Where & how to watch kabaddi matches at Asian Games 2026?
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Both the men’s and women’s teams of India are defending champions
The kabaddi event at the Asian Games 2026 is set to commence from September 21st, with matches to be played at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium in Japan.
Defending champions India will be favourites for the gold medal in both the men’s and women’s events.
The men’s team have won eight of the nine iterations, while the women’s team have won three out of four. The only time that both teams faltered was in 2018, when the Iranian men’s and women’s teams ousted India and claimed gold medals in both categories.
However, India recovered lost glory by reclaiming the crown of being the best Asian kabaddi nation in the 2022 edition.
Related: How many gold medals have India won in Kabaddi events at Asian Games?
The preliminary round will be played from September 21st to 24th. The semi-finals are scheduled for September 25, with the gold medal match to be played the next day. Let’s take a look at where and how these exciting matches can be watched in India:
India’s medal hopes
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Both the Indian men’s and women’s teams will head into the tournament as the defending champions and gold medal favourites. Their impeccable record in the tournament’s history as well as a noticeable gap in quality from the other teams give India the edge.
However, this gap has shortened over the years, as evinced in 2018’s Iranian success. Teams like Iran, South Korea, Bangladesh, and also the Chinese Taipei women’s team have evolved into solid professional outfits in the past decade.
Also Read: Asian Games 2026: Kabaddi schedule, results, timings, live streaming details & more
The men’s team emerged victorious in the last international tournament they participated in — 2025 Kabaddi World Cup in Wolverhampton, defeating hosts England in the final by a slim margin of 3 points.
The women’s team also lifted the world cup in Dhaka, as they took down Chinese Taipei in the final by a 35-28 scoreline. It was the first women’s world cup in thirteen years.
However, the stronger teams of kabaddi are concentrated primarily in Asia, which makes this continental competition a remarkably exciting one.
It remains to be seen how the teams fare in their categories, and whether India can clinch two more gold medals to their glinting tally of 13 in kabaddi at the Asian Games.
Where and when will kabaddi matches take place at Asian Games 2026?
The kabaddi events will begin on September 21, with group stage matches running until the 24th, followed by the semi-finals and gold medal match. All matches will be played at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium.
Where and how to watch live telecast of the kabaddi matches in India?
Sony has acquired broadcasting and streaming rights for the Asian Games 2026. Sony Sports 1 and Sony Sports 5 will feature the live telecast of the games in English. Sony Sports 3 will broadcast the matches in English, and Sony Sports 4 will have further Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada commentary.
Where and how to watch live streaming of the kabaddi matches in India?
To catch the games, live on a digital platform, viewers can stream them on SonyLIV – both the application and the website. Livestreams of all India matches will be available on this platform throughout the games.
How many medals has India won in kabaddi at Asian Games?
India has clinched a record 13 medals, including 11 gold, in kabaddi at the quadrennial event.
How many gold medals has India won in kabaddi at the Asian Games?
India has claimed 11 kabaddi gold medals, 8 in men’s division and 3 in women’s division, at the Asian Games.
Where and when will kabaddi matches be held at Asian Games 2026?
The event will begin on September 21, with group stage matches running until the 24th, followed by the semi-finals and gold medal match. All matches will be played at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium.
How can fans in India watch kabaddi matches at Asian Games 2026 live?
In India, Sony Sports Network is the official broadcaster for the continental games. So fans can tune into Sony Ten Sports channels to watch the matches live on TV, while SonyLIV will stream them online.
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