The Indian men’s kabaddi team secured its place in the finals of the inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship by defeating Bangladesh with a score of 56-27. This victory was achieved during the semifinals held on Friday, where India showcased a dominant performance throughout the match.

From the outset, the Indian team established control, inflicting an All-Out on their opponents within the first five minutes. Key players Naveen Kumar and Neeraj Narwal excelled in the raiding department, while Deepak S and Shubham Shinde provided crucial support in defence. By half-time, India had built a significant 28-8 lead, having executed a second All-Out with eight minutes remaining in the first half.

After the break, India continued to extend its lead, reaching a score of 38-16 with ten minutes left in the match. Bharat Hooda further pressured the Bangladesh defence, leading to another All-Out with just four minutes remaining, which brought the score to 49-20. Despite their efforts, Bangladesh could not recover, resulting in a comfortable 29-point victory for India.

Bharat Hooda emerged as the leading scorer for India with 13 points, while Shivam Patare contributed 11 points and Neeraj Narwal added nine. Ajit Pawar also made a notable impact in defence, securing five tackle points from eight attempts. Overall, India achieved 37 raid points and 12 tackle points, along with six points from All-Outs.

Women’s Team Defeats Sri Lanka

The Indian women’s kabaddi team also advanced to the finals, defeating Sri Lanka decisively with a score of 39-14. This match demonstrated India’s early dominance, as they established a commanding lead and went into half-time with a score of 24-7.

Sakshi led the scoring for India with 11 points, which included eight raid points and three tackle points. Captain Nidhi Sharma played a pivotal role as well, contributing 10 points from 12 raids. The team’s defensive efforts were bolstered by Ritu, who collected four tackle points, and Suman, who added three. India executed three All-Outs during the match, further asserting their control over Sri Lanka.

In the other semifinal, Uganda secured their place in the final after narrowly defeating Kenya 23-21. Uganda held a slight lead of 12-9 at half-time and managed to maintain their advantage in the second half, despite a strong performance from Kenya’s Lavenda Odhiambo, who recorded 16 raid points, including six bonus points.

Uganda’s ability to execute an All-Out in the first half and their perfect record in five do-or-die raids proved crucial in the match’s closing moments. Nakayongo Shirat and substitute Nalwoga Nahia each scored eight points for Uganda, while captain Nalubega Olivia contributed three tackle points.

Upcoming Finals Schedule

The finals of the Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship are set to take place on Saturday. The Indian women’s team will face Uganda at 7.30 pm, while the men’s team will compete against Sri Lanka at 9 pm. Both matches are expected to be highly competitive as the teams vie for the championship title.

With both Indian teams performing strongly in their respective semifinals, anticipation is building for what promises to be an exciting conclusion to the tournament. The performances of key players will be crucial as they aim to secure victory for their nation.

The Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship has provided a platform for showcasing the sport at an international level, and the finals will highlight the growing popularity and competitiveness of kabaddi in the region.

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