Day 1 of the kabaddi competition at the 20th Asian Games belonged to India, with the men beating hosts Japan 49-24 and the women seeing off Bangladesh 42-21, while Bangladesh's men were the only side to win twice. The action continues in Aichi-Nagoya on Tuesday, 22 September, with eight more matches. India's men take on the Republic of Korea at 7:15 AM IST and Iran, who had a bye on the opening day, finally enter the tournament against Nepal. India's women do not play on Day 2. They are next in action on 23 September against Iran.

This page carries live scores and results from every Day 2 match as they come in, along with the full schedule, the group lists and a look at the teams in action.

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 2 schedule and results

Time (IST)

Category

Match

Result

6:00 AM

Men

Nepal vs Pakistan

XX-XX

7:15 AM

Men

Republic of Korea vs India

XX-XX

8:30 AM

Women

Thailand vs Nepal

XX-XX

9:45 AM

Men

Thailand vs Malaysia

XX-XX

12:30 PM

Men

Bangladesh vs Japan

XX-XX

1:45 PM

Women

Iran vs Bangladesh

XX-XX

3:00 PM

Men

Nepal vs Iran

XX-XX

4:15 PM

Women

Sri Lanka vs Chinese Taipei

XX-XX

Nepal are the only side playing twice on Day 2, opening against Pakistan at 6:00 AM IST and returning to face Iran at 3:00 PM IST.

The teams in action on Day 2

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.

Sunil Kumar captains the men's side, with Pawan Sehrawat as vice-captain and Balwan Singh back as head coach after a decade away. Only four players from the Hangzhou 2022 gold-winning squad are in this group: Arjun Deshwal, Sunil Kumar, Pawan Sehrawat and Aslam Inamdar.

The win over Japan was a strong first outing, built on a 31-9 half-time lead. A second win against Korea would put India in control of Group A before the harder fixtures arrive.

Republic of Korea

Korea are the side India most need to respect in Group A. The men took bronze at Incheon 2014 and silver at Jakarta 2018, losing that final to Iran. They pushed Bangladesh close on the opening day before going down 39-35, so they come into this match already needing points.

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 won the title and the women beat India 27-24 in the final.

The men sat out Day 1 and start here against Nepal. The women, who opened with a 63-20 win over Japan, face Bangladesh in the afternoon session. Iran remain the side India least want to meet in a knockout match.

Nepal

Nepal have the toughest Day 2 of anyone, with Pakistan in the morning and Iran in the afternoon. The men lost 59-48 to Thailand on the opening day, so two more defeats here would leave their semi-final hopes in serious trouble.

The women's team, bronze medallists at Hangzhou 2022, start their campaign against Thailand.

Pakistan

Pakistan made the loudest statement of Day 1, beating Malaysia 65-22 with a 38-11 lead at the break. They have won bronze in the men's event at each of the last three Asian Games and are the second most decorated nation in Asian Games kabaddi history after India, though a gold has never come. A win over Nepal would keep them among the Group B front-runners.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh were the story of the opening day in the men's draw, beating Korea 39-35 and then edging Chinese Taipei 48-47 to finish with two wins from two. Japan are next, and a third win would put them close to a semi-final place that would be their best Asian Games result in more than twenty years.

The women lost 42-21 to India and now face an Iran side that put 63 points on Japan. It is a hard turnaround.

Japan

Japan are the hosts and their best Asian Games finish came at Guangzhou 2010, when the men took bronze. They were beaten 49-24 by India and now meet a Bangladesh side full of confidence. Another loss would effectively end their semi-final hopes.

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 men produced one of the better results of Day 1, beating Nepal 59-48, and they play Malaysia next. The women open against Nepal.

Malaysia

Malaysia are yet to win an Asian Games kabaddi medal and had a difficult start against Pakistan. Thailand will be a fairer test of where they stand in Group B.

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 26-25. The men will be hurting after losing to Bangladesh by a single point. The women begin their campaign here against Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka are still waiting for a first Asian Games kabaddi medal. Their women played Thailand on the opening day and face Chinese Taipei in the last match of Day 2, a fixture that will go a long way to deciding second place in Group B.

