Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026: Dates, Venue, Teams, India Squad, Schedule and Live Streaming
The Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026 is an international kabaddi tournament scheduled to take place in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Organised by the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI), the inaugural edition will…
The Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026 is an international kabaddi tournament scheduled to take place in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Organised by the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI), the inaugural edition will bring together national teams from different parts of the Commonwealth for a competition in one of India’s most popular traditional sports. The tournament will feature men’s and women’s competitions, with India preparing separate groups of players for both events.
The championship is scheduled to run from 23 to 31 October 2026 at the Veer Savarkar Stadium in Ahmedabad. The dates were revised from the earlier announced window of 21 to 31 October. India will compete alongside teams from Asia, Africa, Europe, North America and Oceania, making this an international meeting of kabaddi teams with different playing backgrounds.
This article covers everything you need to know about the Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026, including the dates, venue, participating nations, Indian probable squads, coaching staff, rules, tournament format and television and online streaming details.
Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026: Key Details
| Detail | Information |
| Tournament | Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026 |
| Edition | Inaugural edition |
| Dates | 23–31 October 2026 |
| Host city | Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India |
| Venue | Veer Savarkar Stadium |
| Organiser | Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI) |
| Men’s competition | Teams from 14 nations are expected |
| Women’s competition | Eight participating teams are reported |
| India’s men’s head coach | J. Udaya Kumar |
| India’s men’s assistant coaches | Manjeet Chhillar and Rohit Kumar |
| Television broadcast in India | Star Sports Network |
| Online streaming in India | JioStar app and website |
The championship will feature international-level competition rather than the franchise-based format used in the Pro Kabaddi League. Players will represent their countries, and each team will aim to earn a place in the later stages of the competition. The final match schedule and team selections should be checked against the latest announcements because the event dates and some tournament details have changed during the preparation period.
What Is the Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship?
The Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship is an international tournament designed to bring kabaddi teams from Commonwealth countries together. The 2026 competition will be its first edition, giving participating countries an opportunity to play against teams they may not regularly meet in regional competitions. Both men’s and women’s kabaddi are included in the event.
Kabaddi has deep roots in India and South Asia, but it is also played in other parts of the world. Over time, international competitions, domestic leagues and training programmes have helped the sport reach players outside its traditional base. The Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship adds another international competition to this calendar by bringing several national teams together in India.
It is important to understand that the Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship is a standalone tournament. It is not the same event as the Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow in 2026. The championship is being organised separately in Ahmedabad, and the participants will compete for the inaugural titles in their respective categories.
The tournament is being organised by the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India, which is responsible for kabaddi administration and national-team activities in India. Ahmedabad will host the competition at Veer Savarkar Stadium, with teams expected to arrive from different regions for the international event.
Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026 Dates and Schedule
The Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026 is scheduled to take place from 23 October to 31 October 2026. Earlier reports listed 21 October as the starting date, but the start has since been revised to 23 October. The closing date remains 31 October in the latest reports available as of 15 October 2026.
The nine-day window gives the participating teams time to play the opening stage before the tournament reaches its knockout rounds. A typical international kabaddi competition includes group or pool matches, followed by semi-finals and finals. However, supporters should not assume exact match timings or individual fixtures until the organisers publish the final schedule.
| Schedule detail | Latest information |
| Opening date | 23 October 2026 |
| Last scheduled day | 31 October 2026 |
| Total event window | Nine calendar days |
| Match timings | Check the final official fixture list |
| Semi-final dates | Confirm through the final schedule |
| Final match timings | To be confirmed in the published schedule |
The match-by-match fixture list is a separate detail from the overall tournament dates. Therefore, anyone planning to attend a match or follow a particular country’s campaign should check the updated fixture list before making arrangements. This is especially important because the championship has already seen a change to its originally reported starting date.
Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026 Venue
The Veer Savarkar Stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, will host the Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026. Ahmedabad is one of India’s important sports-hosting cities and has facilities for national and international sporting events. The tournament will bring teams, coaches, officials and support staff to the city during the final part of October.
