India national kabaddi team explained

India
Association:	Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI)
Confederation:	Asian Kabaddi Federation (AKF)
Coach:	Bhaskaran Edachery
Captain:	Pawan Sehrawat
World Cup Apps:	3
World Cup First:	2004
World Cup Best:	Champions (2004, 2007, 2016)
Regional Name:	Asian Games
Regional Cup Apps:	9
Regional Cup First:	1990
Regional Cup Best:	Champions (1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2022)

The India men's national kabaddi team represents India in international men's kabaddi competitions. The team is by far the most successful national kabaddi side of any country, winning gold medals at the Asian Games in 1990 (the first year the sport was contested), 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2022, as well as winning all three Kabaddi World Cup events to date. Pawan Sehrawat is the current captain of the team since 2022.^{[1] [2]}

History

1990s

Kabaddi was contested at the Asian Games as a competitive (non-exhibition) sport for the first time in 1990. India beat Bangladesh in the gold medal match for both the 1990 Asian Games and 1994 Asian Games. India lost to Pakistan in the 1993 South Asian Games gold medal match.^[3] In the 1998 Asian Games held in Bangkok, the team beat arch rivals Pakistan for the gold medal.^{[4] [5]}

2000s

India beat Bangladesh in the gold medal match of the 2002 Asian Games, held in Busan.^[6]

India won the inaugural Kabaddi World Cup in 2004, beating Iran by a 55–27 margin. They repeated the feat three years later, beating the Iranians 29–19.^[7]

At the 2006 Asian Games, India beat Pakistan 35–23 to win their fifth gold medal at the tournament.^[8]

2010s

In the 2010 and 2014 Asian Games, India continued to dominate, winning gold on both occasions.^{[9] [10]}

When the Kabaddi World Cup resumed again in 2016 after a nine-year hiatus, India beat Iran for the third final in a row by 38–29.^[11]

In 2017, India won the Asian Kabaddi Championship led by raider Ajay Thakur by defeating Pakistan in the final by 36–22.^[12]

India won the 2018 Dubai Kabaddi Masters tournament, beating Iran 44–26 in the final.^{[13] [14]}

At the 2018 Asian Games, India lost to South Korea 23–24 in the group stages – this was the Indian team's first ever loss in their history at the Asian Games. Despite the loss, India qualified for the semi-finals, but lost 27–18 to Iran, who went on to win the gold.^{[15] [16]}

India won the gold at the 2019 South Asian Games led by Deepak Niwas Hooda, beating Sri Lanka in the final by 51–18 with raider Naveen Kumar Goyat bagging a Super 10.^{[17] [18]}

2020s

The Indian team have not played in any tournaments for a long time since December 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2023, India won the Asian Kabaddi Championship by defeating Iran in the final by 42–32.^[19]

Results and fixtures

2023

Asian Games

Tournament history

Standard kabaddi

World Cup

width=125	Year	width=150	Rank	width=35	Pld	width=35	W	width=35	D	width=35	L
2004	Champions	5	5	0	0
2007	Champions	6	6	0	0
2016	Champions	7	6	0	1
2025	TBD
Total	3/3	18	17	0	1

Asian Games

width=125	Year	width=150	Rank	width=35	M	width=35	W	width=35	D	width=35	L	width=35	PF	width=35	PA	width=35	PD
1990	Champions	5	5	0	0	234	84	+150
1994	Champions	4	4	0	0	227	78	+149
1998	Champions		6	6	0	0	295	119	+176
2002	Champions		5	5	0	0	224	84	+140
2006	Champions		5	5	0	0	188	106	+82
2010	Champions		4	4	0	0	166	80	+86
2014	Champions		5	5	0	0	182	103	+79
2018	Third place		5	3	0	2	184	130	+54
2022	Champions		6	6	0	0	318	144	+174
Total	9/9	45	43	0	2	2018	928	+1090

Asian Kabaddi Championship

Asian Kabaddi Championship
Year	Host country	Position
1980	India
1988
2000	Sri Lanka
2001	Thailand
2002	Malaysia
2003	GS
2005	Iran
2017
2023	South Korea

South Asian Games

South Asian Games
Year	Host city	Position
1985	Dhaka, Bangladesh
1987	Kolkata, India
1989	Islamabad, Pakistan
1993	Dhaka, Bangladesh
1995	Madras, India
1999	Kathmandu, Nepal
2004	Islamabad, Pakistan
2006	Colombo, Sri Lanka
2010	Dhaka, Bangladesh
2016	Guwahati & Shillong, India
2019	Kathmandu, Pokhara & Janakpur, Nepal

Dubai Kabaddi Masters

width=125	Year	width=150	Rank	width=35	Pld	width=35	W	width=35	D	width=35	L
2018	Champions	6	6	0	0
Total	1/1	6	6	0	0

