Ahmedabad to Host Inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship from October 23
13 nations and over 400 athletes to compete in 62 matches; Surjeet Singh and Nidhi Sharma to lead Indian teams
- Bilkul Online
- Ahmedabad | 22 Oct 2026
Ahmedabad will host the inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026 from October 23 to 31 at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex, bringing together 13 nations and more than 400 athletes for nine days of international competition.
Organised by the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI), with the approval of the International Kabaddi Federation (IKF), the championship will feature 23 squads competing in 62 matches across the men’s and women’s categories. The tournament will include 39 men’s matches and 23 women’s matches, culminating in the crowning of the first Commonwealth champions in both categories.
The championship was formally unveiled at a curtain-raiser press conference on Wednesday, where organisers announced the team captains and revealed the official jersey, anthem, logo and mascot.
Surjeet Singh will captain the Indian men’s team, with Naveen Kumar as vice-captain, while Nidhi Sharma will lead the women’s team, supported by vice-captain Ritu.
The participating nations are India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, Uganda, England, Scotland and Australia.
The semifinals in both categories are scheduled for October 30, followed by the finals on October 31.
The inaugural edition is expected to provide a significant boost to kabaddi’s international profile and strengthen efforts to expand the sport’s presence across the Commonwealth. The championship also assumes added significance as Ahmedabad prepares to host the Commonwealth Games in 2030, offering the city an opportunity to demonstrate its ability to stage international sporting events.
Speaking at the press conference, Jitendra Pran Singh Thakur, General Secretary of the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India, said hosting the first Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship in Ahmedabad was a proud moment for Indian kabaddi. He added that the event would provide a platform to showcase the sport’s skill, competitive intensity and spirit before an international audience.
Tejasvi Gehlot, General Secretary of the International Kabaddi Federation, described the championship as an important step towards expanding kabaddi’s global presence. He said the participation of national teams from across the Commonwealth would give athletes a new platform to demonstrate their abilities and help introduce the sport to a wider audience.
The championship will be held under the theme “One Breath. One Raid. One Commonwealth.”
Fans can watch the matches live on JioHotstar, with television coverage on Star Sports. Spectators can also attend matches at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex, with free tickets available online through Thumpn.
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