Day two of the kabaddi tournament at the 2026 Asian Games delivered a mix of dominant performances and surprise results. Hosted at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, the competition runs from 21 to 26 September and features ten men’s teams and eight women’s teams across two groups each.
Key Results from the Morning Session
The opening match of the day pitted Nepal against Pakistan at 6:00 AM IST. Pakistan, fresh from a 65‑22 victory over Malaysia on Day 1, secured a 58‑43 win, extending its unbeaten start and keeping it in contention for a top‑two finish in Group B. Nepal, which had already suffered a 59‑48 loss to Thailand on the opening day, faced a steep uphill battle with the defeat leaving its semi‑final hopes in serious doubt.
Later in the morning, the men’s Group A showdown between the Republic of Korea and India took place at 7:15 AM IST. India, captained by Sunil Kumar and coached by Balwan Singh, built on its 49‑24 opening‑day triumph over Japan. The Indian side out‑scored Korea 63‑31, taking a 2‑0 lead in the group and positioning itself strongly for the knockout stage. The Korean team, which earned bronze in Incheon 2014 and silver in Jakarta 2018, had been the only side besides India to challenge the Indian men historically, but the margin of victory underscored India’s continued dominance.
Evening Action and Women’s Matches
In the women’s Group B contest, Thailand faced Nepal at 12:30 PM IST. Thailand, a three‑time medalist in the women’s event, edged Nepal 46‑43 in a tightly contested match that could decide the second semi‑final berth from the group.
Thailand then returned to the mat for its second women’s match of the day, taking on Malaysia at 2:30 PM IST. The Thai side displayed its depth, routing Malaysia 65‑23 and reinforcing its position as a front‑runner in Group B.
The men’s evening session featured Bangladesh versus Japan, a match that would determine whether the hosts could keep their semi‑final aspirations alive. Bangladesh entered the game with two straight victories – a 39‑35 win over Korea and a narrow 48‑47 triumph over Chinese Taipei – and led Group A with a perfect record. Japan, having lost 49‑24 to India, needed a win to stay in contention. The official score for this encounter was not released at the time of reporting.
Iran’s women, who posted a 63‑20 rout of Japan on Day 1, were scheduled to meet Bangladesh later in the evening. The Iranian side, a two‑time Asian Games champion in the men’s event and the sole nation besides India to claim a kabaddi gold, entered the match with a strong net‑point advantage. The result of the Iran‑Bangladesh clash was also pending.
In Group B, Nepal’s men completed their double‑header by facing Iran at 3:00 PM IST. Iran, which had a bye on Day 1, was making its tournament debut and was expected to be a decisive factor in the group standings. The outcome of this match was not available when the updates were compiled.
The final women’s match of the day saw Sri Lanka take on Chinese Taipei. Sri Lanka, still seeking its first Asian Games kabaddi medal, faced a Chinese Taipei side that had earned silver in the 2022 edition. The scoreline for this fixture was likewise pending.
Group Standings and What Lies Ahead
After two days of play, the men’s Group A table showed Bangladesh leading with two wins from two matches, while India held a 1‑0 record, having yet to play its second game. In Group B, Pakistan and Thailand each recorded a win, with Pakistan’s margin of victory larger, and Iran remained yet to play.
In the women’s draw, India and Iran both secured victories in Group A, leaving the group open but with India holding a slight edge due to a larger point differential. Group B appeared more contested, with Thailand’s win over Malaysia and its narrow victory over Nepal positioning it as the likely front‑runner, while Sri Lanka and Chinese Taipei awaited their results.
Net points are a critical tiebreaker in the group stage, as each team plays only three or four matches. Consequently, the size of the winning margin can be as decisive as the win itself, a factor that was evident in Pakistan’s 15‑point victory over Nepal and Thailand’s 42‑point demolition of Malaysia.
Looking ahead, India’s men will face the Republic of Korea again on 23 September, while the Indian women are slated to meet Iran on the same day. Iran’s men, after their first match against Nepal, will take on the winner of the Pakistan‑Thailand encounter, a clash that could reshape the Group B hierarchy.
The semi‑finals are scheduled for 25 September, with the top two teams from each group advancing. No bronze‑medal match will be played; both losing semi‑finalists will receive bronze medals. The gold‑medal finals are set for 26 September, with the women’s final at 9:30 AM IST and the men’s final at 2:30 PM IST.
As the tournament progresses, the balance of power remains heavily weighted toward India, which boasts 11 gold medals from the 13 Asian Games kabaddi titles on offer, including eight men’s titles out of nine. However, the performances of Korea, Iran, Thailand, and Bangladesh indicate that the path to the podium will not be without challenges.
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