Kabaddi returns to the Asian Games for the ninth straight time, running 21–26 September 2026 at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium in Aichi, Japan, as part of the 20th Asian Games (19 Sept–4 Oct 2026).
Defending champions India are chasing a ninth men’s gold, drawn in Group A with Japan, Bangladesh, South Korea and Chinese Taipei. Here’s the full points table, schedule, squads, and everything else fans need to follow the action.
Asian Games 2026 Men’s Kabaddi Points Table: Group A Standings
| Rank | Team | Played | Won | Lost | SF | SA | SD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | 4 | 4 | 0 | 134 | 70 | +64 | 8 |
| 2 | Chinese Taipei | 4 | 2 | 2 | 102 | 115 | -13 | 4 |
| 3 | Bangladesh | 4 | 2 | 2 | 110 | 135 | -25 | 4 |
| 4 | Japan | 4 | 2 | 2 | 94 | 120 | -26 | 4 |
| 5 | Republic of Korea | 4 | 0 | 4 | 138 | 207 | -69 | 0 |
Asian Games 2026 Men’s Kabaddi Points Table: Group B Standings
| Rank | Team | Played | Won | Lost | SF | SA | SD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iran | 4 | 4 | 0 | 210 | 80 | +130 | 8 |
| 2 | Thailand | 4 | 3 | 1 | 134 | 176 | -42 | 6 |
| 3 | Pakistan | 4 | 2 | 2 | 133 | 142 | -9 | 4 |
| 4 | Nepal | 4 | 1 | 3 | 114 | 193 | -79 | 2 |
| 5 | Malaysia | 4 | 0 | 4 | 130 | 271 | -141 | 0 |
How to read this table:
- PF/PA = Points For / Points Against — a key tiebreaker when teams are level on points
- Top 2 from each group advance to the semi-finals
- Iran’s perfect record despite only 1 match played reflects the group’s uneven fixture count at this stage of the tournament
Asian Games 2026 Men’s Kabaddi: Key Dates and Format
Here’s a quick look at the key dates and tournament format, with the Asian Games 2026 Men’s Kabaddi schedule placed in context.
- Competition dates: 21–26 September 2026
- Venue: Tokai Citizens Gymnasium, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
- Teams: 10 nations, split into two groups of five
- Format: Round-robin group stage → semi-finals → final (no bronze-medal match; both losing semi-finalists get bronze)
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| Group stage | 21–24 September 2026 |
| Semi-finals | 25 September 2026 |
| Gold medal match | 26 September 2026 |
India’s Men’s Kabaddi Squad for Asian Games 2026
India enter as defending champions, having beaten Iran 33-29 in the Hangzhou 2023 final, and are the most successful nation in the event with eight men’s golds.
| Category | Players |
|---|---|
| Captain | Sunil Kumar |
| Key raiders | Ayan Lohchab, Devank Dalal, Pawan Sehrawat, Arjun Deshwal, Ashu Malik |
| Defenders/All-rounders | Sunil Kumar, Jaideep Dahiya, Rahul Sethpal, Gaurav Khatri, Sumit Sangwan, Ankit Jaglan, Aslam Inamdar |
| Returning from Hangzhou 2023 gold | Arjun Deshwal, Sunil Kumar, Pawan Sehrawat, Aslam Inamdar |
Ayan Lohchab and Devank Dalal were the top two raiders in the last Pro Kabaddi League season, giving India’s raiding unit serious firepower heading into this campaign.
Player Spotlight: Who to Watch in Men’s Kabaddi
Pawan Sehrawat
- Star all-rounder and a veteran of India’s title-winning campaigns
- Known for explosive raiding and clutch performances in knockout matches
Ayan Lohchab
- Pro Kabaddi League’s top raider last season
- Leads India’s attacking unit alongside Devank Dalal
Arjun Deshwal
- Third on the all-time Pro Kabaddi League raid points list
- Part of India’s gold-winning core from Hangzhou 2023
Sunil Kumar (Captain)
- Leads India’s defence and captains the squad
- One of four survivors from the Hangzhou 2023 gold-medal side
Group A and Group B Teams: Full Breakdown
| Group A | Group B |
|---|---|
| India (defending champions) | Iran (only team to beat India for gold, in 2018) |
| Bangladesh | Pakistan |
| Japan (hosts) | Thailand |
| South Korea | Nepal |
| Chinese Taipei | Malaysia |
Iran remains the only nation to have denied India a men’s kabaddi gold at the Asian Games, doing so at Jakarta 2018 — which is why India and Iran being kept apart in the group stage is a notable talking point this year.
Why the Asian Games 2026 Men’s Kabaddi Points Table Matters
- Direct qualification stakes: Only the top 2 in each group advance to the semis, so every points-table shift matters
- PF/PA as tiebreaker: With teams like India and Bangladesh level on points, scoring difference could decide seeding
- Continues India’s kabaddi legacy: India has won gold at every edition since 1990 except Jakarta 2018, and a strong group finish protects that streak
- Sets up potential blockbuster semis: A Group A vs Group B crossover raises the chance of an India-Pakistan or India-Iran semi-final
Conclusion
The Asian Games 2026 men’s kabaddi points table is heating up as India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Thailand jostle for semi-final spots ahead of the 25 September semis and 26 September final at Aichi’s Tokai Citizens Gymnasium.
With India chasing a ninth gold and Iran lurking in Group B, this year’s tournament (21–26 September 2026) promises another dramatic finish. Keep checking back for updated standings and results.
FAQs
21–26 September 2026, at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium in Aichi, Japan.
10 teams, split into two groups of five.
India tops Group A, while Pakistan and Thailand are tied at the top of Group B on points.
No — both losing semi-finalists receive bronze medals directly.
Sunil Kumar captains the men’s squad.
Yes, once — to Iran at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games. Otherwise India has won gold at every edition since 1990.
Semi-finals on 25 September 2026, and the gold medal match on 26 September 2026.
