~Ahmedabad will host the inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026 from October 23 to 31, featuring 13 nations, over 400 athletes and 62 matches at Veer Savarkar Sports Complex.
Ahmedabad, Gujarat, Oct 21 (VNI): Ahmedabad will host the inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026 from October 23 to 31 at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex, bringing together 13 nations for nine days of international men’s and women’s kabaddi 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 and more than 400 athletes competing in 62 matches, including 39 men’s matches and 23 women’s matches. The tournament will crown the first-ever Commonwealth champions in both categories.
The championship was formally unveiled at a curtain-raiser press conference on Wednesday, where organisers revealed the official jersey, team captains, anthem, logo and mascot.
India’s men’s team will be captained by Surjeet Singh, with Naveen Kumar serving as vice-captain. Nidhi Sharma will lead the Indian women’s team, while Ritu will serve as vice-captain.
The 13 participating nations are India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, Uganda, England, Scotland and Australia.
The semifinals in both men’s and women’s categories will be held on October 30, followed by the finals on October 31.
The inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship is expected to boost the sport’s international growth and strengthen its prospects for potential inclusion in the Commonwealth Games. With Ahmedabad scheduled to host the Commonwealth Games in 2030, the championship will also provide an opportunity to showcase the city’s readiness to host international sporting events and introduce kabaddi to a wider global audience.
Speaking at the press conference, Jitendra Pran Singh Thakur, General Secretary of the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India, said, “It is a proud moment for Indian kabaddi to host the first Commonwealth Championship in Ahmedabad. We look forward to welcoming the participating teams and showcasing the spirit, skill and competitive intensity of the sport on an international stage.”
Tejasvi Gehlot, General Secretary of the International Kabaddi Federation, said, “The inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship marks an important step in expanding kabaddi’s international presence. Bringing national teams from across the Commonwealth together will give athletes a new platform to showcase their abilities and introduce the sport to a wider global 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. Tickets for spectators attending matches at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex will be available free of charge through the online ticketing platform Thumpn. VNI NEWS, Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026, Ahmedabad Kabaddi Championship, Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India, International Kabaddi Federation, Indian Kabaddi Team, Surjeet Singh, Naveen Kumar, Nidhi Sharma, Tejasvi Gehlot, Veer Savarkar Sports Complex, Ahmedabad Sports News, Commonwealth Games 2030, Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026, Ahmedabad Kabaddi Championship, Commonwealth Kabaddi 2026, Kabaddi Championship October 2026, international kabaddi tournament, Ahmedabad sports news, VNINews, VNINews.com