Thailand and Malaysia Have Been Drawn in the Same Kabaddi Group and India Have Changed Eight of Twelve
Kabaddi at the Nagoya Asian Games runs 21 to 26 September, with every medal match on the final day.
Kabaddi at the Asian Games runs 21 to 26 September in Aichi-Nagoya, with every medal match on the final day. Top two from each group reach the semi-finals, the format used since 2006.
The men's draw has ten teams. Group A is India, Bangladesh, South Korea, Chinese Taipei and Japan. Group B is Iran, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand and Malaysia, which puts both Southeast Asian entrants in the same pool as the strongest side outside India.
The women's draw has eight. Group A is India, Iran, Japan and Bangladesh. Group B is Chinese Taipei, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Thailand.
India named their squads on 23 August and confirmed Ashu Malik and Ritu Negi as captains on 7 September. Only four of the twelve men are retained from the Hangzhou gold-medal squad: Arjun Deshwal, Sunil Kumar, Pawan Sehrawat and Aslam Inamdar. Eight will make their Games debut. India's men have eight Asian Games kabaddi golds and their women have won three of the last four.
The opening matches on 21 September are India's men against hosts Japan and India's women against Bangladesh.
The venue has been reported as both the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium and the Nagoya City Trade and Industry Centre.