The Indian women’s kabaddi team is aiming to win gold at the Asian Games for the fourth time.
Under the guidance of the Indian Amateur Kabaddi Federation, after completing several months of intensive training, the Indian women’s kabaddi team has departed for Japan for the Asian Games.
India enters the final match of the Hangzhou Asian Games determined to defend the gold medal it won by defeating Chinese Taipei 26-25. If India wins gold in this event, it will be its fourth gold in the women’s category and India’s 11th overall gold medal since kabaddi was introduced at the Asian Games.
Neeta Tatwade, who was the former captain of the Indian team from 1991 to 2003 and has been serving as the national team coach, including at the 2014 Incheon and 2016 Asian Games, said-
We started training with 42 players and gradually reduced the squad size to finalize it. This team has emerged as an excellent blend of senior and junior players. Speaking further about the team’s mindset, she said, “We want to play freely, without any pressure.”
Coach Mamtha said-
A process spanning six months to a year. In the first camp, full attention was given to fitness, speed, endurance, weightlifting exercises, and recovery. In the next camp, the focus shifted to additional techniques and competitive game strategies. By the third camp, most of it had turned into field practice. In the final-stage camp, everything was integrated, including studying the opponents’ playing styles through video, and the team was prepared.‘
For athlete Sonali Shingade, who was unable to participate in the 2023 Asian Games due to injury, this was her third Asian Games, he said.
‘We are paying the closest attention to the Iran and Chinese Taipei teams,’ Mamta said. She added, ‘Regardless of the statistics, the Iran team will play aggressively from start to finish; the Chinese Taipei team, on the other hand, will display a very composed, skill-based style of play. We are training our players to face both of these styles,’ she said. Neetha Tatve also said that Bangladesh, Japan, and South Korea could pose tough challenges as well, and that all of those teams’ matches had been studied through video.
India women’s kabaddi team for the 2026 Asian Games:
Pushpa Rana (Captain), Ritu Negi, Sonali Shingade, Sanju Devi, Pooja Kajla, Ritu Sheoran, Jyoti Thakur, Pinki Roy, Manisha Kumari, Bhawana Thakur, Raj Rani, Nikita Kumari