Asian Games 2026 Kabaddi Day 3 Live Updates: India Women Face Iran, Men Take On Bangladesh

India's men made it two wins from two on Day 2 of the kabaddi competition at the 20th Asian Games, beating the Republic of Korea 63-31 after leading 34-14 at the break, while the women had the day off. The action moves on in Aichi-Nagoya on Wednesday, 23 September, with another exciting day of the group stages. India's women return against Iran at 8:30 AM IST in a rematch of the 2018 final, and an hour later the men face a strong Bangladesh side.

This page carries live scores and results from every Day 3 match as they come in, along with the full schedule, the group lists, a look at the teams in action and the broadcast details you need.

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 3 schedule and results

Time (IST)	Category	Match	Result
6:00 AM	Men	Republic of Korea vs Chinese Taipei	37-43
7:15 AM	Men	Malaysia vs Iran	XX-XX
8:30 AM	Women	Iran vs India	XX-XX
9:45 AM	Men	Bangladesh vs India	XX-XX
12:30 PM	Men	Thailand vs Pakistan	XX-XX
1:45 PM	Women	Japan vs Bangladesh	XX-XX
3:00 PM	Men	Chinese Taipei vs Japan	XX-XX
4:15 PM	Women	Chinese Taipei vs Nepal	XX-XX

Chinese Taipei's men are the only side playing twice on Day 3, opening against the Republic of Korea at 6:00 AM IST and returning to face Japan at 3:00 PM IST.

The teams in action on Day 3

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, with Pawan Sehrawat as vice-captain and Balwan Singh back as head coach after a decade away. The men have been ruthless so far, beating Japan 49-24 and then Korea 63-31, a match in which they picked up 17 bonus points and forced three All-Outs.

Pushpa Rana leads the women's team, with Sonali Shingate as her deputy and Neeta Dadwe as head coach. They opened with a 42-21 win over Bangladesh and have had a day's rest since. Both Indian sides are unbeaten going into the toughest day of their group campaigns.

Iran

Iran are the only nation other than India to win an Asian Games kabaddi gold, and they did it twice at Jakarta 2018. 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 only time India's women have failed to win gold.

That history is what makes the 8:30 AM IST meeting the standout women's fixture of the group stage. Iran opened with a 63-20 win over Japan, followed by a 54-19 win over Bangladesh and will fancy their chances of topping Group A. The men, who had a bye on Day 1, face Malaysia in the morning session.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh have been the story of the men's draw. They beat the Republic of Korea 39-35 in the tournament's opening match and then edged Chinese Taipei 48-47 later the same day, before losing in a close fight against Japan on Day 2.

They were runners-up in the men's event three times, in 1990, 1994 and 2002, but have not been on an Asian Games kabaddi podium since. A result against India would put them in a commanding position in Group A and set up their best Asian Games run in more than twenty years. The women, beaten twice on two days, face Japan in the afternoon for some retribution.

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 feel they let one slip against Bangladesh, going down by a single point, and they have a heavy Day 3 with Korea in the morning and Japan in the afternoon.

The women, the strongest side in Group B on paper, close the day against Nepal.

Republic of Korea

Korea took bronze at Incheon 2014 and silver at Jakarta 2018, losing that final to Iran. This has been a hard tournament so far. They lost 39-35 to Bangladesh on the opening day and were then beaten 63-31 by India. They need a win over Chinese Taipei to keep any semi-final hope alive.

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 on the opening day but came back strong to beat Bangladesh by 3 points on Day 2. Chinese Taipei in the evening session is a match they need.

The women, who lost 63-20 to Iran in their opener, face Bangladesh at 1:45 PM IST in a match that matters for second place in Group A.

Pakistan

Pakistan 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. They have started with two strong wins and meet Thailand in what looks like the Group B match of the day.

Thailand

Thailand have three Asian Games kabaddi medals, all in the women's event, as runners-up at Guangzhou 2010 and bronze medallists in 2014 and 2018. The men have been the surprise package of Group B, beating Nepal 59-48 on the opening day, followed by a 66-23 win over Malaysia, and now face Pakistan.

Malaysia

Malaysia are yet to win an Asian Games kabaddi medal and lost 65-22 to Pakistan in their opener, followed by another huge defeat against Thailand on day 2. Iran, who have had the easiest schedule of anyone so far, are a tough assignment.

