The road to the 20th Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, has become much clearer with the official announcement of the kabaddi group-stage pools. As expected, the tournament organizers have kept the two biggest powerhouses of world kabaddi India and Iran in separate groups in the men's competition, increasing the possibility of another blockbuster final.

Both the men's and women's tournaments will feature a round-robin league stage before moving into the knockout rounds, where only the best-performing teams will remain in contention for the coveted Asian Games gold medal.

Asian Games 2026 Kabaddi Tournament Format

The kabaddi competition will begin with a round-robin group stage, where every team will face all other teams within its respective group.

Men's Competition

The men's event will feature 10 participating nations, divided into two groups of five teams each. After the completion of the league stage, the top two teams from each group will qualify directly for the semi-finals, with the winners progressing to the gold medal match.

Women's Competition

The women's tournament will consist of eight teams, divided into two groups of four teams each. Similar to the men's format, only the top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals, making every group-stage match crucial.

Men's Kabaddi Pools – Asian Games 2026

Group A

• India
• Bangladesh
• Republic of Korea
• Chinese Taipei
• Japan

Group B

• Iran
• Pakistan
• Thailand
• Nepal
• Malaysia

The draw has successfully separated India and Iran, the two dominant nations in Asian kabaddi. Unless one of them suffers an unexpected defeat during the group stage or semi-finals, fans could once again witness an India vs Iran gold medal clash. For India, Group A appears competitive but manageable. Traditional rivals such as Bangladesh, Republic of Korea, and Chinese Taipei have consistently challenged the Indian side over the years, while host nation Japan will look to use home support to spring a surprise. Iran, meanwhile, headlines Group B alongside Pakistan, Thailand, Nepal, and Malaysia. While Iran enters as the clear favorite, Pakistan and Thailand possess enough quality to make the group interesting.

Women's Kabaddi Pools – Asian Games 2026

Group A

• India
• Iran
• Japan
• Bangladesh

Group B

• Chinese Taipei
• Thailand
• Sri Lanka
• Nepal

Unlike the men's draw, the women's tournament places India and Iran together in Group A, ensuring one of the tournament's biggest matches will take place during the league stage itself. India, the defending champions, will need to overcome strong challenges from Iran and Bangladesh before securing a place in the semi-finals. Japan will also look to capitalize on home conditions and push for an upset. Group B appears relatively balanced, with Chinese Taipei expected to begin as favorites, although Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Nepal will all fancy their chances of reaching the knockout stage.

India's Road to Gold

The draw has largely favored the Indian men's team. Avoiding Iran in the group stage means India can focus on building rhythm and experimenting with combinations before the knockout rounds. Assuming India finishes among the top two teams in Group A, they will enter the semi-finals with momentum and could potentially avoid a meeting with Iran until the championship match. For the Indian women's team, however, the challenge begins immediately. Facing Iran during the group stage will provide an early test of championship credentials. While India remains one of the strongest teams in Asia, defeating Iran could prove crucial in securing the top position in Group A and earning a more favorable semi-final matchup.

Players to Watch

The tournament is expected to showcase several of Asia's biggest kabaddi stars. For India, attention will be on experienced names like Pawan Sehrawat, Sunil Kumar Malik, Aslam Inamdar, Devank Dalal, Ashu Malik, and Arjun Deshwal, depending on the final squad selected by the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI). Iran, meanwhile, will once again rely on its experienced defensive core and powerful raiding unit as it aims to reclaim the Asian Games title.

Final Verdict

The release of the Asian Games 2026 kabaddi pools has officially set the stage for one of the biggest kabaddi tournaments in recent years. With India and Iran separated in the men's draw, another classic final remains a real possibility. Meanwhile, the women's competition promises fireworks right from the group stage, with India and Iran set to clash early in the tournament. As the countdown to Aichi-Nagoya 2026 continues, every group-stage fixture will carry significant importance, and the battle for Asian supremacy is already taking shape