Pawan Sehrawat has made India’s gold medal target clear as the men’s kabaddi team prepares for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. In that sense, the star raider has been talking about the pride of holding the India jersey and the responsibility of representing the country and the unity of the team as India looks to defend the Asian Games kabaddi title.
Sehrawat is among 12 players selected for India's men's kabaddi team at the continental multi-sport event. And Indian kabaddi is not without high expectations at the Asian Games; the Arjuna Awardee believes such expectations can serve as motivation rather than pressure.
Pawan Sehrawat On Representing India
Sehrawat spoke at the Asian Games about the significance of being selected to represent India from so many players. There is a high responsibility to wear the national jersey because players represent the country’s dreams on the international arena, he said.
Sehrawat's opportunity is also a source of pride for him. The raider will be one of the key players for India’s men's side in the team when it starts its campaign in Aichi-Nagoya.
The men's and women's kabaddi competitions will begin on September 21 and continue through September 26. The gold-medal matches will be played on the final day of the competition.
Gold Medal Expectations as Motivation
Indian kabaddi teams usually come to the Asian Games with high expectations. Sehrawat believes that the demand for a gold medal reflects the reputation Indian kabaddi has built at the continental level.
Rather than viewing the expectations as an additional burden, he said, the players can turn them into motivation. Sehrawat said that having the belief that the team could win gold can give them confidence as they prepare to play against the best teams in Asia.
India's men's kabaddi team and women's kabaddi team will enter the 2026 Asian Games looking to regain the gold medals won by the country at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games. So yet another important opportunity for Indian kabaddi to remain strong in the continental event is going to be in front of this competition.
Sehrawat Highlights Team Unity
Team chemistry is another factor Sehrawat has highlighted ahead of the tournament. The team has been training together for many months so the players have a good idea of each other’s strengths and playing styles.
Sehrawat added that the 12-member squad has grown in confidence and trust during their preparation. That the team will come together around a common goal can also bring the players together to pursue the gold medal, he added.
The Indian men's team is a mix of experienced players and young ones. Captain Sunil Kumar will lead a team that includes Sehrawat, Ankit Jaglan, Aslam Inamdar, Ashu Malik, Ayan Lohchab, Devank Dalal, Arjun Deshwal, Jaideep Dahiya, Rahul Sethpal, Gaurav Khatri and Sumit Sangwan.
Pawan Sehrawat's Pro Kabaddi Record
Sehrawat also enters the Asian Games with a record in the Pro Kabaddi League. He owns the league record for the most raid points scored by a player in a single match.
The raider recorded a 39-point performance for Bengaluru Bulls against Haryana Steelers in the Pro Kabaddi League Season 7. The official Pro Kabaddi records still list the 39-point haul as the highest raid-point tally by a player in one match.
His international professional experience that he has in the domestic professional category adds another dimension to India's team. Sehrawat is great at getting points in high-pressure situations and hence has become one of the most popular names in Indian kabaddi.
India Targets Another Asian Games Gold
The kabaddi tournament at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games will run from September 21 to September 26. India will enter the tournament looking to retain the men’s and women’s gold medals won in Hangzhou in 2022.
For Sehrawat and his teammates, the tournament is an opportunity to turn months of preparation and team-building into results on the mat. The team united around the mission to win the gold will start the Indian men’s national team with its hopes on defense.
Sehrawat’s message ahead of the tournament represents that the team of India takes responsibility, and the expectation for success can motivate them. For the Asian Games, there is the feeling that the Indian kabaddi team will carry on with the same confidence and unity and will have another medal-winning performance.
