India started their women’s Kabaddi title defence at the Asian Games 2026 with a victory against Bangladesh 42-21 in their opening Group A match at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium on Monday. The champions displayed a strong all-round performance to close them off with a comfortable win and start the season strong.
India came to the competition to win the women’s Kabaddi gold medal and they got a good start. Sanju Devi had an integral part to play for India’s attack to win and keep the team in control in the most crucial stages of the match.
The Indian team established its authority early in the match. Bangladesh struggled to get to the bonus line and India’s raiders kept coming back with points. Bangladesh captain Sraboni Mollick kept her team in the mix, but India’s defensive structure limited the opposition’s chances of getting to the bonus line.
Manisha Kumari was particularly effective from the left cover position, helping India keep pressure on Bangladesh’s raiders. At the other end also came Sonali Shingate and captain Pushpa Rana, who contributed to the attack with the help of India as they gradually expanded their lead.
India eventually secured an All-Out and went into half-time with a 21-10 lead. The 11-point advantage of India in the first half reflected India’s control of both ends of the court and the defending champions maintained pressure.
India Maintain Pressure After Break
India carried their momentum into the second half rather than allow Bangladesh to try to stage a comeback. Sanju Devi and Pooja had quick hand touches as raids were made and India was still playing on a high line in the defence.
The defensive approach made it difficult for Bangladesh's raiders to find easy scoring opportunities. India’s continued pressure finally resulted in another All-Out, adding to the defending champions’ lead.
Sanju Devi remained one of India’s most consistent contributors as the match went on. Her raids enabled India to keep the score on the board and prevented Bangladesh from attempting a successful comeback.
Bangladesh had a brief fightback in the second half. Sraboni Mollick and the other raiders produced a sequence of points while Bangladesh’s defence also began to slow India’s scoring rate. Just after five minutes left, the gap was starting to narrow somewhat and there was a little bit of doubt for a little while.
But India reacted quickly. Sanju Devi took the lead again with a series of successful raids and now the title defenders once again had a chance to build on their lead and move toward the end and make it through the finish line.
India eventually secured a 42-21 victory and a 21-point margin in their opening Group A match.
India’s Scoring Breakdown
India ended up with 11 bonus points and four All-Out points to show the team’s ability to score consistently and put Bangladesh under sustained pressure. Bangladesh finished with five bonus points and one Super Tackle point.
The performance also highlighted the balance in India’s lineup. Sanju Devi provided the attacking spark, and the defensive unit played an equally important role in preventing Bangladesh from building momentum for long periods.
Sraboni Mollick, for Bangladesh, remained a crucial source of points but India’s defensive organisation limited her opportunities and those of the other raiders.
Iran Challenge Awaits
The victory gives India a good start to their Asian Games 2026 campaign. The defending champions will now concentrate on their next Group A game against Iran.
India is scheduled to play Iran at 8:30 AM on Wednesday. The match is another test for the defending champions as they continue their chase for another Asian Games women's Kabaddi gold medal.
With victory in the opening match, India will need to carry the same style of attack and defence into the next match. The 42-21 win against Bangladesh has given the team some early momentum, but the competition is on and the results in the other Group A games will decide their way to the knockout phase.
At present, India's title defence has started with a convincing win, with Sanju Devi and the rest of the squad setting the tone for the campaign in Aichi-Nagoya.
