India have announced their men’s and women’s kabaddi teams for the 2026 Asian Games, with both sides heading to Aichi-Nagoya as defending champions.

The squads were revealed on Saturday as part of India’s 492-member athlete contingent for the continental event. Both teams will be aiming to extend the country’s dominant record in kabaddi after winning gold at the previous Asian Games in Hangzhou.

The Indian men’s squad features Ankit, Devank Dalal, Rahul Satpal, Sumit, Jaideep, Ayan, Arjun Deshwal, Aslam Inamdar, Gaurav Khatri, Sunil Kumar, Pawan Kumar and Ashu Malik.

India will arrive in Japan looking to defend the men’s title secured with a 33-29 victory over Iran in Hangzhou. The result restored the country to the top of the podium following its rare setback at the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia.

The women’s team will include Jyoti Thakur, Nikita, Pooja Hathwala, Raj Rani, Pushpa Rana, Ritu Sheoran, Bhavna Devi, Sanju Devi, Manisha Kumari, Ritu Negi, Pinki Roy and Sonali Vishnu.

The defending champions will be hoping for another successful campaign after winning a closely contested final against Chinese Taipei at the previous Games. India edged the contest 26-25 to take the gold medal.

India has historically been the dominant force in Asian Games kabaddi. The country has collected eight gold medals in the men’s competition and three in the women’s event.

The 2018 edition remains the only Asian Games in which India failed to win either kabaddi gold medal. The men’s team had to settle for bronze in Indonesia, while the women finished with silver.

That disappointment was followed by a return to the top for both teams in Hangzhou, and the newly announced squads will now carry the responsibility of maintaining that success in Aichi-Nagoya.

With both defending champions travelling to Japan, kabaddi will once again be among the events where India will have strong expectations of adding to its medal tally.

The 24 selected players — 12 in each squad — will also have the opportunity to continue India’s impressive Asian Games legacy in a sport where the country has consistently set the benchmark.

For the men, the target will be a ninth Asian Games gold medal, while the women will be chasing their fourth title as both sides prepare to defend their crowns in 2026.

India men’s kabaddi team for Asian Games 2026

Ankit, Devank Dalal, Rahul Satpal, Sumit, Jaideep, Ayan, Arjun Deshwal, Aslam Inamdar, Gaurav Khatri, Sunil Kumar, Pawan Kumar, Ashu Malik

India women’s kabaddi team for Asian Games 2026

Jyoti Thakur, Nikita, Pooja Hathwala, Raj Rani, Pushpa Rana, Ritu Sheoran, Bhavna Devi, Sanju Devi, Manisha Kumari, Ritu Negi, Pinki Roy, Sonali Vishnu