Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship: India Set to Dominate Inaugural Event
India begins its quest for the first Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship title in Ahmedabad. Check out the full schedule and squad details.
The stage is set in Ahmedabad as the Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship kicks off at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex. India, the powerhouse of the sport, begins its campaign for the first-ever Commonwealth crown this Friday, with both men's and women's teams ready to make a statement on home soil.
The Opening Clash
India's journey starts with a double-header of excitement. The women's team will take the mat first at 6:45 PM against Malaysia, followed by the men's team, who will face England at 8:30 PM. The tournament officially commences at 11:00 AM with a Men's Group B encounter between Kenya and Singapore.
Tournament Format and Scale
Running from October 23 to October 31, this historic event features 23 squads representing 13 different nations. A total of 62 matches are scheduled, comprising 39 men's and 23 women's contests. The tournament is being held under the inspiring theme: “One Breath. One Raid. One Commonwealth.”
Men's Competition Structure
The 13 men's teams have been divided into two groups:
- Group A: India, Nigeria, Malaysia, Uganda, England, Tanzania, and Sri Lanka.
- Group B: Bangladesh, Kenya, Canada, Australia, Scotland, and Singapore.
Women's Competition Structure
Ten women's teams are competing in two groups of five:
- Group A: India, Singapore, Nigeria, Uganda, and Malaysia.
- Group B: Bangladesh, Kenya, England, Scotland, and Sri Lanka.
The road to the final is rigorous: every team will play the others in their group once. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals, where the winner of Group A will face the runner-up of Group B, and vice versa.
India's Power-Packed Squads
The Men's Team
Led by Captain Surjeet Singh and Vice-Captain Naveen Kumar, the 14-man Indian squad is a blend of experience and raw power. The team includes:
Yogesh Dahiya, Shubham Shinde, Deepak Sankar, Nitesh Kumar, Parvesh Bhainswal, Ajit Pawar, Sachin Tanwar, Pankaj Mohite, Bharat Hooda, Shivam Patare, Neeraj Narwal, and Aditya Shinde.
The Women's Team
Captain Nidhi Sharma and Vice-Captain Ritu lead a formidable 14-member women's squad consisting of:
Muskan Sharma, Sabhai Gadhavi, Priya, Champa Thakur, Riya Kumari, Suman Sahu, Jyothi, Ritu Mitharwal, Renuka Choudhary, Simran Kamboj, Anu Sen, Sakshi, and Karthika Ramesh.
The Road to Gold: India's Schedule
Men's Fixtures (All matches at 8:30 PM):
- October 23: vs England
- October 24: vs Uganda
- October 25: vs Malaysia
- October 26: vs Nigeria
- October 27: vs Tanzania
- October 29: vs Sri Lanka
Women's Fixtures (All matches at 6:45 PM):
- October 23: vs Malaysia
- October 24: vs Singapore
- October 25: vs Uganda
- October 26: vs Nigeria
The Grand Finale
The intensity will peak on Friday, October 30, with the semifinals. The women's semifinals are scheduled for 6:00 PM and 6:45 PM, while the men's battles will take place at 8:30 PM and 9:30 PM.
The championship will culminate on Saturday, October 31, with the highly anticipated finals. The women will compete for the gold at 7:30 PM, followed by the men's final at 9:00 PM.