India’s men’s kabaddi team moved into the semi-finals of the inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026 after defeating Tanzania 48-20 at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.

The victory was India’s fifth in as many group matches, leaving the hosts assured of a top spot before their final group game against Sri Lanka on Thursday. India’s unbeaten run has put them in a strong position as the competition moves towards the knockout stage.

India took control early against Tanzania, opening a 3-0 lead before extending the gap through a series of successful raids. An all-out in the eighth minute pushed the hosts into a double-digit lead. By half-time, India were ahead 25-8.

The raiders kept finding gaps in the Tanzanian defence. Their quick movements and sharp footwork helped India collect 30 raid points, twice the 15 scored by Tanzania. The hosts also made the most of their defensive chances, winning 10 tackle points against Tanzania’s five.

Shubham Shinde led India’s defence with five points. Deepak S scored three, while Parvesh Bhainswal added two. The Indian defenders worked together to stop Tanzanian raiders from collecting several points in a single raid.

India inflicted six all-outs during the match, leaving Tanzania with little chance of closing the gap. The home crowd, which repeatedly chanted “India, India,” added to the atmosphere as the team completed its 28-point win.

The result continues India’s strong start to a tournament that brings men’s and women’s national teams from Commonwealth countries together for the first time. The championship is being organised by the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI), with approval from the International Kabaddi Federation (IKF).

Ahmedabad is hosting the competition at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex from October 23 to 31. The event has 23 squads across the two categories, with 400 players taking part. The winners will become the first Commonwealth champions in men’s and women’s kabaddi.

Kabaddi is a team sport in which a raider enters the opposing half to score points by touching defenders and returning safely. Defenders try to stop the raider and score points through tackles. Teams also earn extra points when they send all their opponents off the mat.

The sport has a long history in India and has gained a wider audience through professional competitions such as the Pro Kabaddi League. The Commonwealth championship gives national teams from several countries a chance to compete on an international stage.

Kenya’s women’s team continued its unbeaten run on Tuesday, defeating Scotland 61-16 in the opening match of the day. Lavenda Odhiambo led Kenya with 16 points, while Esther Omolo scored nine and Joy Vanessa Onyango added six.

Kenya scored 37 raid points against Scotland’s 12 and won 13 tackle points to Scotland’s four. The team also inflicted eight all-outs, as Scotland struggled to score and defend.

Malaysia’s women followed with a 62-17 win over Singapore. Shamitra scored 17 points, and Darsini added 12 for Malaysia. Sindini Anandrajan led Singapore with 11 points.

Bangladesh also recorded a convincing victory, beating Singapore 60-28. Mijanur Rahman scored 12 points, and Dipayon Golder contributed 10. Bangladesh finished with 39 raid points and 13 tackle points, compared with Singapore’s 22 raid points and four tackle points.

Canada defeated Scotland 62-30 in the fourth match of the day. Anmol Thakur scored 19 points, and Manpreet Singh added 15 for Canada, which won 37 raid points and 15 tackle points. The result gave Canada its second win of the competition.

Malaysia later beat England 55-29, adding another win to its campaign.

The tournament brings together teams from across the Commonwealth, including countries where kabaddi has a smaller following than in India. The event gives players a chance to test themselves against opponents with different playing styles and experience.

For India, the immediate task is to finish the group stage against Sri Lanka before the semi-finals. The hosts have won all five matches so far and will enter the knockout stage with an unbeaten record.

The championship is part of a wider effort to expand kabaddi’s reach beyond its traditional base in South Asia. Ahmedabad, which is due to host the Commonwealth Games in 2030, is also using the tournament to stage international sport and welcome teams from several countries.

With the group stage nearing its end, the semi-finals will decide which teams remain in contention for the first Commonwealth kabaddi titles. India’s men have already secured their place, and the focus now turns to the final group match and the knockout rounds.

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