India Women Dominate to Claim First Commonwealth Kabaddi Title
India's women's team secures the first-ever Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship title with a dominant victory over Uganda in Ahmedabad.
In a display of sheer power and precision, the Indian women's team has etched its name in history by becoming the first-ever champions of the Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship. Playing on home soil in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India secured the gold medal with a commanding 35-15 victory over Uganda, capping off a flawless, unbeaten run throughout the tournament.
A Masterclass in the Final
The final match was a testament to India's superiority in both raiding and defending. The star of the show was Sakshi, who delivered a stunning performance by scoring nine raid points from 10 raids, including two crucial bonus points. Her dominance was evident early on, as she successfully completed all six of her raids in the first half alone.
Supporting Sakshi were Anu, who contributed six raid points, and captain Nidhi Sharma, who added five points, including three bonus points. On the defensive front, Ritu and Suman proved to be an impenetrable wall, anchoring the Indian side with four tackle points each.
Breaking Down the Scorecard
India's victory was built on a balanced attack and a suffocating defense:
- Raid Points: India scored 20 points.
- Tackle Points: India secured 10 points.
- All-Outs: India managed to inflict two All-Outs on the Ugandan side.
Uganda's effort was largely carried by Nakayongo Shirat, who was responsible for 11 of the team's 15 points. While Shirat fought bravely, the rest of the Ugandan raiders struggled; semi-final standout Nalwoga Nahia was restricted to just a single point. The only moment of respite for Uganda came in the second half when Zalwango Jemima successfully tackled an Indian raider—the only time India failed a raid in the entire match.
The Turning Point
The match began competitively, with India leading 7-3 with 10 minutes left in the first half. However, the game shifted dramatically from there. India unleashed a flurry of points, outscoring Uganda 15-4 to enter the break with a massive 22-7 lead. During this period, India didn't lose a single raid, while Uganda's tackle attempts failed nine consecutive times.
Although Uganda managed to edge India 7-6 on raid points after the restart, the result was sealed when India triggered a second All-Out with less than 10 minutes remaining on the clock.
A Perfect Campaign
The victory in the final was the culmination of a perfect tournament for the Indian women, who won all six of their matches. Their journey to the gold was marked by several high-scoring victories:
- Malaysia: 73-13
- Singapore: 32-16
- Uganda (Group Stage): 41-18
- Nigeria: 38-10
- Sri Lanka (Semi-final): 39-14
- Uganda (Final): 35-15
Voices of Victory
Sakshi, who finished the championship as a powerhouse with 52 points across six matches, expressed her joy and the significance of the event. She noted that the atmosphere within the team was euphoric and emphasized that such international tournaments are vital for the growth of Kabaddi.
"This event was very important for Kabaddi, as such International tournaments will help the growth of the sport, and our young players will benefit a lot from this experience," Sakshi said, while also thanking the AKFI for organizing the championship.