Thailand Beat Nepal Fifty Nine to Forty Eight as Asian Games Kabaddi Opened in Aichi
Malaysia's men had a difficult start in Group B, losing sixty-five to twenty-two to Pakistan after trailing thirty-eight to eleven at half-time.
Thailand's men beat Nepal 59-48 in Group B as the kabaddi competition at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games opened at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium in Aichi Prefecture on 21 September 2026, and Thailand's women followed with a 40-28 win over Sri Lanka.
It was a harder day for Malaysia, who are chasing a first Asian Games kabaddi medal. Their men lost 65-22 to Pakistan, who led 38-11 at half-time. Pakistan have taken bronze in the men's event at each of the last three Games.
Defending champions India made a winning start in both events. The men beat hosts Japan 49-24 after leading 31-9 at the break, and the women beat Bangladesh 42-21. Bangladesh's men were the only team to play twice on the opening day and won both matches, edging South Korea 39-35 and then Chinese Taipei 48-47. In the women's competition, Iran beat Japan 63-20.
Ten men's teams are split into two groups of five and eight women's teams into two groups of four. The group stage runs until 24 September, and the top two in each group advance to the semi-finals on 25 September. There is no bronze medal match, so both losing semi-finalists receive bronze, and both finals are on 26 September.
Thailand and Malaysia meet in men's Group B on 22 September, when Thailand's women also play Nepal.