India Crush Bangladesh to Set Up Commonwealth Kabaddi Final vs Sri Lanka
India crushes Bangladesh 56-27 to set up a high-stakes Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026 final against Sri Lanka in Ahmedabad.
The Indian men's team delivered a masterclass in dominance on Friday, steamrolling Bangladesh 56-27 in the semi-finals of the Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026. The clash, held at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Ahmedabad, saw India assert total control from the opening whistle, ensuring their place in the grand finale.
A One-Sided Semi-Final Battle
India started the match with an aggressive intent that left Bangladesh reeling. While Dipayon Golder managed to open the scoring for Bangladesh with a successful raid, the joy was short-lived. Within the first five minutes, India inflicted their first All-Out, signaling the start of a relentless onslaught.
The raiding duo of Naveen Kumar and Neeraj Narwal set the pace early on, while the defensive wall, anchored by Deepak S and Shubham Shinde, proved impenetrable. As the match progressed, Bharat Hooda and Shivam Patare took over the raiding duties, further widening the gap. By the time the first half concluded, India held a massive 28-8 lead, having inflicted a second All-Out with eight minutes remaining in the half.
Bangladesh's struggles were evident, particularly in their defense, as they failed to register a single tackle point throughout the entire first half. Dipayon Golder and Md Rahman provided the only resistance through their raiding efforts.
Maintaining the Momentum
The second half followed a similar pattern. India combined clinical raiding with a disciplined defense to lead 38-16 with ten minutes left on the clock. Bharat Hooda continued to dismantle the Bangladesh defense, triggering another All-Out with four minutes remaining to push the score to 49-20.
India eventually sealed the match with a comprehensive 56-27 victory. The statistical breakdown of the win highlights India's superiority:
- Raid Points: 37
- Tackle Points: 12
- All-Out Points: 6
Individually, Bharat Hooda was the star of the show with 13 points, followed by Shivam Patare with 11 and Neeraj Narwal with 9. In the defense, Ajit Pawar stood out, successfully completing five tackles out of eight attempts.
Sri Lanka Edges Kenya in a Thriller
In the second semi-final, the contest was far more balanced. Sri Lanka managed to hold off a spirited challenge from Kenya, winning 28-24 to book their ticket to the final.
Milinda Chathuranga and Sabihan led the charge for Sri Lanka with six points each, while Viduranga contributed four. Defensively, Made Dwiki Sanjaya was pivotal, securing five tackle points. Kenya's effort was led by Helvic Wanjala, who top-scored with nine points, supported by Samuel Wafula's six points.
Vision for the Future: Olympics and Beyond
Following the victory, Indian captain Surjeet Singh expressed his pride in reaching the final of the inaugural tournament. He emphasized that the participation of 13 countries is a significant milestone for the international growth of kabaddi.
“The team is in high spirits, and our aim is to continue this unbeaten run and win the title. The performances of the African teams have been particularly encouraging, and I would love to see more of these talented players get opportunities in competitions like the Pro Kabaddi League,” said Surjeet Singh.
The captain further noted that such global exposure is essential if the sport is to be included in the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the 2036 Olympics.
The Grand Finale
The stage is now set for a mouth-watering encounter. India will face Sri Lanka in the Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026 final on October 31 at 9 PM. India enters the match with a perfect record, aiming to cap their unbeaten campaign by lifting the first-ever title of this championship.