Indian kabaddi has begun the most important phase of its Asian Games defence. From 27 March through 2 April, a group of senior probables converged on the Inspire Institute of Sport in Bellary, Karnataka, for a structured strength-and-conditioning camp aimed squarely at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan — a competition where India enters as the defending champions in both the men's and women's categories.
The men's group reads like a who's who of the Pro Kabaddi League's marquee names: Naveen Kumar, Arjun Deshwal, Pawan Sehrawat, Aslam Inamdar, Sunil Kumar, Ashu Malik and Bharat Hooda were all listed among the probables. The women's group features Ritu Negi as captain alongside Sonali Vishnu Shingate, Pushpa Rana, Champa Thakur, Pinki Roy, Priya and Karthika R — a squad that already lifted the Women's Kabaddi World Cup in Dhaka in late 2025.
Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India president Vibhor Vineet Jain framed the work bluntly. "This initiative is an important step in our preparations as we continue to raise the standard of kabaddi in India," he said, framing the camp as a foundation block rather than a one-off.
What made the Bellary set-up unusual was its scale. Rather than narrowing the squad early, India is running 45 probables in each group through the camp's regimen. Pro Kabaddi League commissioner Anupam Goswami explained the logic. "Since we are working with 45 probables in each group, the benefits of this camp will extend to many more athletes beyond the final Indian kabaddi squads," he said.
The approach gives India two advantages. First, it keeps competition for places live for as long as possible — a useful pressure-point with PKL stars whose form fluctuates across a long franchise season. Second, it bakes the IIS conditioning protocol into a deeper player pool, which matters when the same athletes return to club duty between now and the Games.
The defence in Japan will not be straightforward. Iran has consistently invested in its programme since the last Games and remains the most credible men's threat. The women's draw is wider than it has ever been — Bangladesh's hosting of the 2025 World Cup and Iran's win over Kenya at that tournament both pointed to an expanding global footprint for the women's game.
The Bellary block is designed to put India ahead of that curve. By the time the squad lists are finalised closer to the Games, the AKFI wants the players who arrive in Japan to be the fittest, most-prepared kabaddi side India has sent abroad. The work has started in Karnataka.
