The 73rd Senior National Kabaddi Championship will be held from January 7 to 10 at the Sir M Vishveshvaraiah Stadium in Mandya, Karnataka.
The premier domestic tournament will feature teams representing States and Union Territories across India, along with leading institutional teams. Approximately 30 teams, comprising more than 400 players, are expected to participate in the four-day event.
Organised by the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI), the championship marks the 73rd edition of the men’s National Kabaddi Championship. All matches will be played on mats, with each team permitted a maximum of 14 players.
Indian Railways enter the competition as defending champions after winning the 72nd edition, which took place in Vadodara, Gujarat, from February 24 to 27. In that tournament, Railways defeated Maharashtra 49-31 in the final to secure the title.
The format will follow the previous edition, with participating teams divided into multiple pools. The top two teams from each pool will progress to the knockout stage upon completion of the group matches.
Over the years, the Senior National Kabaddi Championship has become a significant platform for nurturing young talent, with several players advancing to the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL). Notable past participants include two-time PKL Most Valuable Player Naveen Kumar, Ashu Malik, Aslam Inamdar and Sumit Sangwan.
The previous edition also featured Sunil Kumar, the most successful captain in PKL history, who played a key role in guiding Indian Railways to the championship title.
Additionally, several players who were part of India’s gold medal-winning squads at the 2026 Asian Games and the recently concluded Commonwealth Kabaddi Championships have risen through the ranks of the Senior National Kabaddi Championship.