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Uganda’s women’s kabaddi team, the She Gladiators, powered into the semifinals of the inaugural 2026 Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship with a commanding 65-22 victory over Nigeria in Ahmedabad, India, on Wednesday, October 28. The 43-point win in the final Group A match secured Uganda the fourth and final place in the women’s last four.
Uganda now joins India, Kenya and Sri Lanka in the semifinal stage. The result keeps the She Gladiators’ hopes of winning the inaugural title alive and sets up a regional showdown with Kenya on Friday.
With qualification on the line, Uganda delivered its most important result of the group stage by pulling away from Nigeria to finish the match 65-22. The margin of victory proved decisive in completing the semifinal lineup, with Uganda taking the last available spot.
The result marks a turnaround in the tournament narrative for the Ugandan side, which had faced a difficult challenge against host nation India earlier in the competition. Uganda lost that match 41-18 on October 25, despite Beatrice Namataka scoring seven points. The team subsequently beat Malaysia 35-23 on October 26 before closing its group campaign with the emphatic win over Nigeria.
The performance against Nigeria also gave Uganda momentum heading into the knockout stage. A large victory can help a team build confidence, but the semifinal will bring a different test against Kenya, another team that has reached the final four.
Uganda captain Olivia Nalubega was named Best Rider of the Match for her performance against Nigeria. Nahia Nalwoga was recognised as Best Defender, giving the team individual honours in both attacking and defensive roles.
Speaking after qualification, Nalubega said the team was pleased to have secured its place in the semifinals and believed it was in good shape for the challenge ahead. She also praised the team’s enjoyment and effort during the Nigeria match, while highlighting the individual awards received by her teammates.
Nalubega said Uganda would do its best to reach the final and promised that the squad would give everything in the attempt to keep the title challenge going. Her comments underline the importance of maintaining the same energy and discipline as the tournament moves from group play to a knockout contest.
Uganda is scheduled to meet regional rival Kenya on Friday, October 30, at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Ahmedabad. Kawowo Sports reported a 3:30 pm East African Time start for the match. It will be a significant test for Uganda, which must now translate its strong group-stage finish into a performance under semifinal pressure.
The other women’s semifinal will see hosts India face Sri Lanka at the same venue, scheduled for 4:15 pm East African Time. The four-team lineup brings together sides that have progressed through the group stage and are now one win away from the championship final.
Uganda’s task will be to maintain its scoring threat while preparing for the specific challenge posed by Kenya. The Nigeria result gives the She Gladiators a positive finish to the group stage, but the semifinal is a separate match and the outcome remains undecided.
Reaching the last four is an important milestone for Uganda in the first Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship. The tournament provides an international platform for the women’s squad and offers a chance to compete for a title against teams from across the Commonwealth.
The 65-22 scoreline is a clear statement of Uganda’s ability to produce a high-scoring performance when the stakes are high. However, the next step requires consistency: the team must carry its attacking confidence and defensive organisation into a match against Kenya, with a place in the final on the line.
For Ugandan supporters, the semifinal also creates a regional rivalry to follow closely. With India and Sri Lanka meeting in the other last-four fixture, Uganda’s route to the title now depends on one crucial performance on Friday.
