Gandhinagar, September 17, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India’s kabaddi team is putting the final touches to its preparations for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, with captain Sunil Kumar saying the squad is ready to embrace the expectations that come with representing the country.
The Indian team is currently training at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) campus in Gandhinagar under the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI). The squad has already completed a key strength-and-conditioning phase at the IIS centre in Bellary.
Sunil, who holds the record for most wins as captain in Pro Kabaddi League history with 87 victories while leading Gujarat Giants, Jaipur Pink Panthers and U Mumba, said taking on the captaincy had increased his responsibility but not added pressure.
“Representing India is a matter of pride, not just for me but for everyone who has helped me get here; my teachers, my family, my elder brother. This time I’ve also become captain, so the responsibility is bigger. But when a team has prepared the way we have, you don’t feel that pressure. You just feel ready,” Sunil said.
The Bellary camp, organised by AKFI and the promoters of the Pro Kabaddi League, focused on addressing individual weaknesses, improving fitness and strengthening the squad’s nutritional preparation.
“The better a player’s fitness, the better he performs on the mat. At the IIS Bellary, we identified our weaknesses, worked on them individually, and got our nutrition right. That groundwork has made a real difference,” Sunil said.
The India captain also credited the Pro Kabaddi League with giving Indian players regular exposure to high-pressure matches and international opponents.
“PKL has given our players a platform they never had before. Playing 2-3 months of league every year, against foreign raiders and defenders, in pressure situations, that experience carries straight into the international arena. It’s why this team walks in confident, not anxious,” he said.
Sunil led Jaipur Pink Panthers to the Pro Kabaddi League title in Season 9 in 2022, one of the notable achievements of his league career.
At the Asian Games, India will again enter the kabaddi competition with expectations of winning gold, a standard that has traditionally accompanied the country’s campaign in the sport.
“In Kabaddi, there’s no such thing as a bronze or silver being enough, as the demand is always gold. There’s a bit of pressure that comes with that, because so many great players have worn this jersey before us. But we take confidence from our seniors and legends who have delivered gold, and we back ourselves to walk the same path,” Sunil said.
Iran remains a major challenge for India, according to Sunil, with the two teams having contested closely fought matches in recent editions of the Asian Games.
“Over the last three Asian Games, Iran has been our toughest rival. We won by two points in 2014, lost in 2018, and won by four points in 2023. It would mean a lot to beat them again, and to do it with a strong margin,” he said.
India’s Kabaddi Squad for Asian Games 2026
Sunil Kumar (captain), Pawan Sehrawat, Ankit Jaglan, Aslam Inamdar, Ashu Malik, Ayan Lohchab, Devank Dalal, Arjun Deshwal, Jaideep Dahiya, Rahul Sethpal, Gaurav Khatri and Sumit Sangwan.
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