Captain Pushpa Rana and Arjuna awardee Pooja Kajla have expressed strong confidence ahead of the Indian women's Kabaddi team's title defence at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, with the squad kicking off their campaign against Bangladesh on 21 September. India enter the tournament as defending champions, having won gold at Hangzhou in a nail-biting final, and are aiming to extend a storied run at the continental showpiece.

A Squad That Has Done Its Homework

Rana, who is stepping into the captaincy role for the first time having previously served as vice-captain, described a preparation process built on video analysis and targeted drills shaped by the coaching staff. "First of all, we practice according to the situation. We also analyse the videos of the upcoming matches. Our coaches also tell us about the shortcomings of the past and what needs to be improved. And now we are working on that. I think our team is well prepared," she said.

She credited senior players Ritu Negi and Sonali Shingate — both former captains — for providing crucial on-field guidance as she finds her feet in the leadership role. "I rely a lot on the seniors because they are already captains like Ritu Negi and Sonali Shingate. So, their advice is very important to me," Rana added.

Legacy as Motivation, Not Pressure

India have claimed 11 gold medals in Kabaddi at the Asian Games overall, including three in the women's category. The women's side also won the World Cup last November, making them one of the most dominant forces in global Kabaddi. Rana acknowledged the weight of expectation but reframed it as a positive force. "Yes, I feel that motivation. When our seniors have already done a good job, they have made their own history, so it is up to us to maintain that momentum. So, we see it as motivation; we don't see it as pressure," she said.

Notably, Rana flagged Chinese Taipei as the team to watch — recalling how India's Hangzhou triumph came by the slimmest of margins, 26-25, in that final.

Kajla on Gold's Power to Inspire Girls

For Pooja Kajla, another medal would carry meaning beyond the podium. Drawing a parallel with the growing visibility of Indian women in cricket, she argued that a gold-medal performance could open doors for the next generation. "If we bring gold, then small children get inspired by us and they will also ask their parents to let them play," she said.

Kajla also praised a strength-and-conditioning camp jointly organised by the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI) and Pro Kabaddi League organisers, highlighting sessions on sleep and recovery as a meaningful addition to the squad's preparation. "They gave us a few more classes on sleep and recovery. So, I got to learn a lot from there," she noted.

India's Schedule and Full Squad

The women's Kabaddi event at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games begins on 21 September, with India facing Bangladesh in their opening Group A match. Subsequent group-stage fixtures are against Iran on 23 September and Japan on 24 September. The semi-finals are scheduled for 25 September, with the gold medal match on 26 September.

The 12-member squad is: Pushpa Rana (captain), Ritu Negi, Sonali Shingate, Sanju Devi, Pooja Kajla, Ritu Sheoran, Jyoti Thakur, Pinki Roy, Manisha Kumari, Bhavna Thakur, Raj Rani, and Nikita Kumari.

With the gold medal bout pencilled in for 26 September, India's preparation leaves little to chance — and the squad's blend of youth and experience suggests the defending champions will be formidable opponents for any side that makes it through to the final.