Debutant raider Devank Dalal has declared he is fully prepared to carry the weight of India's gold-medal ambitions at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, as the men's kabaddi team gears up to open its campaign against hosts Japan on 21 September. The 23-year-old, one of the standout performers in the domestic circuit, is set to make his debut at a major international multi-sport event with a singular mission in mind.

Dalal's Gold-or-Bust Mindset

'This is my first time going to the Asian Games. I am happy for myself, my family and my coach. I am happy for everyone. Now that I am going, my responsibilities have increased. I will have to bring gold for India. If India has chosen me, I will have to do it,' Dalal said ahead of the tournament.

Dalal, who finished as the second-highest-scoring raider in Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Season 12 with an impressive 271 raid points, drew a sharp distinction between pressure and responsibility — a mindset he said is essential for tournament-level performance. 'You don't have to take pressure. Pressure and responsibility are two different things. Here, there is only responsibility, not pressure. We don't believe that pressure is a thing. If you take pressure, you won't be able to play. If you don't play, how will India win? We will play without pressure and win,' he added.

India's Group A Schedule

India have been placed in Group A and face a packed schedule in the preliminary round. After the opener against Japan on 21 September, the squad takes on the Republic of Korea on 22 September, Bangladesh on 23 September, and Chinese Taipei on 24 September. The semi-finals are slated for 25 September, with the gold medal match set for 26 September.

Inamdar Backs Squad Cohesion

Experienced all-rounder Aslam Inamdar, a member of India's gold-medal-winning side at the 2022 Asian Games, expressed confidence in the current group, pointing to the deep familiarity built through shared PKL campaigns. 'There is a very good bonding with the team. Because all of them are our stars. They are the captains of every team in PKL. We had a very good experience in PKL. They had a very good game in PKL. There is a good bonding with the Indian team,' Inamdar said.

Inamdar also highlighted the importance of senior players steering the younger members through the distinct demands of international kabaddi. 'The young players like Ayaan, Ankit, Rahul, etc. They have a lot of experience in PKL and Nationals. But the international match is a little different. So, consistency is very important. So, they are told to play the game with a free mind… Feel proud to represent the country and fight for gold,' he said.

India's Full Squad

India will be captained by Sunil Kumar. The full squad includes Pawan Sehrawat, Ankit Jaglan, Aslam Inamdar, Ashu Malik, Ayan Lohchab, Devank Dalal, Arjun Deshwal, Jaideep Dahiya, Rahul Sethpal, Gaurav Khatri, and Sumit Sangwan. With a blend of PKL-hardened veterans and breakout talents, the side enters the tournament as one of the favourites to defend the title India won at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games. All eyes will be on whether Dalal can translate his domestic form onto the continental stage when the whistle blows on 21 September.