Asian Games 2026 Kabaddi Day 1 Live Updates: India Men and Women Begin Gold Defence Against Japan and Bangladesh

Kabaddi got underway at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya on Monday, 21 September, with eight matches across the men's and women's competitions. India began the defence of both their gold medals, the men against Japan in the morning session and the women against Bangladesh in the evening.

This page carries live scores and results from every Day 1 match, along with the full schedule, the group lists, short previews of the teams in action and the timings you need in IST.

Asian Games 2026 kabaddi: What you need to know

Kabaddi is being held at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, from 21 to 26 September 2026. This is the ninth straight Asian Games at which kabaddi features. The men's event has been part of the programme since Beijing 1990 and the women's event since Guangzhou 2010.

Ten men's teams are split into two groups of five. Eight women's teams are split into two groups of four. Every team plays each side in its own group once during the group stage, which runs from 21 to 24 September. The top two from each group go through to the semi-finals on 25 September.

There is no bronze medal match. Both losing semi-finalists take home a bronze in each event. Both gold medal matches are on 26 September, with the women's final at 9:30 AM IST and the men's final at 2:30 PM IST.

Each day of the group stage is split into two sessions. The morning session runs from 6:00 AM to 10:30 AM IST and the evening session from 12:30 PM to 4:50 PM IST.

Asian Games 2026 kabaddi groups

Men

Group A: India, Japan, Bangladesh, Republic of Korea, Chinese Taipei

Group B: Iran, Pakistan, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia

Women

Group A: India, Iran, Japan, Bangladesh

Group B: Chinese Taipei, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Nepal

Asian Games 2026 kabaddi Day 1 LIVE updates and results

Time (IST)	Category	Match	Result
6:00 AM	Men	Bangladesh vs Republic of Korea	39-35
7:15 AM	Men	Nepal vs Thailand	48-59
8:30 AM	Women	Iran vs Japan	63-20
9:45 AM	Men	Japan vs India	24-49
12:30 PM	Men	Pakistan vs Malaysia	XX-XX
1:45 PM	Women	Sri Lanka vs Thailand	XX-XX
3:00 PM	Men	Bangladesh vs Chinese Taipei	XX-XX
4:15 PM	Women	Bangladesh vs India	XX-XX

Bangladesh are the only side playing twice on Day 1, opening the day against Korea and returning for the afternoon session against Chinese Taipei.

The teams in action on Day 1

India

India are the most successful team in the history of Asian Games kabaddi by a long way, with 11 golds from the 13 titles that have been on offer. The men have won eight of nine, losing only in Jakarta 2018 when they took bronze. The women have won three of four, with a silver in 2018.

Sunil Kumar captains the men's side in Aichi-Nagoya, with Pawan Sehrawat as vice-captain and Balwan Singh returning as head coach after a decade away. Pushpa Rana leads the women's team, with Sonali Shingate as her deputy and Neeta Dadwe in charge.

Only four players from the Hangzhou 2022 gold-winning men's squad are back: Arjun Deshwal, Sunil Kumar, Pawan Sehrawat and Aslam Inamdar. The other eight are Asian Games debutants, among them Pro Kabaddi Season 12 leading raider Ayan Lohchab.

Japan

Japan are the hosts and they open against India in the men's competition. Their best Asian Games finish came at Guangzhou 2010, when the men took bronze. The women are in Group A alongside India, Iran and Bangladesh, and start against Iran.

Japan have been building steadily through the Asian Kabaddi Championship circuit and will fancy home support. Beating India has proved beyond them so far, but a top-two finish in Group A is a realistic target.

Iran

Iran are the only nation other than India to win an Asian Games kabaddi gold. They did it twice at Jakarta 2018, when the men beat India in the semi-final on the way to the title and the women beat India 27-24 in the final.

The Iranian women begin against Japan on Day 1. The men are in Group B and do not play until later in the group stage.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh have a long history in the sport and were runners-up in the men's event three times, in 1990, 1994 and 2002. They have not been on an Asian Games kabaddi podium since, but they remain a physical, well-drilled side.

They have the busiest Day 1 of anyone, with the men playing Korea in the morning and Chinese Taipei in the afternoon. The women close the day against India.

Republic of Korea

Korea have been the quiet improvers of Asian kabaddi. The men took bronze at Incheon 2014 and then went one better at Jakarta 2018, losing the final to Iran and finishing with silver. They face Bangladesh in the first match of the tournament.

Chinese Taipei

Chinese Taipei had their best Asian Games at Hangzhou 2022, when the men won bronze and the women took silver after losing the final to India by a single point, 26-25. Their men meet Bangladesh in the afternoon session. The women are in Group B and begin later in the week.

Pakistan

Pakistan have won bronze in the men's event at each of the last three Asian Games, in 2014, 2018 and 2022. They are the second most decorated nation in Asian Games kabaddi history after India, though a gold has never come. They start against Malaysia in Group B.