The venue will provide the setting for the men’s and women’s competitions. Kabaddi is played on a marked court, where raiders enter the opposing team’s half to score points while defenders try to stop them from returning safely. The court, team benches, officials and scoring arrangements must work together to ensure that matches follow the competition rules.
For visitors travelling to Ahmedabad, it is sensible to confirm the exact match venue, entry arrangements and daily timings before leaving for the stadium. A venue announcement alone does not confirm the opening time of the gates or the start time of every match.
Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026 Participating Teams
The latest reports list 14 participating national teams for the championship. These entries include countries and Commonwealth sporting teams from different regions, providing a wider mix of kabaddi backgrounds than a competition limited to South Asia. The final men’s draw and complete list of fixtures should be checked when officially released.
The 14 reported participating teams are:
| No. | Team |
| 1 | India |
| 2 | Bangladesh |
| 3 | Australia |
| 4 | Canada |
| 5 | Kenya |
| 6 | Nigeria |
| 7 | Malaysia |
| 8 | Pakistan |
| 9 | Scotland |
| 10 | Singapore |
| 11 | Sri Lanka |
| 12 | Tanzania |
| 13 | Uganda |
| 14 | England |
India will compete on home soil, while Bangladesh and Pakistan bring experience from countries where kabaddi has a strong sporting base. Malaysia and Sri Lanka also have experience in international kabaddi. Meanwhile, Australia, Canada, England and Scotland represent countries where local clubs and communities have helped the sport develop.
Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda add an African presence to the reported field. Their participation gives the event a broader geographical reach and creates opportunities for teams to test themselves against different opponents. However, a country’s inclusion in the entry list does not automatically mean that its final player squad has been publicly confirmed.
Are Iran and Chinese Taipei participating?
Iran and Chinese Taipei are not included in the reported list of 14 participating teams. Both have been familiar opponents in international kabaddi, but they are not Commonwealth members. Their absence means that the tournament’s field differs from the group of countries commonly seen in major Asian kabaddi competitions.
Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026 Men’s Competition
The men’s event will feature teams from the 14 reported participating nations. Each team will compete for the championship title, with the exact path through the pool stage and knockout rounds depending on the final tournament draw. The final draw is important because it decides which teams meet during the opening stage and which results are needed to reach the semi-finals.
India’s men’s team will enter the competition with a different group from the side that won the gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games. The Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India has announced 17 probable players for the preparation camp, and reports state that none of the 12 men who represented India at the Asian Games are included in that list. The final competition squad is to be selected from the probables.
This selection gives other Indian players an opportunity to represent the country in an international tournament. The probable group includes experienced names from the Pro Kabaddi League as well as players who have been part of domestic kabaddi competitions. Their roles will depend on the final selection, the team’s needs and the coaching staff’s plans.
India Men’s Probable Squad for the Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026
The following players have been reported among India’s 17 men’s probables. This is a probable list, not confirmation of the final playing squad.
| No. | Player | Reported role |
| 1 | Shivam Patare | Raider |
| 2 | Ajit Chouhan | Raider |
| 3 | Aditya Shinde | Raider |
| 4 | Rakesh Sungroya | Raider |
| 5 | Sachin Tanwar | Raider |
| 6 | Naveen Kumar | Raider |
| 7 | Pankaj Mohite | Raider |
| 8 | Neeraj Narwal | All-rounder |
| 9 | Bharat Hooda | All-rounder |
| 10 | Yogesh Dahiya | Defender |
| 11 | Shubham Shinde | Defender |
| 12 | Deepak Sankar | Defender |
| 13 | Nitesh Kumar | Defender |
| 14 | Deepak Rathee | Defender |
| 15 | Surjeet Singh | Defender |
| 16 | Parvesh Malik | Defender |
| 17 | Ajit Pawar | Defender |
These players cover the main roles required in a kabaddi team. Raiders are responsible for entering the opposing half and scoring points, while defenders work together to stop the raider. All-rounders can contribute in both areas, depending on the match situation and the coach’s plan.
