CM Bhajan Lal hails India's Kabaddi gold at Asian Games 2026
Synopsis
Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma praised India's men's kabaddi team on 26 September 2026 after they won gold at the Asian Games 2026, continuing India's historic dominance in the sport since 1990.
Key Takeaways
India's men's kabaddi team won gold at Asian Games 2026 , prompting congratulations from top political leaders.
Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma posted his tribute on X on 26 September 2026 .
India had previously won kabaddi gold at the 2018 Jakarta and 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games.
Kabaddi has been part of the Asian Games programme since 1990 , with India the sport's dominant force throughout.
CM Sharma's post highlights the broader government push to celebrate and promote indigenous Indian sports.
India's men's kabaddi team struck gold at the Asian Games 2026, and the tributes poured in fast — none more effusive than the one from Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, who on Saturday, 26 September 2026 took to X to salute a squad that turned the mat into a masterclass.
CM Sharma, writing in Hindi, said every raid crackled with 'josh' (passion), every tackle carried 'dum' (force), and every moment on the mat was driven by an obsession with victory. 'Your collective resolve and magnificent play have made the entire country proud,' he wrote, extending wishes for the team's future competitions under the hashtag #Cheer4Bharat.
A gold that continues a storied streak
The win lands on a foundation of dominance. India's men's kabaddi side claimed gold at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games and again at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, making the sport one of India's most reliable medal engines at the continental level. Kabaddi has featured in the Asian Games programme since 1990, and India has been the sport's defining force throughout that period.
Kabaddi's place in India's sporting identity
The sport sits at the intersection of tradition and national pride. Rooted in the subcontinent's physical culture, kabaddi has been one of the disciplines that Indian sports administrators and political leaders point to when making the case for investing in indigenous sports. State and central leaders routinely amplify victories in the game, and CM Sharma's post fits squarely within that pattern — using a major continental platform to spotlight a team that delivered when it mattered most.
With Asian Games glory now secured, all eyes shift to what comes next: whether the squad can sustain this form heading into future world-level competitions, and whether the gold at Asian Games 2026 accelerates any fresh government commitment to kabaddi infrastructure and athlete support.
Point of View
And political leaders at both state and central level have long used these moments to signal solidarity with grassroots sports. For Sharma, aligning his brand with the team's success reinforces Rajasthan's sporting credentials at a national stage. The bigger question is whether the applause translates into tangible policy follow-through — funding, academies, league support — or remains a social-media salute.
NationPress
26 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Did India win gold in kabaddi at Asian Games 2026?
Yes, India's men's kabaddi team won gold at the Asian Games 2026, continuing the country's strong tradition in the sport at the continental level.
What did Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma say about the kabaddi team?
CM Bhajan Lal Sharma congratulated the team on X, praising their passion in every raid, power in every tackle, and collective resolve that 'made the entire country proud.'
How many times has India won kabaddi gold at the Asian Games?
India won men's kabaddi gold at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games and the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, and again at the 2026 Asian Games, underscoring their historic dominance since the sport's inclusion in 1990.
When was kabaddi added to the Asian Games?
Kabaddi was included in the Asian Games programme in 1990, and India has been the standout nation in the men's competition throughout that period.
Why do Indian politicians congratulate sports teams on social media?
Indian leaders routinely use social media to amplify sporting victories as part of a broader push to promote indigenous sports, boost national morale, and align their public image with moments of national achievement.
