India Drawn In Group A For Asian Games 2026 Kabaddi Campaign
By Kartik Sharma (KS), Data Analyst & Reporter
Two defending champions now know their route to the Asian Games 2026 knockout stage. India's men's and women's kabaddi teams have both been drawn in Group A following Thursday's official draw for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, setting up contrasting but equally challenging group-stage campaigns.
The draw, conducted by the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Organising Committee, keeps India's men's team away from traditional rivals Iran until the knockout rounds, while the women's side must negotiate an immediate clash of title contenders with Iran in the group stage. Kabaddi at the Games will run from September 21 to 26 at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium.
What Led To This Draw
The official team draw confirmed the composition of both competitions.
India's men's team joins Bangladesh, Republic of Korea, Chinese Taipei and hosts Japan in Group A. Group B features Nepal, Thailand, Pakistan, Malaysia and Iran, meaning the continent's two strongest kabaddi nations are separated during the league phase.
The women's draw places India alongside Iran, Japan and Bangladesh in Group A, while Sri Lanka, Thailand, Chinese Taipei and Nepal make up Group B. Under the tournament format used since the 2006 Asian Games, the top two teams from each group advance directly to the semi-finals.
Comparative breakdown
"The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals."
India's Route To Defending Both Titles
India enters the tournament as the reigning Asian Games champion in both men's and women's kabaddi after winning gold medals at Hangzhou 2023.
The men's side claimed its eighth Asian Games title by defeating Iran in a dramatic final, while the women's team returned to the top of the podium after overcoming Chinese Taipei in the gold-medal match. Those results mean India will again arrive as the nation every opponent wants to beat.
Group A in the men's event offers several competitive fixtures. Bangladesh remains a traditional kabaddi nation, South Korea has consistently challenged the leading teams in recent editions, Chinese Taipei has emerged as a strong contender, and hosts Japan will enjoy home support.
The women's campaign presents an even earlier examination. Iran has developed into India's biggest continental rival in recent years, making their group-stage meeting one of the standout matches before the semi-finals.
Key Facts
What Happens Next
Attention now shifts from the draw to squad selection and preparation.
India will finalise its men's and women's squads before travelling to Japan for the Games, where both teams will attempt to retain the titles won in Hangzhou. The separation from Iran in the men's competition could make the group stage more manageable, but the women's side faces one of its toughest opponents immediately.
History offers another perspective. India has traditionally dominated Asian Games kabaddi, yet recent editions have shown the gap narrowing as Iran, South Korea, Chinese Taipei and Bangladesh continue to improve. That makes every league match significant, particularly with only two semi-final places available from each group.
When the competition begins in September, the first statistic to watch won't be raid points or tackle success. It'll be whether both Indian teams finish inside the top two—and how many wins they need to get there.