India claims gold at the inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi tournament

India secured gold at the inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship following a decisive 35-15 triumph against Uganda in Ahmedabad. This victory concluded an undefeated tournament run for the host nation, which claimed victory in all six of its matches. Kabaddi continues to see steady global expansion, and this competition provided a significant international platform for rising athletic talents.

Dominant first half performance

Leading the charge for the home squad, Sakshi delivered an exceptional performance by securing nine raid points, accumulating a total of 52 points throughout the entire competition. Captain Nidhi Sharma contributed five points, while defenders Ritu and Suman solidified the backline with four tackle points each. During the opening half, the host team completely controlled the pace, establishing a 22-7 lead while denying their opponents any successful tackle attempts. Uganda found some rhythm in the second half through raider Nakayongo Shirat, who scored 11 of her team's 15 points. Despite her solid individual efforts, a second All-Out inflicted by the home side with less than ten minutes remaining eliminated any realistic chance of a comeback.

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Route to championship glory

Speaking on the victory, top scorer Sakshi expressed immense pride in securing the gold medal. She emphasized how international tournaments remain essential for the long-term growth of the sport, offering valuable experience to emerging players. She also praised the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI) for facilitating the successful event. Before reaching the final, the champions controlled Group A by defeating Malaysia, Singapore, Uganda, and Nigeria, followed by a convincing semi-final victory over Sri Lanka.