Ahmedabad Hosts Inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship: India Women Face Malaysia, Men Take On England

Ahmedabad is set to host the inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship from October 23 to 31, with India beginning its campaign against Malaysia in the women’s competition and England in the men’s event at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex on Friday. The nine-day tournament will feature 23 teams from 13 nations and 62 matches, including 39 men’s fixtures and 23 women’s matches. India’s women’s team, led by Nidhi Sharma, will face Malaysia at 6:45 PM, while the men’s side, captained by Surjeet Singh, will take on England at 8:30 PM. The opening match of the championship will be a men’s Group B encounter between Kenya and Singapore at 11:00 AM. The men’s competition has 13 teams divided into two groups. India is in Group A with Nigeria, Malaysia, Uganda, England, Tanzania and Sri Lanka. Group B comprises Bangladesh, Kenya, Canada, Australia, Scotland and Singapore. India’s 14-member men’s squad includes vice-captain Naveen Kumar, Sachin Tanwar, Pankaj Mohite, Bharat Hooda, Shubham Shinde and Parvesh Bhainswal. After facing England, India will meet Uganda on October 24, Malaysia on October 25, Nigeria on October 26, Tanzania on October 27 and Sri Lanka on October 29. The women’s competition features 10 teams in two groups of five. India shares Group A with Singapore, Nigeria, Uganda and Malaysia, while Bangladesh, Kenya, England, Scotland and Sri Lanka make up Group B. Ritu is the vice-captain of the Indian women’s team, which also features Muskan Sharma, Riya Kumari, Simran Kamboj and Karthika Ramesh. After Malaysia, India will face Singapore on October 24, Uganda on October 25 and Nigeria on October 26. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semifinals on October 30, with the women’s and men’s finals scheduled for October 31. The tournament is organised by the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India with approval from the International Kabaddi Federation. It comes as Ahmedabad prepares to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. The event is seen as an important step for kabaddi’s global expansion and for the city’s readiness for a major multi-sport event. India will look to use home advantage in both categories, with experienced players expected to lead the challenge. The men’s team will rely on Surjeet Singh, Naveen Kumar and other key players, while the women’s team will look to Nidhi Sharma and Ritu for leadership. The opening day will feature an early men’s match before the two India fixtures in the evening, giving home fans a full day of kabaddi action. Published on Oct 22, 2026