The Japan kabaddi team is having a mixed but memorable run at the 2026 Asian Games, trading heavy losses against Asia’s traditional powers for gritty wins that have kept the host nation’s medal hopes alive. Playing in front of home crowds in Nagoya, Japan has shown that kabaddi, still a niche sport in the country, is finding a genuine following.
Background
Kabaddi is being played at the Tokai Citizen Gymnasium in Aichi Prefecture from September 21 to 26, 2026, as part of the Asian Games hosted in Japan. The sport, born in the rural communities of South Asia, has never been part of Japan’s sporting mainstream, but that is slowly changing.
Japan’s best-ever finish at the Asian Games came in 2010 in Guangzhou, when the men’s team won bronze. Since then, the national side has worked its way up through the Asian Kabaddi Championship system. Last year, Japan won the inaugural East Asian Men’s Championship, a result that gave the program fresh momentum heading into a home Games.
Details
Japan’s men opened their campaign against defending champions India and were beaten 49-24, a familiar story against a side that has dominated Asian Games kabaddi since the sport’s introduction in 1990. But Japan bounced back two days later, edging Bangladesh 40-37 in a tight contest that showed the improvement in the squad’s raiding and defense.
The wins have not come without setbacks. Chinese Taipei beat Japan 34-30 in a later group match, a result that briefly clouded the hosts’ path to the knockout stage. Japan responded by beating South Korea 62-35, a lopsided scoreline that kept their medal ambitions on track heading into the closing rounds of the group stage.
On the women’s side, the picture has been tougher. Japan lost 63-20 to Iran in their opening match and were beaten 42-22 by Bangladesh in their next outing, leaving the team fighting for pride and points rather than a semi-final spot in a group that includes India.
Quotes
Japan kabaddi remains a minor sport at home, and those involved with the program are candid about the scale of the challenge. One Japan kabaddi figure described the sport as still stuck as a minor pursuit in the country, adding that a home Games run was a chance to attract more attention and, with it, sponsors willing to back the sport long-term. dawn
Coaches around the team have pointed to facilities as the next barrier to clear. With better training environments, several involved with the program believe Japan can eventually challenge kabaddi’s established giants, India and Iran, rather than simply making up the numbers in the group stage.
Impact
A strong Asian Games showing matters for kabaddi’s future in Japan far beyond this one tournament. The sport currently draws support mostly from school groups and small regional clubs, and a run to the medal rounds in front of a home crowd could be the exposure it needs to grow beyond that base.
Regionally, Japan’s rise adds another competitive side to the East Asian kabaddi picture, alongside Chinese Taipei and South Korea, in a region that has historically been overshadowed by South Asian nations. A stronger East Asian bloc would raise the overall standard of Asian Games kabaddi in future editions.
Conclusion
Japan’s kabaddi team still has work to do before it can be considered a genuine medal threat against India or Iran, but the results in Nagoya point to a program on the rise. With the group stage nearing its end, the host nation will be hoping home advantage and growing depth carry them into the medal matches.
FAQs
Does Japan play kabaddi?
Yes. Japan has a national kabaddi team for both men and women, competing in the Asian Games, the Kabaddi World Cup, and the Asian Kabaddi Championship. The men’s side has been active in the sport since 1990 and won bronze at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, which remains the country’s best finish at the event so far.
Which country is best at kabaddi?
India is widely regarded as the strongest kabaddi nation in the world. The Indian men’s team has won gold at eight of the nine Asian Games editions where kabaddi has been contested, along with multiple Kabaddi World Cup and Asian Championship titles. Iran is the only country to have beaten India to the Asian Games men’s title.
Does Pakistan have a kabaddi team?
Yes, Pakistan fields both men’s and women’s national kabaddi teams and has competed at the Asian Games, Asian Championships, and the Kabaddi World Cup. Pakistan is considered one of the more competitive nations in Asian kabaddi circles, alongside India, Iran, and Bangladesh.