Beach kabaddi

Asian Beach Games

width=125	Year	width=150	Rank	width=35	Pld	width=35	W	width=35	D	width=35	L
2008	Champions	6	5	1	0
2010	Champions	6	6	0	0
2012	Third place		3	1	0	2
2014	Third place		4	2	0	2
2016	Runners-up		4	2	1	1
Total	5/5	23	16	2	5

South Asian Beach Games

width=125	Year	width=150	Rank	width=35	Pld	width=35	W	width=35	D	width=35	L
2011	Runners-up		4	2	0	2
Total	1/1	4	2	0	2

Indoor kabaddi

Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games

width=125	Year	width=150	Rank	width=35	Pld	width=35	W	width=35	D	width=35	L
2007	Champions	7	7	0	0
2009	Champions	5	5	0	0
2013	Participated as Independent Olympic Athletes (IOA)
Total	2/3	12	12	0	0

Circle kabaddi

Circle World Cup

width=125	Year	width=150	Rank	width=35	Pld	width=35	W	width=35	D	width=35	L
2010	Champions	6	6	0	0
2011	Champions		8	8	0	0
2012	Champions		5	5	0	0
2013	Champions		6	6	0	0
2014	Champions		6	6	0	0
2016	Champions		7	7	0	0
2020	Runners-up		6	5	0	1
Total	7/7	44	43	0	1

Circle Asian Cup

width=125	Year	width=150	Rank	width=35	Pld	width=35	W	width=35	D	width=35	L
2011	Champions	5	5	0	0
2012	Runners-up	5	4	0	1
2016	Runners-up	5	4	0	1
Total	3/3	15	13	0	2

Honours

World

• World Cup - Standard style

• • Champions (3): 2004, 2007, 2016
• World Cup - Circle style

• • Champions (6): 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016
  • Runners-up (1): 2020

Asia

• Asian Kabaddi Championship

• • Champions (8): 1980, 1988, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2017, 2023
• Asian Games

• • Gold Medal (8): 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2022
  • Bronze Medal (1): 2018
• Asian Beach Games

• • Gold Medal (2): 2008, 2010
  • Silver Medal (1): 2016
  • Bronze Medal (2): 2012, 2014

South Asia

• South Asian Games

• • Gold Medal (10): 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2016, 2019
  • Silver Medal (1): 1993

Current squad

Name
Nitesh Kumar
Parvesh Bhainswal
Sachin Tanwar
Surjeet Singh Narwal
Vishal Bhardwaj
Arjun Deshwal
Aslam Inamdar
Naveen Kumar
Pawan Sehrawat (C)
Sunil Kumar
Nitin Rawal
Akash Shinde

Players

Notable players

• Manathi Ganeshan
• Raju Bhavsar
• Maninder Singh
• Randhir Singh Sehrawat
• Ram Mehar Singh
• Balwan Singh
• Ramesh Kumar
• Rakesh Kumar
• Anup Kumar
• Navneet Gautam
• Jasvir Singh
• Ajay Thakur
• Rahul Chaudhari
• Manjeet Chillar
• Mohit Chillar
• Pardeep Narwal

Notes and References

1. Web site: India Kabaddi Team. 19 July 2021.
2. Web site: IndianKabadii.org. 19 July 2021.
3. Web site: 5 instances when India lost a Kabaddi match. 7 February 2023.
4. Web site: History Of Kabaddi. 7 February 2023.
5. Web site: Did you know India won gold in kabaddi in Asian Games since 1990, and all World Cups?. 7 February 2023.
6. Web site: India historically dominate kabaddi in Asian Games; Iran defending champions ahead of 2022 Hangzhou Games. 7 February 2023.
7. Web site: India men's kabaddi team: Full list of major trophies won by national side. 7 February 2023.
8. Web site: Gameplay Kabaddi at the Asian Games 2006. 7 February 2023.
9. Web site: Asian Games: India beat Iran to win record 6th kabaddi gold. . 7 February 2023.
10. Web site: Kabaddi at Asian Games: Indian men and women rule the roost. 7 February 2023.
11. Web site: Favourites India win 2016 Kabaddi World Cup, defeat Iran 38-28 in the final. 7 February 2023.
12. Web site: India thump Pakistan, South Korea to win Asian Kabaddi Championship 2017 titles. 7 February 2023.
13. Web site: India reign supreme in Kabaddi Masters Dubai 2018, clinch title with easy win over Iran. 7 February 2023.
14. Web site: Kabaddi Masters Dubai 2018: India humble Kenya 48-19, win second consecutive match. 7 February 2023.
15. Web site: Asian Games 2018: India kabaddi team suffer shock defeat to South Korea. 7 February 2023.
16. Web site: Asian Games 2018: losing to Iran, India fail to reach men's kabaddi final for first time. . 7 February 2023.
17. Web site: Naveen Kumar's Super 10 helps India bag 10th kabaddi gold at South Asian Games. 7 February 2023.
18. Web site: India continue fine form at South Asian Games. 7 February 2023.
19. Web site: Asian Kabaddi Championship 2023: India beat Iran in final to win title .