India Clinch Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship Double With Dominant Final Win
India's men and women teams dominate the inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026, with the men crushing Sri Lanka 54-20 in the final.
India has established its absolute supremacy in the sport by securing a historic double victory at the inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026. In a display of sheer power and precision in Ahmedabad, the Indian men's team crushed Sri Lanka 54-20 in the final, mirroring the success of the Indian women's team who had already claimed their title earlier in the evening by defeating Uganda 35-15.
A Masterclass in Kabaddi: Men's Final Breakdown
The men's final was less of a contest and more of a demonstration. India dominated every facet of the game, scoring 30 raid points and 14 tackle points. The Indian side was so impenetrable that they did not concede a single All-Out throughout the match, while inflicting four on the Sri Lankan side.
The Stars of the Show
The offensive onslaught was led by Aditya Shinde, who achieved a "Super 10," netting 10 raid points from 14 raids, which included four crucial bonus points. He was ably supported by Bharat Hooda, who contributed eight raid points in the second half and remained untouched in seven raids. Additional points came from Pankaj Mohite (6) and vice-captain Naveen Kumar (5).
On the defensive front, Yogesh Dahiya was a wall, recording a "High 5" by completing five successful tackles from five attempts in the first half. The defensive effort was bolstered by captain Surjeet Singh, Shubham Shinde, Pravesh Malik, and Deepak Sankar, who each added two tackle points.
Sri Lanka's Struggle Against the Giants
Sri Lanka found themselves overwhelmed by the Indian pace and strategy. While Maduwantha stood out for the visitors with six tackle points (including two Super Tackles), their raiding department collapsed. Raiders Sabihan, Milinda Chathuranga, and Viduranga, who had been instrumental in their semi-final win over Kenya, managed a meager five raid points combined from 31 attempts in the final.
The pressure was evident as Sri Lanka failed in seven of their nine "do-or-die" raids, ending the match with only 11 raid points and nine tackle points.
The Road to Glory: A Perfect Campaign
India's victory in the final was the culmination of a flawless tournament. The team finished with a perfect record of eight wins from eight matches. Their journey included dominating Group A with victories over:
- England (46-26)
- Uganda (44-30)
- Malaysia (37-23)
- Nigeria (50-23)
- Tanzania (48-20)
- Sri Lanka (45-24)
After topping the group, India demolished Bangladesh 56-27 in the semi-finals before their clinical 54-20 win over Sri Lanka in the grand finale.
By the Numbers: Total Dominance
The statistical gap between India and the rest of the field was staggering. Throughout the tournament, India scored a massive 380 points while conceding only 193. Remarkably, no opposing team managed to score more than 30 points against the Indian side during the entire competition.
Celebrations in Ahmedabad
Following the victory, top-scorer Aditya Shinde expressed his gratitude to the local fans. He noted that the increasing number of tournaments is beneficial for the sport and the city of Ahmedabad, highlighting the immense support they received from the crowd. Shinde teased a massive celebration to mark the historic achievement, stating that the festivities had already begun.