Ten notable players omitted from India’s 12-man men’s kabaddi squad for Asian Games 2026
India named a 12-player men’s kabaddi squad for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, in a selection announced on August 24, 2026, leaving several established stars out of the team. The final cut followed multiple coaching camps and reduced a large pool of contenders to the dozen players who will travel to the Games.
India enter the Asian Games with a strong continental record, having won eight gold medals and one bronze in kabaddi at previous editions. The team’s only failure to take gold came after a 2018 semi-final defeat to Iran, with Iran then beating South Korea in the final, while India reclaimed the title at the 2022 Asian Games by defeating Iran 33-29.
Among the raiders omitted was Sachin Tanwar, a right raider who was part of India’s 2022 gold-winning side; the article reports a dip in his form in recent seasons as a factor in his non-selection. Pankaj Mohite — described as a clutch performer for Puneri Paltan and in the Senior Nationals — also missed out, as did young raider Aditya Shinde despite strong displays in the Pro Kabaddi League and the Senior Nationals. The selectors chose six raiders for the squad, including two all-rounders, which the article cites as intensifying competition for available spots.
Bharat Hooda, an all-rounder credited with 230 raid points and 17 tackle points in PKL 12 who helped Telugu Titans reach the Qualifiers, was another high-profile omission. The article notes the management preferred experienced all-rounders Pawan Sehrawat and Aslam Inamdar, both of whom represented India at the 2022 Asian Games.
Defensive names left out include Nitesh Kumar, the Pro Kabaddi League Season 11 Defender of the Season and Tamil Thalaivas left corner who finished third among tackle-point scorers with 65 tackle points; he did not make the final squad after the coaching camps. Right-corner defender Yogesh Dahiya was also excluded, with the management instead selecting Rahul Sethpal and Gaurav Khatri, who the article says looked in great form in the last PKL and may have impressed coaches.
Other defenders omitted were Parvesh Bhainswal and Shubham Shinde. Parvesh, a member of India’s 2022 gold-winning team, is described as having dropped levels and being less effective at left cover, compounded by the selectors choosing only two covers to accommodate more raiders. Shubham Shinde, a right-corner from Maharashtra viewed in the piece as one of the country’s top corners, reacted to his non-selection by posting a heartbreak emoji on his Instagram story.
Surjeet Singh — also part of the 2022 gold-winning side and recently honoured with the Arjuna Award — was not named in the 12, despite being credited in the article with strong form that helped Dabang Delhi win the Pro Kabaddi League last season; the management’s decision to name only one right cover and one left cover is cited as a selection rationale. The most high-profile omission mentioned is Naveen Kumar, a 2022 team member described as having struggled with injuries and a decline in form, which the article suggests influenced selectors to favour younger options.
Kabaddi at the 2026 Asian Games is scheduled to run from September 21 to September 26 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, and the article notes India entered the Games on the back of winning both the men’s and women’s kabaddi gold medals at the 2022 Asian Games.