India’s women’s kabaddi team delivered a commanding performance to claim the inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026 title, defeating Uganda 35-15 in the final at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Ahmedabad on Saturday.
Led by captain Nidhi Sharma, the hosts combined aggressive raiding with disciplined defending to secure a historic gold medal and complete an unbeaten campaign on home soil. India’s victory marked a significant moment for women’s kabaddi, with the team establishing itself as the first champion of the newly introduced Commonwealth competition. The emphatic final also underlined the depth of India’s talent, as the raiders and defenders contributed consistently to keep Uganda under pressure throughout the contest.
Sakshi led India’s scoring charts with nine points, including seven touch points and two bonus points. Anu Sen added six points, while captain Nidhi Sharma contributed five. In defence, Ritu Mitharwal and Suman Sahu proved equally influential, collecting four tackle points each to restrict Uganda’s attacking options. For Uganda, Nakayongo Shirat was the standout performer, finishing as the team’s top scorer with 11 points. However, the African side struggled to reproduce the defensive resilience that had helped them reach the final.
The final began with India taking control through their raiding department, while Uganda struggled to find a response to the hosts’ attacking intensity. India held a 7-3 advantage with 10 minutes remaining in the first half before accelerating their scoring. The hosts outscored Uganda 15-4 during the closing stages of the half, including an all-out that extended their advantage. Uganda’s defensive unit, which had played a decisive role in the team’s semi-final victory over Kenya, failed to register a single successful tackle in the opening half.
India’s raiders capitalised on the opposition’s defensive struggles, ensuring that the hosts entered the interval with a commanding 22-7 lead. The Indian defence was equally effective, making six successful tackles in the first half and preventing Uganda from building sustained momentum. The visitors’ inability to contain India’s raiders proved costly, as the hosts established a 15-point advantage before the break. Uganda attempted to fight back after the restart, managing to edge India 7-6 in raid points during the second half.
However, India’s defensive organisation ensured that the visitors could not significantly reduce the deficit. The decisive moment came when India inflicted another all-out with less than 10 minutes remaining, effectively ending Uganda’s hopes of a comeback. India finished the final with 20 raid points and 10 tackle points, while Uganda managed 14 raid points and just one tackle point. The hosts also secured four additional points through two all-outs, highlighting their superiority in both attack and defence.
The 35-15 victory completed India’s unbeaten run through the tournament, with six wins from six matches. The hosts had previously defeated Malaysia, Singapore, Uganda and Nigeria in the group stage before overcoming Sri Lanka 39-14 in the semi-final. Uganda, meanwhile, had earned their place in the final with a thrilling 23-21 victory over Kenya, but could not replicate that performance against the hosts.
Nidhi Sharma Leads India to Maiden Commonwealth Kabaddi Crown
Following the championship-winning performance, captain Nidhi Sharma expressed her excitement over the team’s achievement and thanked the home crowd for their unwavering support. The Indian women’s team received a rousing reception from the spectators at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex, with the victory providing a fitting conclusion to their campaign.
The inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship was held from October 23 to 31 in Ahmedabad, with 10 women’s teams competing for the title. Organised by the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India, the tournament provided an international platform for the sport and brought together teams from across the Commonwealth. India’s maiden triumph also coincided with a successful campaign for the men’s team, which defeated Sri Lanka 54-20 in the final to complete a historic double for the hosts.
India’s victory was not merely a result of individual brilliance, but a reflection of the team’s tactical discipline and depth. Sakshi’s raiding excellence, combined with the defensive contributions of Ritu Mitharwal and Suman Sahu, demonstrated India’s ability to dominate both ends of the mat. As kabaddi continues to expand its international footprint, the inaugural Commonwealth Championship could prove to be an important milestone in the sport’s global growth, with India setting the benchmark for future contenders.
