Why did Pakistan opt out of Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026?

Pakistan failed to qualify for the semi-finals in the men’s kabaddi event at the Asian Games 2026.

The Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026 is just around the corner. The tournament will run from October 23 to 31 at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Ahmedabad, India. This marks the second major kabaddi event of the calendar year.

The Indian kabaddi teams won gold medals in both the men’s and women’s events at the Asian Games 2026, showcasing their dominance in the sport. However, they are now gearing up for another challenge as they look to win the inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship.

Initially, 14 countries were set to participate in the men’s tournament. However, Pakistan withdrew at the last minute, bringing the number of participating nations down to 13. This has raised questions about why Pakistan withdrew from the inaugural edition.

Recently, Pakistan failed to win a medal at the Asian Games, marking the first time the team failed to secure at least a bronze medal in kabaddi.

With international kabaddi competitions limited and major teams such as Iran and Chinese Taipei not participating, Pakistan had a good opportunity to win a medal. However, this decision will cost them the opportunity to showcase their skills and win a medal at a major international event.

Why did Pakistan withdraw from the competition?

The main reason Pakistan opted out of the Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026 is the ongoing tensions with India. The tournament is being held in Ahmedabad, India.

Political tension has been ongoing between India and Pakistan for quite some time. When India hosted the Kabaddi World Cup in 2016, Pakistan also opted out, and India won the World Cup by defeating Iran in the final.

Tensions also increased between the nations following the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. Relations between the two nations have weakened further, and this is now also evident in all sports. Pakistan did not travel to India for the T20 World Cup 2026 and rescheduled all their matches to Sri Lanka.

India have also stood their ground and do not travel to Pakistan for tournaments. With Pakistan now out of the competition, 13 nations will participate in the first edition of the Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship, starting on October 23.

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