Thailand's men's kabaddi team claimed a historic bronze medal at the Asian Games in Tokai, Japan, marking the country's first men's kabaddi podium at the continental event since the sport was introduced to the Games in 1990. Head coach Ravindra Shetty, an Indian coaching veteran, said the achievement reflects kabaddi's rapidly growing footprint in Southeast Asia.

How Thailand Reached the Podium

Thailand's Asian Games campaign ended in the semifinal, where they faced defending champions India at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium on Friday, 26 September 2026. India took a commanding 37-18 lead at half-time before extending their advantage to seal a 66-28 victory. By virtue of reaching the last four, Thailand had already guaranteed themselves the bronze — the first podium finish in men's kabaddi in 36 years of Asian Games competition. India entered the semifinal unbeaten after four wins in Group A.

Coach Ravindra Shetty on Building a Programme from Zero

'I started my experience there from zero, three years ago. I started after the Asian Games in Hangzhou. After that, I started. Now, after learning kabaddi, they are moving forward. Now, kabaddi is becoming popular in Thailand as well,' Ravindra Shetty said. The coach took charge of the Thailand programme following the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, and has spent three years developing players from scratch. He described the bronze as the natural product of sustained grassroots effort rather than a one-off result.

Grassroots Growth: Schools, Youth Leagues and a 65-Player Academy

Shetty pointed to school-level competitions and periodic youth events as the backbone of Thailand's kabaddi revival. 'Right now, kabaddi is starting at the school level. Our president conducts youth games once every four months. Because of that, kabaddi is developing,' he said. His personal academy currently trains more than 65 players — 35 girls and 30 boys — drawn from Bangkok, Chonburi, and other parts of the country. The gender diversity of the programme is notable; women's participation in a contact sport like kabaddi can face cultural headwinds in several Asian nations, making the enrolment figures a meaningful indicator of momentum.

Shetty's Coaching Journey: Pro Kabaddi to International Development

Before arriving in Thailand, Shetty was embedded in India's elite kabaddi ecosystem. He served as a coach in Season 9 of the Pro Kabaddi League and was subsequently appointed to the junior Indian national setup, including as a coach at the Junior World Cup in Iran in 2023. Officials approached him at an international kabaddi competition meeting and offered the Thailand assignment. 'They said they would develop me internationally, so I came,' he recalled. His trajectory — from domestic franchise cricket to international grassroots development — mirrors a broader trend of Indian coaches exporting sport expertise to emerging kabaddi nations across Asia.

What the Bronze Means for Kabaddi's Global Spread

Kabaddi has been part of the Asian Games since 1990, with India dominating the men's competition across editions. Thailand's bronze breaks that near-monopoly at the podium stage and adds credibility to the argument that the sport is genuinely internationalising. This comes amid growing interest from the World Kabaddi Federation in expanding the sport's footprint beyond South Asia. With youth structures now in place and a medal on the board, Thailand enters the next cycle as an established continental contender rather than a developmental side.