ISSO National Games Karate: Adani International School wins overall title in Ahmedabad
Synopsis
Adani International School dominated the ISSO National Games Karate Tournament in Ahmedabad, claiming the overall title with 15 golds and 33 medals in total. The three-day event brought together 240 school athletes from across India across four age categories, underlining growing grassroots interest in competitive karate at the school level.
Key Takeaways
The ISSO National Games Karate Tournament ran from 18 to 20 September 2026 at Adani International School, Ahmedabad .
240 students from schools across India competed across U-11, U-14, U-17 and U-19 boys' and girls' categories.
Adani International School won the Overall Championship with 15 gold, six silver and 12 bronze medals ( 33 total ).
Vivekalaya's Prakriya International School finished 1st Runner-up with eight gold, three silver and two bronze .
Ahmedabad International School secured 2nd Runner-up with six gold, five silver and seven bronze .
ISSO Founder Aakanksha Thapak credited the competition for building 'preparation, discipline and sportsmanship' among young athletes.
The ISSO National Games Karate Tournament concluded at Adani International School, Ahmedabad, on 20 September 2026 after three days of intense competition from 18 to 20 September, drawing 240 students from schools across India. The tournament spanned U-11, U-14, U-17 and U-19 categories for both boys and girls, offering young karateka a structured national-level competitive platform.
Overall Results and Medal Tally
Adani International School claimed the Overall Championship with a commanding haul of 15 gold, six silver and 12 bronze medals — a total of 33 medals. Vivekalaya's Prakriya International School finished as 1st Runner-up, collecting eight gold, three silver and two bronze medals. Ahmedabad International School took the 2nd Runner-up position with six gold, five silver and seven bronze medals.
What Organisers Said
Aakanksha Thapak, Founder of ISSO, noted the significance of the turnout. 'The participation of 240 students from schools across India reflects the growing interest in karate and competitive sport among young athletes,' she said. 'Competitions like these give school athletes the opportunity to challenge themselves, gain experience and learn the value of preparation, discipline and sportsmanship.'
Thapak also acknowledged the host institution's role: 'We are grateful to Adani International School and the Adani Group for their continued support of ISSO and for providing a strong platform for young athletes to compete and grow. We hope the students carry this experience forward in their sporting journeys.'
Context and Significance
The ISSO National Games are designed to provide structured, age-appropriate competitive opportunities for school athletes across multiple disciplines. The Karate Tournament, held across four age groups and both genders, reflects the organisation's broader push to deepen grassroots participation in combat sports at the school level. Notably, with 240 participants representing schools from multiple states, the event highlights growing interest in karate as a competitive discipline beyond metropolitan centres.
What Comes Next
ISSO is expected to continue its calendar of multi-discipline national school competitions. For participants, the experience of competing at this level — against peers from institutions across India — is likely to inform their sporting trajectories in the months ahead.
Point of View
But the dominance of the host institution — Adani International School — raises a routine question about whether home-ground familiarity and resource advantages skew outcomes at such events. More meaningfully, with only 240 participants from a country of hundreds of millions of school-going children, the event's national branding outpaces its actual reach. ISSO's long-term impact will depend on whether it can draw students from government schools and smaller towns, not just well-resourced private institutions in major cities.
NationPress
21 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ISSO National Games Karate Tournament?
It is a national-level school karate competition organised by ISSO (Indian School Sports Organisation), held across U-11, U-14, U-17 and U-19 age categories for boys and girls. The 2026 edition was hosted at Adani International School in Ahmedabad from 18 to 20 September.
Who won the ISSO National Games Karate Tournament 2026?
Adani International School, Ahmedabad, won the Overall Championship with 15 gold, six silver and 12 bronze medals — a total of 33 medals. Vivekalaya's Prakriya International School was 1st Runner-up and Ahmedabad International School finished 2nd Runner-up.
How many students participated in the ISSO Karate Tournament?
A total of 240 students from schools across India took part in the three-day tournament, competing across four age-group categories for both boys and girls.
Who is Aakanksha Thapak and what did she say about the tournament?
Aakanksha Thapak is the Founder of ISSO. She stated that the participation of 240 students reflects growing interest in karate among young athletes, and expressed gratitude to Adani International School and the Adani Group for hosting the event and supporting ISSO's mission.
Where was the ISSO National Games Karate Tournament held?
The tournament was held at Adani International School in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, over three days from 18 to 20 September 2026.
