India and Kenya Secure Strong Openers at Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship

The inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship kicked off on Friday at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Ahmedabad, featuring commanding opening-day victories from both the host nation and international competitors. Organized by the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India with the approval of the International Kabaddi Federation, the nine-day tournament brings together 23 squads from across the Commonwealth to compete in 62 matches spanning both men's and women's categories.

Playing in front of home crowds, the Indian women's team dominated Malaysia with a decisive 73-13 victory. Led by captain Nidhi Sharma, the team established an early 20-3 lead and extended it to 30-11 by halftime. Sakshi led the scoring with 13 points, supported by Renuka, who scored nine raid points off the bench. India sealed the win by inflicting six all-outs without conceding any.

The Indian men's team followed suit with a 46-26 victory over England. Captained by Surjeet Singh, the hosts controlled the match through strong raiding and tackling performances. Naveen Kumar finished as the leading scorer for the men's side with 12 points, while Neeraj Narwal added 11 raid points to secure the team's first win in Group A.

Meanwhile, the Kenyan men's and women's teams commenced their campaigns with contrasting victories. The Kenyan men defeated Singapore 48-28, led by James Kamweti with 19 points and solid defensive support from Samuel Wafula and Allan Omondi. Kenya established a commanding 28-11 lead by halftime and outscored Singapore significantly in both tackle and raid points.

The Kenyan women's team also emerged victorious in a tightly contested match against Bangladesh, winning 34-25. Lavenda Odhiambo starred for Kenya with a game-high 25 points, helping her side inflict four all-outs on Bangladesh despite a low-scoring first half.

Other notable results on the opening day included Sri Lanka defeating Tanzania 48-21 in the men's division, and Scotland comfortably overcoming Australia 59-30 behind a powerful attacking performance. In the women's competition, Uganda secured a lopsided 61-12 victory over Singapore.

The tournament features teams divided into specific groups, with the top two squads from each group advancing to the semifinals scheduled for October 30. The championship will conclude with the men's and women's finals on October 31, offering emerging programs and established powerhouses alike an international stage to showcase their skills.