Sankar. Bharat Hooda and Neeraj Narwal are listed as all-rounders, giving the side additional flexibility in attack and defence. The selection combines established performers with players seeking to strengthen their international credentials.
Media reports have also noted that none of the 12 players from India’s 2026 Asian Games gold-medal-winning men’s team were included in this championship squad. The selection therefore gives a different group an opportunity to represent India in the inaugural edition rather than simply repeating the recent Asian Games lineup.
India have also announced a 14-member women’s squad. The raiding options reported are Anu, Sakshi, Karthika Ramesh, Simran Kamboj and Nidhi Sharma. Renuka is listed as an all-rounder, while the defensive group comprises Muskan Sharma, Sabhai Vachhiyabhai Gadhavi, Priya, Champa Thakur, Riya Kumari, Suman, Jyothi and Ritu.
The balance between raiders and defenders will be important in a short tournament, where teams must manage momentum across pool fixtures and knockout matches. India’s attacking unit will need to create points without exposing the defence, while the defenders will be responsible for coordinated tackles and limiting opponents’ scoring runs.
Kabaddi has a strong base in India and across parts of South Asia, but a Commonwealth-wide championship creates an opportunity to broaden its international profile. Teams from Africa, Europe, Asia and other regions can use the competition to build experience against different styles of play. For developing programmes, international fixtures can also provide a benchmark for coaching, athlete development and future investment.
The Ahmedabad event also carries a wider sporting context because the city is due to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Kabaddi’s supporters hope a successful international tournament can strengthen the case for the sport to be considered for a future Commonwealth Games programme. That outcome is not guaranteed by this championship, but a well-run event with competitive participation could help demonstrate the sport’s audience appeal and organisational readiness.
The latest media reports place the championship from October 23 to 31 at Veer Savarkar Sports Complex. Earlier pages have displayed different dates and team totals, so fans should confirm fixtures, broadcast information and entry arrangements through the organiser’s latest announcements before making plans. Squad lists can also be amended, and the published names should be treated as the reported selections rather than a substitute for official team sheets on match day.
For Indian fans, the two 14-member squads offer a clear storyline: a men’s group featuring recognisable league performers and a women’s group blending domestic experience with emerging talent will attempt to establish India as the first champions. The inaugural edition will also be a test of how well kabaddi can connect with a broader Commonwealth audience beyond its traditional strongholds.