Nepal

Nepal's breakthrough came at Hangzhou 2022, when the women won bronze. The men open Day 1 against Thailand in Group B, a fixture that could matter a lot when the group standings are settled.

Thailand

Thailand have three Asian Games kabaddi medals, all in the women's event. They were runners-up at Guangzhou 2010 and took bronze in 2014 and 2018. The women face Sri Lanka on Day 1 and the men play Nepal.

Malaysia

Malaysia are yet to win an Asian Games kabaddi medal. They are in men's Group B and open against Pakistan, one of the toughest first assignments on the card.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka are also still waiting for a first Asian Games kabaddi medal. Their women's team begins against Thailand in Group B.

Day 1 live updates and results

Match 1: Bangladesh vs Republic of Korea, Men, 6:00 AM IST

Result: Bangladesh 39-35 Republic of Korea

The tournament opener brought together two sides with very different recent records. Korea have medalled at the last two Asian Games while Bangladesh are looking to return to the podium after a long gap. Both are in Group A with India, so the loser leaves themselves little room for error.

Match 2: Nepal vs Thailand, Men, 7:15 AM IST

Result: Nepal 48-59 Thailand

A Group B contest between two sides who will both see the second qualifying spot behind Iran as the realistic goal. Nepal have been the stronger side in recent regional competition, but Thailand's defence has caused problems for bigger teams before.

Match 3: Iran vs Japan, Women, 8:30 AM IST

Result: Iran 63-20 Japan

The first women's match of the Games pitted the 2018 champions against the hosts. Iran are in the same group as India and will want a strong start to build the net points cushion that often decides semi-final places.

Match 4: Japan vs India, Men, 9:45 AM IST

Result: Japan 24-49 India

India's title defence began here. The men were chasing a ninth gold from ten editions, with Sunil Kumar leading the side for the first time at an Asian Games and eight players making their debut at the event. Japan had home support behind them in the biggest match of the morning session.

Match 5: Pakistan vs Malaysia, Men, 12:30 PM IST

Result: Pakistan XX-XX Malaysia

The evening session opened with Pakistan, bronze medallists at the last three Games, against a Malaysian side still looking for a first Asian Games kabaddi medal.

Match 6: Sri Lanka vs Thailand, Women, 1:45 PM IST

Result: Sri Lanka XX-XX Thailand

A Group B match with real consequences. Thailand have three women's medals in their history and Sri Lanka are chasing a first, so both sides treated this as a must-win.

Match 7: Bangladesh vs Chinese Taipei, Men, 3:00 PM IST

Result: Bangladesh XX-XX Chinese Taipei

Bangladesh's second match of the day came against the men's bronze medallists from Hangzhou 2022. Fatigue was a genuine question for Bangladesh after a 6:00 AM start.

Match 8: Bangladesh vs India, Women, 4:15 PM IST

Result: Bangladesh XX-XX India

The last match of Day 1 saw India's women open their campaign under new captain Pushpa Rana. India have won three of the four women's golds handed out since the event was introduced in 2010, and Bangladesh have not beaten them at an Asian Games.

Asian Games 2026 kabaddi points table after Day 1

Group standings are decided by wins first and then by net points from the score difference across group matches. With every team playing four or three matches in a short window, net points often end up separating sides on the same number of wins, which is why margins of victory matter as much as the win itself on Day 1.

What to look out for on Day 2

The group stage continues on 22 September with both sessions again running from 6:00 AM IST and 12:30 PM IST. India's men and women are both back in action as the race for semi-final places begins to take shape.

Frequently asked questions

When does kabaddi start at the Asian Games 2026?

Kabaddi began on 21 September 2026 and runs until 26 September at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium in Aichi Prefecture, Japan.

Who did India play on Day 1 of Asian Games 2026 kabaddi?

The Indian men played Japan at 9:45 AM IST and the Indian women played Bangladesh at 4:15 PM IST.

How many teams are playing kabaddi at the Asian Games 2026?

Ten men's teams and eight women's teams. The men are in two groups of five and the women in two groups of four.

Who is the captain of the Indian kabaddi team at the Asian Games 2026?

Sunil Kumar captains the men's team with Pawan Sehrawat as vice-captain. Pushpa Rana captains the women's team with Sonali Shingate as vice-captain.

How many kabaddi gold medals has India won at the Asian Games?

India have won 11 of the 13 kabaddi golds available, eight in the men's event and three in the women's event.

Is there a bronze medal match in Asian Games 2026 kabaddi?

No. Both losing semi-finalists receive a bronze medal in each event.

When are the Asian Games 2026 kabaddi finals?

Both finals are on 26 September. The women's gold medal match is at 9:30 AM IST and the men's gold medal match is at 2:30 PM IST.

Conclusion

Day 1 set the tone for a busy week in Aichi-Nagoya. India carry the weight of a record that reads 11 golds from 13, but the field has closed the gap since 2018 and Iran, Chinese Taipei, Korea and Pakistan have all shown they can take a big scalp. Keep this page open for scores from every match as the group stage plays out.

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