Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026: India thrash England, Malaysia in opening wins
Synopsis
India's kabaddi teams wasted no time staking their claim at the Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026 in Ahmedabad — the women's side inflicted six all-outs in a 73-13 demolition of Malaysia, while the men rallied after a second-half England scare to seal a 46-26 win. Naveen Kumar and Sakshi headlined a dominant home opening day.
Key Takeaways
India women beat Malaysia 73-13 , with Sakshi top-scoring on 13 points and 6 all-outs inflicted.
India men overcame England 46-26 ; Naveen Kumar scored 12 and Neeraj Narwal scored 11 points.
England closed the gap to 21-30 in the second half before India pulled away with consecutive raids and an all-out.
Scotland men thumped Australia 59-30 ; Sri Lanka men beat Tanzania 48-21 ; Kenya men defeated Singapore 48-28 .
Uganda women routed Singapore 61-12 , leading 35-1 at half-time.
All matches took place at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex , Ahmedabad , on 23 October 2026 .
India's men's and women's kabaddi teams opened their Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026 campaign with dominant victories at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Ahmedabad on Friday, 23 October 2026, defeating England and Malaysia, respectively, to announce their gold medal intentions in emphatic fashion.
Women's Team: Clinical 73-13 Rout of Malaysia
The Indian women's side put on a commanding all-round performance, cruising to a 73-13 win over Malaysia. Sakshi led the scoring charts with 13 points, supported by Renuka with 9 points and Nidhi Sharma with 8 points. India amassed 40 raid points and 20 tackle points, inflicting six all-outs on their opponents — a clinical display that underlined their depth across both attack and defence.
Men's Team: Resilient 46-26 Win Over England
The Indian men's team were made to work harder for their opening victory. After leading 23-9 at half-time, India were pegged back as England mounted a second-half comeback, trimming the deficit to 21-30. However, two consecutive successful raids and a key tackle restored India's momentum, and an all-out on England sealed the contest. Naveen Kumar top-scored with 12 points, while Neeraj Narwal contributed 11 points as India ran out 46-26 winners.
Other Notable Results From Day One
Elsewhere in the tournament, Kenya men defeated Singapore 48-28, with James Kamweti delivering a standout 19-point display. The Kenya women's team held their nerve to beat Bangladesh 34-25 in a closely fought contest. Sri Lanka men outplayed Tanzania 48-21, with Milinda Chathuranga scoring 11 points and Adhan Viduranga adding 10. Sri Lanka inflicted three all-outs on Tanzania, whose top scorer was Juma Sultania with 7 points. In another one-sided affair, Scotland men thumped Australia 59-30, racking up 40 raid points and four all-outs; Jasmeet Grewal managed 8 points for Australia. The Uganda women's team were equally emphatic, defeating Singapore women 61-12, leading by 35-1 at half-time. The Uganda men's team also showed early promise, leading Malaysia 24-14 at the interval in the day's final men's match.
India's Road Ahead
India's opening-day performances — particularly the women's six all-outs against Malaysia — signal a team firing on all cylinders. With the host nation drawing large support at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex, the pressure will be on the squad to convert these early wins into podium finishes as the tournament advances through its group stages.
Point of View
But the manner of the women's victory — six all-outs and a 60-point margin — stands out as a statement of structural dominance, not just talent. The men's match, however, exposed a brief defensive lapse in the second half against England, a side ranked well below India. In a tournament where India are heavy favourites on home soil, the real test will be the semi-final stage; Friday's results confirm the class gap at the group stage but do little to reveal how India will handle a peer-level threat. The Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship also remains an opportunity to build the sport's global footprint — results like Uganda's and Scotland's strong performances suggest the competitive base is widening, which ultimately benefits kabaddi's case for broader international recognition.
NationPress
24 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What were India's results on Day 1 of the Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026?
India's women beat Malaysia 73-13 and the men defeated England 46-26 in their respective opening matches on 23 October 2026 at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Ahmedabad.
Who were the top scorers for India in the Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026 opener?
Sakshi top-scored for the women's team with 13 points against Malaysia. For the men's side, Naveen Kumar led with 12 points and Neeraj Narwal added 11 points in the win over England.
Where is the Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026 being held?
The tournament is being held at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Ahmedabad, India.
How did other teams perform on the opening day?
Scotland men beat Australia 59-30, Sri Lanka men defeated Tanzania 48-21, Kenya men won against Singapore 48-28, Kenya women edged Bangladesh 34-25, and Uganda women routed Singapore 61-12 on Day 1.
Did India face any challenge in their opening matches?
The women's team won comfortably, but the men faced a second-half England fightback that cut the gap to 21-30 before India regrouped to win 46-26.
