The Senior National Men’s Kabaddi Championship 2026 will take place from February 24 to 27 at the Sama Indoor Complex in Vadodara, Gujarat. Organised under the banner of the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI), the tournament marks the 72nd edition of the prestigious national championship.
A total of 31 teams, representing various States, Union Territories and institutional sides will compete for the title. More than 400 players are set to participate in the four-day event.
Services enter the tournament as the defending champions, having clinched last year’s title in Odisha with a victory over Railways in the final. Led by Pro Kabaddi League star Naveen Kumar, Services will once again be among the favourites. Their squad features prominent players such as Bharat Hooda, Devank Dalal, Ankit Jaglan, Jaideep Dahiya, and Ashish Narwal.
Haryana, the 2024 champions, along with Maharashtra and Railways, all of whom boast several top Pro Kabaddi players in their squad, are expected to give a tough competition.
With the Asian Games 2026 scheduled for September–October in Japan, this year’s Senior National Men’s Kabaddi Championship will play a crucial role in team selection as India aims to defend its continental title.
Among the players to watch are PKL Season 12’s top three raiders — Haryana’s Ayan Lohchab, Devank Dalal, and Services’ Bharat Hooda. Ashu Malik, captain of Dabang Delhi’s title-winning side, will represent Railways, while Arjun Deshwal returns to lead Uttar Pradesh.
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Emerging talents will also be in focus. Tamil Nadu’s Deepak Sankar comes into the tournament after a standout 64-tackle-point season that earned him the PKL 12 New Young Player award. Maharashtra’s Aditya Shinde, who recorded 159 raid points including five super raids, and Haryana defender Nitesh Kumar, with 65 tackle points and five High 5s, are also expected to make an impact. Promising youngsters Anil (Himachal Pradesh) and Uday Parte (Madhya Pradesh) add further depth to the competition.
The championship concludes on Friday. Earlier this year, the women’s national championship was held in Hyderabad, where Haryana defeated Railways to lift the title.
