Asian Games 2026 Kabaddi Schedule Announced: India Opens Against Japan as Medal Race Intensifies

The countdown to the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 has officially begun with the release of the complete kabaddi fixture list. The tournament, scheduled from September 21 to September 26, promises six days of thrilling action featuring Asia's biggest kabaddi nations battling for continental glory. Both the men's and women's competitions will begin with the group stage before progressing to the semi-finals and the gold medal match. With traditional powerhouses like India, Iran, South Korea, Japan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Thailand in action, fans can expect high-intensity clashes from the very first day.

Men's Kabaddi Schedule

The men's tournament features 10 teams, divided into two groups of five. Every team will play four league matches, with the top two teams from each group advancing directly to the semi-finals. India Begins Against Japan India's campaign starts on September 21 with a blockbuster encounter against Japan, followed by matches against South Korea, Bangladesh, and Chinese Taipei.

Key Men's Fixtures

September 21

• Bangladesh vs South Korea
• Nepal vs Thailand
• Japan vs India
• Pakistan vs Malaysia
• Bangladesh vs Chinese Taipei

September 22

• Nepal vs Pakistan
• South Korea vs India
• Thailand vs Malaysia
• Bangladesh vs Japan
• Nepal vs Iran

September 23

• South Korea vs Chinese Taipei
• Malaysia vs Iran
• Bangladesh vs India
• Thailand vs Pakistan
• Chinese Taipei vs Japan

September 24

• Thailand vs Iran
• South Korea vs Japan
• Chinese Taipei vs India
• Nepal vs Malaysia
• Pakistan vs Iran

Women's Kabaddi Schedule

The women's competition consists of 8 teams divided into two groups of four. The top two teams from each pool will qualify for the semi-finals. India Opens Against Bangladesh, India will begin its title defense on September 21 against Bangladesh before facing Iran and Japan in what is arguably the toughest group of the tournament.

Key Women's Fixtures

September 21

• Iran vs Japan
• Sri Lanka vs Thailand
• Bangladesh vs India

September 22

• Thailand vs Nepal
• Iran vs Bangladesh
• Sri Lanka vs Chinese Taipei

September 23

• Iran vs India
• Japan vs Bangladesh
• Chinese Taipei vs Nepal

September 24

• Thailand vs Chinese Taipei
• Sri Lanka vs Nepal
• Japan vs India

Knockout Schedule

The tournament enters the knockout stage immediately after the league phase.

September 25

• Semi-final 1 – 9:30 AM (IST)
• Semi-final 2 – 2:30 PM (IST)

September 26

• Women's Gold Medal Match – 9:30 AM (IST)
• Men's Gold Medal Match – 2:30 PM (IST)

Biggest Matches to Watch

Several fixtures stand out as potential tournament-defining contests.

• India vs Japan (Men) – Tournament opener for the defending champions.
• India vs South Korea – A rematch of one of Asia's fiercest modern rivalries.
• India vs Bangladesh (Men) – Two South Asian rivals battling for crucial group points.
• India vs Iran (Women) – A clash between two of the strongest women's kabaddi nations.
• India vs Japan (Women) – Likely to decide the Group A standings.

Road to the Medal

The new format leaves very little room for error. Since only the top two teams from each group qualify for the semi-finals, every league match becomes crucial. One unexpected defeat could significantly impact a team's chances of reaching the medal rounds. India will once again enter the tournament as one of the favorites, but strong challenges are expected from Iran, South Korea, Japan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Thailand in the men's event, while Iran, Japan, Bangladesh, and Thailand are expected to be India's biggest competitors in the women's competition. With six action-packed days of kabaddi scheduled in Aichi-Nagoya, fans can look forward to another memorable edition of the Asian Games, where Asia's best will battle for continental supremacy and the prestigious gold medal.