Day 2 live updates and results

Match 1: Nepal vs Pakistan, Men, 6:00 AM IST

Result: Nepal XX-XX Pakistan

A Group B contest with a lot riding on it. Pakistan arrive on the back of a 65-22 win over Malaysia while Nepal were beaten by Thailand. With Iran still to come the same afternoon, Nepal know a loss here leaves them with almost no margin.

Match 2: Republic of Korea vs India, Men, 7:15 AM IST

Result: Republic of Korea XX-XX India

The pick of the morning session. Korea are the last side other than Iran to reach an Asian Games men's final and they ran Bangladesh close on Day 1. India come in unbeaten, with Sunil Kumar looking for a second win from two as captain and Ashu Malik, Arjun Deshwal and Devank Dalal all raiding well against Japan.

Match 3: Thailand vs Nepal, Women, 8:30 AM IST

Result: Thailand XX-XX Nepal

Two of the four teams in women's Group B, and arguably the match that decides who joins the group's front-runner in the semi-finals. Thailand have three Asian Games medals in the women's event and Nepal took bronze in 2022.

Match 4: Thailand vs Malaysia, Men, 9:45 AM IST

Result: Thailand XX-XX Malaysia

Thailand were among the Day 1 winners after seeing off Nepal 59-48. Malaysia need a response following a heavy defeat to Pakistan.

Match 5: Bangladesh vs Japan, Men, 12:30 PM IST

Result: Bangladesh XX-XX Japan

Bangladesh open the evening session chasing a third straight win. Japan, beaten by India, need a result in front of their home crowd to stay in the semi-final race.

Match 6: Iran vs Bangladesh, Women, 1:45 PM IST

Result: Iran XX-XX Bangladesh

Iran's women were ruthless on the opening day, beating Japan 63-20. Bangladesh, who lost to India, face the toughest possible follow-up. Iran will also have half an eye on net points ahead of meeting India on 23 September.

Match 7: Nepal vs Iran, Men, 3:00 PM IST

Result: Nepal XX-XX Iran

Iran's first match of the tournament. The 2018 champions had a full day of rest while the rest of Group B played, and they meet a Nepal side into their second match of the day and their third in two days.

Match 8: Sri Lanka vs Chinese Taipei, Women, 4:15 PM IST

Result: Sri Lanka XX-XX Chinese Taipei

The last match of Day 2 brings in Chinese Taipei, silver medallists in 2022 and the strongest side in women's Group B on paper. Sri Lanka, still chasing a first Asian Games kabaddi medal, are playing their second match of the tournament.

Asian Games 2026 kabaddi points table after Day 2

Group standings are decided by wins first and then by net points from the score difference across group matches. Bangladesh lead men's Group A on two wins from two, with India on one from one. In Group B, Pakistan and Thailand both won their openers, Pakistan by the bigger margin, and Iran are yet to play.

In the women's draw, Iran and India both won in Group A. Group B is the more open of the two.

Net points matter here. With only four or three group matches each, sides level on wins are split by score difference, which is why the margin of victory counts almost as much as the win itself.

Frequently asked questions

Who do India play on Day 2 of Asian Games 2026 kabaddi?

The Indian men play the Republic of Korea at 7:15 AM IST. The Indian women do not play on Day 2 and are next in action on 23 September against Iran.

What time does Day 2 of Asian Games 2026 kabaddi start?

The morning session starts at 6:00 AM IST with Nepal against Pakistan. The evening session begins at 12:30 PM IST with Bangladesh against Japan.

How many kabaddi matches are there on Day 2?

Eight in total, five men's matches and three women's matches, split across the morning and evening sessions.

Why do Iran's men only start on Day 2?

Men's Group B has five teams, so one side sits out each day of the group stage. Iran had the bye on Day 1 and begin against Nepal at 3:00 PM IST.

Which team plays twice on Day 2?

Nepal's men, first against Pakistan at 6:00 AM IST and then against Iran at 3:00 PM IST.

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.

When are the Asian Games 2026 kabaddi semi-finals and finals?

The semi-finals are on 25 September and 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 2 is where the group stage starts to take shape. India's men are going for two from two, Iran finally join the tournament, and Bangladesh have a chance to put themselves within touching distance of the semi-finals. Keep this page open for scores from every match through the day.

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