Inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship Begins in Ahmedabad

Why in the News?

The inaugural **Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026** is being hosted at the **Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Ahmedabad, Gujarat**, from October 23 to October 31, 2026.

Key Features / Major Points:

- Event Scope: Organized by the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI) under the aegis of the International Kabaddi Federation (IKF), the tournament features 23 squads and over 400 athletes across 62 matches.

- Team Divisions:

- **Men's Category (13 Teams):** Group A (India, Nigeria, Malaysia, Uganda, England, Tanzania, Sri Lanka) & Group B (Bangladesh, Kenya, Canada, Australia, Scotland, Singapore).

- **Women's Category (10 Teams):** Group A (India, Nigeria, Singapore, Uganda, Malaysia) & Group B (Bangladesh, Kenya, England, Sri Lanka, Scotland).

- Opening Results:

- **Indian Women's Team:** Started strongly with a dominant 73–13 win against Malaysia, followed by a 32–16 victory over Singapore.

- **Indian Men's Team:** Led by captain Surjeet Singh and vice-captain Naveen Kumar, India opened with a 46–26 win over England and a 44–30 victory over Uganda.

- Official Broadcasters: Star Sports and JioHotstar.

Static GK Facts:

- International Kabaddi Federation (IKF): Founded in 2004; Headquarters - Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.

- Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI): Founded in 1973; Headquarters - New Delhi.

- Asian Games History: Kabaddi was introduced as an official medal sport at the Asian Games in 1990 (Beijing).

One-Liner Quiz (All Competitive Exams):

Q: Which city is hosting the inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026?

A: Ahmedabad, Gujarat (Veer Savarkar Sports Complex)

Q: Who is captaining the Indian Men's Kabaddi team at the Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026?

A: Surjeet Singh (Vice-captain: Naveen Kumar)

Q: In which year was Kabaddi first introduced as an official medal sport in the Asian Games?

A: 1990 (Beijing Asian Games)

Q: Where is the headquarters of the International Kabaddi Federation (IKF) located?

A: Jaipur, Rajasthan (India)

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