India’s women set the tone early, combining effective raiding with disciplined defending to establish a commanding 24-6 lead at half-time. The Indian side maintained its control after the break, adding another 14 points to complete a comprehensive 38-10 victory. Anu emerged as India’s leading performer, collecting 11 raid points from 17 raids. Sakshi contributed four raid points, while captain Nidhi Sharma added two points to the team’s tally. India’s defensive unit also played a significant role in restricting Nigeria’s scoring opportunities. Sabhai Gadhavi registered three tackle points, while Priya and Ritu contributed two points apiece.
Nigeria struggled to find consistent attacking momentum against India’s organised defence. Robert Moses led the Nigerian raiders with six points, while Bassey Edet added two. Dennis Udeme secured Nigeria’s only tackle point. The result confirmed India’s place in the women’s semifinals, extending their winning run after earlier victories against Malaysia, Singapore and Uganda. The team will look to carry its form into the knockout stage as the competition moves towards its decisive matches.
India’s men followed the women’s success with an equally convincing display, defeating Nigeria 50-23 to complete a double for the day. The Indian team established its authority in the opening half, racing to a 25-7 advantage. India’s raiders repeatedly found scoring opportunities, while the defensive unit limited Nigeria’s ability to close the gap. Sachin led the Indian attack with 12 points, with Aditya Shinde providing strong support through 11 raid points. Pankaj Mohite contributed eight raid points and two tackle points, while Surjeet Narwal led the defensive effort with four tackle points.
Nigeria showed greater attacking intent after the interval, scoring 16 points in the second half. However, India’s substantial first-half advantage proved decisive. The hosts finished ahead in raid points, 31-21, and tackle points, 7-2. Edem Wisdom Ita was Nigeria’s leading scorer with eight raid points. Ekpe Victory Emmanuel collected six points, including five raid points and one tackle point, while Izu Prince Udah added five raid points. The victory marked India’s fourth consecutive win in the men’s competition, following earlier successes against England, Uganda and Malaysia.
Elsewhere, Singapore defeated Australia 59-32 in the men’s competition, extending its winning run while Australia suffered a third consecutive defeat. Sriraam Raja led Singapore with 15 points, while Aadit Senthilkumar contributed eight. Australia’s Reuben William finished with 11 points. Malaysia revived its campaign with a 43-26 victory over Tanzania, ending a three-match losing streak. Isaac Alton Andrew spearheaded the attack with 14 points from 18 raids, while Tanzania’s Juma Sultani also collected 14 points. Uganda registered a 47-22 win over England in the men’s division, with Douglas Mulalira contributing 11 points. In the women’s competition, Uganda defeated Malaysia 35-23, powered by Nakayongo Shirat’s 18-point performance. Malaysia’s Darsini Singh finished with 10 points.
India’s performances highlight the importance of balance between raiding and defence in tournament kabaddi. The women’s team established control early and sustained it, while the men combined a decisive first-half lead with a productive attacking display. Both teams also benefited from contributions across their squads rather than relying on a single scorer. With the group stage approaching its conclusion, India’s immediate challenge will be to maintain that consistency when the stakes rise in the knockout rounds. Strong starts, effective defensive coordination and the ability to manage pressure will be crucial if both sides are to convert their winning runs into championship titles.
The victories over Nigeria have strengthened India’s position in the inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship and reinforced the teams’ ambitions of finishing the tournament on top.
