‘Kabaddi Kabaddi’ in Japan as India’s gold-hungry teams march on at Asian Games 2026

“Kabaddi Kabaddi,” the superhit Tamil number from superstar-turned-chief minister Vijay’s film ‘Ghilli’ played on a loop in the otherwise quiet Japanese air. Vanakams and namastes rent from the stands, while the unmistakable aroma of chhole and kebabs hung in the air.No, this isn’t India. But this is kabaddi, at the Tokai Citizen Gymnasium, venue for the competition where both Indian men’s and women’s teams are favourites at the Asian Games.A sizable Indian diaspora, Indian officials and technical staff, along with members of the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India and the Indian Olympic Association, added to the Indian flavour. The Indian teams completed the picture, taking another step towards defending their crowns with comfortable semifinals wins on Friday. The men beat Thailand 37-18, 29-10, while the women overcame Nepal 31-17, 17-7.For the teams, anything short of gold simply isn’t enough. Over the years, between them, they have contributed 11 Asian Games gold medals to India’s tally, eight of them coming from the men. “India has set the gold standard, so why settle for something less?” quipped Indian women’s vice captain Sonali Shingate.The 30-year-old, however, insists that ambition does not translate into pressure. “We have more responsibility than pressure. When you are the best team in the world, it’s not just about a podium finish. We don’t want to settle for anything but gold. There is no other target,” said the raider. Sonali believes the intensity of domestic kabaddi prepares Indian players well for international competition.“We don’t feel that much pressure in international tournaments because we experience more of it in national competitions, given how keenly they are fought,” she said, recalling India’s 37-23 win over Iran as their toughest league outing.She also credits the franchise league in the country for making the sport more competitive globally, with foreign players learning alongside and against Indian stars.For Sonali, that growing competition is no threat to India’s dominance. If anything, it keeps the champions hungry. “It is a good thing they push us to play better,” she said.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.