Nepal

Nepal's men had the hardest Day 2 of anyone, playing twice and losing both games, after losing 59-48 to Thailand on the opening day. The women, bronze medallists at Hangzhou 2022, close Day 3 against Chinese Taipei in a match that could decide who goes through from Group B.

Day 3 live updates and results

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

Result: Republic of Korea 37-43 Chinese Taipei

Two sides who have both had a rough start to Group A. Korea have lost to Bangladesh and India, Chinese Taipei went down by a point to Bangladesh. The loser here is almost certainly out of the semi-final race.

Match 2: Malaysia vs Iran, Men, 7:15 AM IST

Result: Malaysia XX-XX Iran

Iran, the 2018 champions, against a Malaysian side still looking for a first Asian Games kabaddi medal and a first win here. Iran's net points could matter later in Group B, so expect them to keep the foot down.

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

Result: Iran XX-XX India

The biggest women's match of the group stage and a rematch of the 2018 Jakarta final, which Iran won 27-24 to hand India their only defeat in a women's Asian Games final. India come in after a 42-21 win over Bangladesh and a day's rest. Iran opened with a 63-20 win over Japan. The winner takes control of Group A.

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

Result: Bangladesh XX-XX India

India's toughest test of the group stage. Bangladesh have won two out of the three matches they have played, including a one-point win over Chinese Taipei, while India have put 49 and 63 points on Japan and Korea. Captain Sunil Kumar has led India to two comfortable wins, and Ashu Malik, Arjun Deshwal and Devank Dalal have all been raiding well.

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

Result: Thailand XX-XX Pakistan

The pick of the Group B fixtures. Thailand beat Nepal 59-48 in their opener and Pakistan thrashed Malaysia 65-22. Both will see this as the match that decides who stays ahead in the semi-finals race.

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

Result: Japan XX-XX Bangladesh

Both sides lost their opening matches heavily, Japan 63-20 to Iran and Bangladesh 42-21 to India. With India and Iran expected to take the two semi-final places in Group A, this is about pride and net points, but neither side will treat it that way.

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

Result: Chinese Taipei XX-XX Japan

Chinese Taipei's second match of the day, against a Japan side playing in front of a home crowd. Both came into Day 3 needing results, so this has the makings of a tight one.

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

Result: Chinese Taipei XX-XX Nepal

The last match of Day 3 and possibly the one that settles women's Group B. Chinese Taipei were silver medallists in 2022 and Nepal took bronze at the same Games.

Asian Games 2026 kabaddi points table after Day 3

Group standings are decided by wins first and then by net points from the score difference across group matches. India's men are two from two in Group A with a points difference built on the 49-24 and 63-31 wins. In Group B, Pakistan and Thailand both won their openers and Iran have played the fewest matches of anyone.

In the women's draw, India and Iran both won their Group A openers by big margins, which is why the 8:30 AM IST match carries so much weight. Group B remains 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, so the margin of victory counts almost as much as the win itself.

Frequently asked questions

Who do India play on Day 3 of Asian Games 2026 kabaddi?

The Indian women face Iran at 8:30 AM IST and the Indian men face Bangladesh at 9:45 AM IST.

What time is the India vs Iran women's kabaddi match?

8:30 AM IST on 23 September, in the morning session at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium.

Why is India vs Iran such a big women's kabaddi match?

Iran beat India 27-24 in the 2018 Jakarta final, the only time India's women have lost an Asian Games final. India have won the other three women's golds.

What was the score in India vs Korea men's kabaddi at the Asian Games 2026?

India won 63-31 on Day 2, leading 34-14 at half-time and forcing three All-Outs.

What time does Day 3 of Asian Games 2026 kabaddi start?

The morning session starts at 6:00 AM IST with the Republic of Korea against Chinese Taipei. The evening session begins at 12:30 PM IST with Thailand against Pakistan.

How many kabaddi matches are there on Day 3?

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

Which team plays twice on Day 3?

Chinese Taipei's men, first against the Republic of Korea at 6:00 AM IST and then against Japan 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 3 is the day the group stage gets serious. India's women meet the one side that has beaten them in an Asian Games final, and the men face the only team in Group A still unbeaten alongside them. Win both and India go into the final group day with a clear path to the semi-finals.

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