Some well-known names from Indian kabaddi are absent from this probable list, including Pawan Sehrawat. The final squad announcement will provide clarity on the players who will represent India in the competition. Until then, the 17 names above should be described as probables rather than confirmed members of the final team.
India Men’s Coaching Staff
India’s men’s coaching staff has also been reported ahead of the championship. J. Udaya Kumar has been named head coach, with former Indian players Manjeet Chhillar and Rohit Kumar working as assistant coaches. All three have experience in Indian kabaddi, while Chhillar and Rohit Kumar also bring playing and Pro Kabaddi League experience to the coaching group.
| Position | Name |
| Head coach | J. Udaya Kumar |
| Assistant coach | Manjeet Chhillar |
| Assistant coach | Rohit Kumar |
Udaya Kumar has coached Indian teams in several major competitions, including the Asian Games and Kabaddi World Cup. Manjeet Chhillar had a long career as an all-rounder and won international titles with India. Rohit Kumar was known for his raiding and also led Bengaluru Bulls to the Pro Kabaddi League title in Season 6.
Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026 Women’s Competition
The championship will also include a women’s competition. Reports list eight teams for the women’s event, which is separate from the larger men’s entry list. India, Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, England, Kenya, Malaysia and Sri Lanka are the eight reported participants.
The women’s event will feature national teams competing for a separate title. India comes into the competition after winning the women’s kabaddi gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games, but the Indian probables for this championship include a different selection group. As with the men’s event, probable players should not be described as final squad members until the confirmed team list is released.
India Women’s Probable Squad
The following 17 players have been reported among India’s women’s probables for the preparation camp ahead of the championship. Their positions are included as reported in the available squad information.
| No. | Player | Reported role |
| 1 | Muskan Sharma | Right cover |
| 2 | Sabhai Vachhiyabhai Gadhavi | Right cover |
| 3 | Priya | Left cover |
| 4 | Champa Thakur | Left corner |
| 5 | Riya Kumari | Left corner |
| 6 | Suman | Left corner |
| 7 | Jyothi | Left corner |
| 8 | Ritu | Right corner |
| 9 | Tammna | Right corner |
| 10 | Pooja Narwal | Left raider |
| 11 | Anu | Left raider |
| 12 | Sakshi | Left raider |
| 13 | Karthika Ramesh | Right raider |
| 14 | Archana | Right raider |
| 15 | Renuka | Right raider |
| 16 | Simran Kamboj | Right raider |
| 17 | Nidhi Sharma | Right raider |
The group features raiders and defenders from different states and departments, including Indian Railways. Karthika Ramesh of Tamil Nadu is among the reported probable players. The list gives an overview of the players considered for the camp, but the final 12-player or match-day selection should be confirmed through an official team announcement.
The women’s event will have its own fixtures and results. The confirmed match schedule will be needed to establish opening opponents, semi-final pairings and the timing of the final.
Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026 Tournament Format
The broad structure of an international kabaddi championship usually includes an opening group or pool stage, followed by knockout matches. During the pool stage, teams play assigned opponents and collect points based on the results. The teams with the strongest records then progress to the semi-finals and final, according to the rules and qualification system announced for the event.
For the men’s competition, the entry list contains 14 nations. For the women’s competition, eight teams have been reported. These different team counts mean the two events may have different pool arrangements or fixture totals. The final draw is required before the exact group sizes, number of matches and qualification rules can be stated with certainty.
In a pool system, teams normally earn points for wins, and the organisers use the published tie-break rules if two or more teams finish with the same record. A win in the semi-final takes a team into the final, while the losing semi-finalists may receive bronze medals under the event regulations. The final tournament handbook should be used to confirm the exact rules for the 2026 championship.
The fixture schedule, rather than a general description of the format, will determine which team plays on each date. Readers should therefore look for the final match list before assuming specific India fixtures or identifying the date of a particular semi-final.
Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026 Live Telecast and Streaming
For viewers in India, the reported broadcast details are Star Sports Network on television and the JioStar app and website for live streaming. These details were published in coverage of the revised event dates and the official championship logo.
| Viewing option | Reported platform |
| Television | Star Sports Network |
| Online streaming | JioStar app |
| Website streaming | JioStar website |
The full day-by-day schedule and match timings should be checked when the final fixture list is available. This is especially useful for viewers planning to follow a particular team rather than the entire tournament. Broadcast plans can also differ from the schedule at the venue, so the listed television channel or streaming platform should be checked for the individual match.
For people outside India, the available sources reviewed for this article do not establish a complete list of international broadcasters. Viewers in other countries should check local sports channels and the platform’s regional availability before the opening match.
How the Championship Connects with Ahmedabad and Kabaddi
Ahmedabad will host the championship as part of its wider role in major sporting events. The city is set to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, and the Indian Olympic Association has sought the inclusion of kabaddi in that edition’s programme. The 2026 championship is being held separately from the Games themselves.
Kabaddi has a long history in India and has developed an international presence through national teams, club competitions and professional leagues. The men’s and women’s competitions in Ahmedabad will bring teams from several parts of the Commonwealth together in one tournament. The competition will also give participating teams a chance to play international matches within a shared event structure.
The championship is organised by AKFI, while the players represent their respective countries rather than franchise teams. This is different from the Pro Kabaddi League, where players compete for clubs such as Bengaluru Bulls, Patna Pirates or Jaipur Pink Panthers. At an international championship, selection, team management and match preparation take place within the national-team setup.
The Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026 is scheduled for 23–31 October in Ahmedabad, with men’s and women’s competitions planned at Veer Savarkar Stadium. The latest reports list 14 teams for the men’s event and eight for the women’s event, with India preparing separate groups of players for both competitions. India’s men’s probables include players such as Naveen Kumar, Sachin Tanwar, Shubham Shinde and Surjeet Singh, while Karthika Ramesh is among the reported women’s probables.
The reported live viewing options in India are Star Sports Network and JioStar. As the opening date has been revised, the final fixtures, match timings and confirmed squads should be checked against the latest event announcements. This brings together the main information currently available about the inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026, from the participating teams and player lists to the venue, rules and viewing details.
Frequently Asked Questions About Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026
1. When will the Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026 start?
The latest reported starting date is 23 October 2026. The tournament is scheduled to conclude on 31 October 2026. The starting date was revised from the earlier reported date of 21 October.
2. Where will the Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026 be held?
The championship will take place at Veer Savarkar Stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
3. How many countries will participate?
The latest reports list 14 participating nations for the men’s competition. The women’s competition has eight reported participants. The final draw and squad announcements should be checked for any updates.
4. Which teams will compete in the men’s event?
The 14 reported teams are India, Bangladesh, Australia, Canada, Kenya, Nigeria, Malaysia, Pakistan, Scotland, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Uganda and England.
5. Is India playing with its Asian Games gold-medal-winning men’s team?
No member of India’s 12-player men’s squad from the 2026 Asian Games was included in the 17 probable players reported for the Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship preparation camp. The final squad is to be selected from the probables.
6. Who is India’s men’s head coach?
J. Udaya Kumar has been reported as India’s men’s head coach, with Manjeet Chhillar and Rohit Kumar as assistant coaches.
7. Will there be a women’s competition?
Yes. The championship includes a women’s event, with eight participating teams reported: India, Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, England, Kenya, Malaysia and Sri Lanka.
8. Where can viewers watch the Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026 live?
In India, the reported television broadcaster is the Star Sports Network. Live streaming is expected to be available on the JioStar app and website. Check the current listings for exact match timings.
9. Are Iran and Chinese Taipei part of the championship?
Neither Iran nor Chinese Taipei appears in the reported list of participating teams. They are not Commonwealth members and are therefore not included in the reported field for this tournament.
10. Is this tournament part of the Commonwealth Games 2026?
No. The Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026 is a separate tournament scheduled in Ahmedabad. It should not be confused with the Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow in 2026.