India's men's and women's kabaddi teams departed for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan after a ceremonial send-off at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) in Gandhinagar on 15 September 2026. Both squads concluded a 10-day final preparatory camp at the facility from 5 to 14 September, capping months of structured preparation ahead of the continental showpiece.

Send-Off Ceremony

The farewell was marked with traditional honours — players received tika and garlands, while coaches, captains, and vice-captains of both teams were presented with traditional shawls. SAI Regional Director (RC Gandhinagar) Prashant Singh attended the ceremony and wished both squads success, pledging continued institutional support for athletes at the centre.

Defending Champions with Confidence

Both teams head to Japan as defending Asian Games champions. At the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, the Indian women defeated Chinese Taipei 26-25 in a tightly contested final, while the men beat Iran to secure gold. Retaining those titles in Aichi-Nagoya is the declared ambition of both squads.

Women's captain Pushpa Rana highlighted how the growth of league kabaddi in India is elevating the sport globally. 'The league culture in our country is not only helping develop our own team and our players but is also strengthening Kabaddi in other countries. Players and coaches from different countries are getting exposure through our leagues and taking that experience back to their respective countries. This is helping the standard of the sport grow internationally,' she said.

Coaches Back Squad After Rigorous Camp

Women's head coach Neeta Dadwe outlined the team's extensive preparation schedule — a 15-day camp in May, a month-long camp in June, another month-long camp at JSW Ballari, and finally the final camp at SAI Gandhinagar. 'We are very well prepared... We are looking forward to the Games,' she said.

Men's captain Sunil Kumar acknowledged the evolving nature of the sport. 'Kabaddi has evolved significantly. The game is becoming faster and more tactical, and the competition at the international level is increasing. The training environment here has been very good, particularly the strength and conditioning facilities, which have supported our physical preparation. We are prepared for the challenge and will give our best at the Asian Games,' he said.

Men's head coach Balwan Singh, who will be assisted by BC Ramesh and Anup Kumar, expressed confidence in both squads after observing their discipline during the camp. 'Both the men's and women's teams have worked extremely hard during the camp. The players have shown great commitment, discipline and dedication throughout the preparation, and the quality of training gives us confidence about our performance at the Games,' he said.

Singh also noted kabaddi's expanding footprint beyond rural India. 'The sport is also gaining popularity in urban areas and is no longer limited to being seen as a rural sport,' he added.

What Comes After the Asian Games

India's kabaddi calendar does not end in Japan. Both teams are set to compete in the inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026, scheduled at Veer Savarkar Stadium in Ahmedabad from 10 to 20 October 2026 — an event that could further cement India's global standing in the sport. The women's coaching staff will be led by Neeta Dadwe, assisted by Mamtha Poojari, for both assignments.