India Wins Kabaddi Champions in Women Category : A Story of Strength and Success
The Mahila Women’s Indian Kabaddi team has made India proud with their amazing skills and hard work. They are champions in the sport of kabaddi, a traditional Indian game that needs strength, speed, and teamwork.
Let’s talk about their journey, their wins, losses, best players, government support, prize money, where the players come from, and what the future holds for kabaddi.
How Many Times Have They Become Champions?
The Indian women’s kabaddi team has been a champion many times! They have won big tournaments like the Asian Games, Asian Women’s Kabaddi Championship, South Asian Games, and the Kabaddi World Cup. Here’s a list of their major wins:
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Asian Games: They have won gold 3 times (2010, 2014, and 2023). They started playing in the Asian Games in 2010 and have won every time except in 2018, when they got silver.
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Asian Women’s Kabaddi Championship: They have won this 5 times (2005, 2007, 2008, 2017, and 2025). In 2025, they beat Iran in the final in Tehran.
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South Asian Games: They have won gold 4 times (2006, 2010, 2016, and 2019).
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Kabaddi World Cup: They have won the World Cup 5 times (2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2025). In 2025, they won in Wolverhampton, England, beating England 57-34.
So, in total, they have won 17 big international trophies across these events!
When Did They Lose, and to Whom?
The Indian women’s team is very strong, but they have faced defeats too. In the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, they lost to Iran in the final and got a silver medal instead of gold.
The score was 27-24, and Iran played very well to win their first-ever gold in kabaddi. Also, in the Asian Women’s Kabaddi Championship, they didn’t win in 2016 because South Korea won that year on their home ground.
These losses made the team work harder and come back stronger.
Where Did the Matches Happen, and Who Were the Opponents?
The Indian women’s team has played in many places around the world. Here are some key matches:
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Asian Games 2023: In Hangzhou, China, they beat Chinese Taipei 26-25 in the final to win gold. This was a very close match!
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Asian Women’s Kabaddi Championship 2025: In Tehran, Iran, they defeated Iran 32-25 in the final to win the title.
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Kabaddi World Cup 2025: In Wolverhampton, England, they won against England with a big score of 57-34.
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South Asian Games 2019: They won gold, but the exact location and opponent for the final aren’t widely mentioned in recent updates.
Their main opponents have been teams like Iran, Chinese Taipei, South Korea, and Nepal. Iran has been a tough rival, especially in the Asian Games and Championships.
Who Are the Best Players?
The Indian women’s kabaddi team has many talented players. Some of the best ones are:
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Sonali Shingate: She was the captain in the 2025 Asian Women’s Kabaddi Championship. She is a great raider and led the team to victory in Tehran.
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Pooja Hathvala: A fantastic raider, she was a star in the 2023 Asian Games, helping the team win gold with her super raids.
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Pushpa Rani: Known as one of the best all-rounders, she played a big role in the 2023 Asian Games.
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Ritu Negi: A senior player and former captain, she was part of the 2018 silver-winning team and the 2023 gold-winning team.
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Jyoti Rana: A top raider from Himachal Pradesh, she was part of the 2023 Asian Games gold-winning team.
These players have shown great skills in raiding and defending, making India proud on the global stage.
How Many Times Has the Indian Women’s Kabaddi Team Become Champions?
As mentioned earlier, the Indian women’s kabaddi team has become champions 17 times in major international tournaments. They are the best in the world, and their record shows how strong they are in kabaddi.
What Support Did They Get from the Government?
The Indian government has supported the team in many ways. The Sports Ministry and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) have helped with training and facilities. For example:
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Before the 2025 Asian Women’s Kabaddi Championship, the team trained for 20 days at the SAI campus in Sonepat, Haryana. The Supreme Court also helped by solving issues with the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI), so the team could participate in the tournament.
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The government has set up training centers like the SAI centers in Dharamshala and Bilaspur, and the Khelo India Centre in Nalagarh, where many players train.
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After their 2025 Asian Championship win, Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya felicitated the team and announced plans for a Women’s Kabaddi League to give more opportunities to female players.
The government also gives jobs to players who do well in sports, which helps them earn money and feel secure after their playing career ends.
How Much Prize Money Did They Get?
The team has received good prize money for their wins:
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For the 2025 Asian Women’s Kabaddi Championship win, the Sports Ministry gave them INR 67,50,000 (67.5 lakhs).
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In the Women’s Kabaddi League (WKL) in 2023, the winning team, Uma Kolkata, got INR 1 crore (10 million), while the runner-up, Punjab Panthers, got INR 50 lakhs (5 million).
Prize money from tournaments also helps fund kabaddi clubs and training camps, especially for girls from poor families.
Which Indian States Do the Players Belong To?
The players come from different parts of India, showing how kabaddi is loved all over the country. Here are some examples:
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Himachal Pradesh: Players like Pushpa Rana (from Sirmaur district) and Jyoti Rana (from Solan district) are from this state. The Himachal team also won gold in the National Games 2025.
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Haryana: Many players, like Pooja Hathvala, come from Haryana, which is a kabaddi hub.
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Maharashtra: Sonali Shingate, the 2025 team captain, is from Maharashtra.
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Other States: Players also come from states like Chamba, Kinnaur, Mandi (Himachal Pradesh), and Himachal Pradesh has been a big contributor to the national team.
Kabaddi is popular in rural areas, and many players come from small villages where they start playing at a young age.
How Many Trophies Have They Won?
The Indian women’s kabaddi team has won 17 major international trophies, as listed earlier. They are the most successful women’s kabaddi team in the world, and their trophy cabinet is full of gold medals!
What Is the Future Scope for Kabaddi?
The future of kabaddi, especially for women, looks very bright. Here are some possibilities:
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More Tournaments: The government is planning a Women’s Kabaddi League, like the Pro Kabaddi League for men, which will give more chances for women to play and earn money.
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Global Growth: Kabaddi is becoming popular worldwide. The 2025 Kabaddi World Cup in England shows that the sport is growing outside Asia. More countries like England, Iran, and South Korea are playing kabaddi now.
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Better Facilities: With government support and prize money, more training centers and camps can be set up, especially for girls in rural areas.
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Jobs and Respect: Playing kabaddi can help girls get government jobs and respect in society. Many players have used kabaddi to become financially independent and delay early marriage.
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Olympic Dreams: There is hope that kabaddi might become an Olympic sport one day, which would make it even more popular.
The Indian women’s kabaddi team has already inspired many young girls to take up the sport. With more support and opportunities, they can keep winning and make India proud for years to come!
