India beat Japan 49-24 in Asian Games 2026 men's kabaddi opener

India began the defence of their men’s kabaddi gold at the Asian Games 2026 with a 49–24 win over hosts Japan at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium on Monday morning. The victory came in their opening Group A fixture.

Under captain Sunil Kumar, India set the tempo from the outset, highlighted by Ashu Malik’s three-point Super Raid and contributions from PKL raiders Arjun Deshwal, Devank Dalal and Ayan Lohchab. India kept Japan’s raiding largely under control in the first half, inflicting three All-Outs for six points and collecting 24 out points of their own.

Japan managed only five touch points and relied on four bonus points during the opening period, leaving India with a 31-9 lead at the break, a 22-point margin.

After the interval Japan regrouped, adopting sharper tactical discipline and hunting the bonus line with quick hand touches; they pushed the contest into a tighter 18-15 second half, holding India to just 12 points after the break.

India’s defence produced a fourth All-Out in the second half and executed a Super Tackle while down on numbers to extinguish any comeback bid. India’s offence had done most of the early damage, with direct dismissals accounting for 36 of their 49 points, while more than a third of Japan’s total came from the bonus line.

The result hands India a winning start to their title defence in Group A, with the men’s team seeking to extend a run that has yielded eight golds from the last nine editions of the Asian Games.