New Delhi, September 16 (Daily Kiran) : The Indian women’s kabaddi team is brimming with confidence as it prepares for the Captain Pushpa Rana and teammate Pooja Kajla believe they can successfully defend their gold medal.
Leading a squad of 12, Pushpa emphasized that the team is rigorously analyzing opponents and focusing on improvement areas identified by their coaching staff. “We practice according to the conditions and analyze videos of upcoming matches. Our coaches inform us about past shortcomings and necessary improvements. We are now working on that. I believe our team is fully prepared,” she stated.
Kabaddi has always been an exciting sport at the , with India winning 11 gold medals, three of which are in the women’s category. The Indian team will strive to retain their title in Hangzhou, where they narrowly defeated Chinese Taipei 26-25 in the final. They also secured a World Cup victory last November. Pushpa feels that the pressure to repeat their success enhances their confidence rather than diminishes it.
“I do feel that motivation. When our seniors have done well and made history, it’s our responsibility to maintain that momentum. We see it as inspiration, not pressure. We are working hard to keep that rhythm,” she said.
As she embarks on her first stint as captain, Pushpa highlighted the importance of experience within the team. She relies on senior players like Ritu Negi and Sonali Shingte for guidance and team cohesion.
“I depend heavily on the seniors, as players like Ritu Negi and Sonali Shingte have been captains before. Their advice is crucial for me,” she explained.
Pushpa also pointed out that Chinese Taipei is a team to watch, given their close match in the previous Asian Games. For Pooja Kajla, winning another gold medal at the Asian Games could inspire future generations of female athletes.
“Winning gold at the Asian Games is very important. Just as we talk about women’s success in cricket, junior players are inspired by our achievements. If we win gold, young children will look up to us and ask their parents to let them play,” Pooja said.
She praised the joint strength and conditioning camp organized by the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI) and Pro Kabaddi League, which has helped players develop better recovery and performance habits. “We learned a lot about sleep and recovery during the camp. It was very beneficial,” she added.
The kabaddi events at the Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, will kick off on September 21. The Indian women’s team will face Bangladesh in their first Group A match, followed by matches against Iran on September 23 and Japan on September 24. The semifinals are scheduled for September 25, with the gold medal match set for September 26.
The Indian women’s kabaddi team for the 2026 Asian Games includes: Pushpa Rana (captain), Ritu Negi, Sonali Shingte, Sanju Devi, Pooja Kajla, Ritu Shyoran, Jyoti Thakur, Pinky Roy, Manisha Kumari, Bhavna Thakur, Raj Rani, and Nikita Kumari.