Tokai: India will face Bangladesh in the men’s kabaddi Group A match at the Asian Games 2026 on Wednesday, September 23, with the defending champions looking to continue their strong start to the competition. The match will be played at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium and is scheduled to begin at 9:45 am IST.
India have made a strong start to their campaign in Aichi-Nagoya, defeating hosts Japan in their opening match before registering another convincing victory against South Korea. The Indian team defeated South Korea 63-31 on Tuesday, putting themselves firmly in contention for a place in the knockout stage.
For Indian viewers, the match will be available on the Sony Sports Network on television, while live streaming will be provided through the SonyLIV app and website, according to broadcaster information cited by NDTV.
When is India vs Bangladesh kabaddi?
The India vs Bangladesh men’s kabaddi Group A match is scheduled for Wednesday, September 23, 2026.
The match will start at 9:45 am IST. It will be played at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium in Tokai City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
The fixture is part of the group stage of the men’s kabaddi competition. India are in Group A alongside Bangladesh, Japan, South Korea and Chinese Taipei. Group B consists of Iran, Nepal, Thailand, Pakistan and Malaysia.
Where to watch India vs Bangladesh live?
Indian fans can watch the men’s kabaddi match live on the Sony Sports Network.
The match will also be available for live streaming on the SonyLIV app and website. These broadcast and streaming details are based on information provided by the broadcaster and reported by NDTV Sports.
The Asian Games 2026 is being broadcast across Sony Sports platforms in India, with SonyLIV carrying live coverage of events from Aichi-Nagoya.
India enter the match after two big wins
India began their men’s kabaddi campaign against hosts Japan on September 21. The defending champions were looking to make a positive start as they began their attempt to retain the Asian Games title won in Hangzhou in 2022.
The Indian team followed that opening fixture with an emphatic performance against South Korea on Tuesday.
India defeated South Korea 63-31, producing a strong all-round display. The Indian raiders and defenders both contributed significantly as the team established control early in the match. Reports noted that India went into half-time with a 34-14 lead and completed the match with a 32-point margin.
The victory gave India two wins from two matches and kept the team firmly on course in Group A.
The Bangladesh match is therefore another opportunity for the Indian side to strengthen its position before the final group-stage fixture against Chinese Taipei on Thursday.
India chasing another Asian Games gold
India are the defending men’s kabaddi champions after winning gold at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou. The team has historically enjoyed considerable success in the sport at the continental event.
India have won the men’s kabaddi gold medal eight times in the nine previous editions in which the sport was contested, with the exception of the 2018 Games, when they finished with bronze.
The 2026 competition represents another opportunity for India to add to that record.
India’s men’s team is being coached by Balwan Singh, who has also been associated with the country’s three Kabaddi World Cup titles.
The squad’s early results in Aichi-Nagoya have provided a strong start to the campaign, although the knockout stages will present a different challenge.
Bangladesh fixture important for group campaign
Bangladesh will be India’s third opponent in Group A. While India have already registered two wins, every group match remains important because the top two teams from each group advance to the semi-finals.
The men’s kabaddi competition features 10 teams divided into two groups of five. Each team plays the other teams in its group once during the group stage.
The semi-finals are scheduled for September 25, followed by the men’s gold-medal match on September 26. There is no separate bronze-medal match, with both losing semi-finalists receiving bronze medals.
India’s immediate focus, however, remains the Bangladesh encounter before the final group match against Chinese Taipei.
Asian Games kabaddi schedule
Kabaddi action at the Asian Games 2026 is taking place from September 21 to September 26 at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium.
For India, the men’s schedule includes three group matches:
- September 21: India vs Japan
- September 22: India vs South Korea
- September 23: India vs Bangladesh
- September 24: India vs Chinese Taipei
The men’s semi-finals are scheduled for September 25, while the final will take place on September 26.
India’s women’s team is also competing at the Games. The women’s side began its campaign with a 42-21 win over Bangladesh and faced Iran on Wednesday.
What the Bangladesh match means for India
India’s first two victories have given the defending champions a positive start, but the team will still need to maintain its intensity through the remainder of the group stage.
The match against Bangladesh comes less than 24 hours after India’s big win over South Korea. The short turnaround makes squad management and maintaining defensive and attacking discipline important aspects of the contest.
India’s performances so far have shown the team’s ability to score heavily while also creating pressure through its defence. The 63-point haul against South Korea demonstrated the attacking options available to the side, while the 31 points conceded provide another area for the team to monitor as the competition progresses.
Bangladesh, meanwhile, will be looking to produce a stronger challenge against the defending champions and improve its position in Group A.
Live streaming and telecast details
For viewers looking to follow the match, the key information is:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | India vs Bangladesh, men’s kabaddi |
| Competition | Asian Games 2026 |
| Date | September 23, 2026 |
| Start time | 9:45 am IST |
| Venue | Tokai Citizens Gymnasium, Tokai City |
| Television | Sony Sports Network |
| Live streaming | SonyLIV app and website |
The broadcast information is based on details provided by the broadcaster and reported by NDTV Sports.
Conclusion
India will take on Bangladesh in their third men’s kabaddi Group A match at the Asian Games 2026 on Wednesday. The defending champions have won their opening two matches, including a 63-31 victory over South Korea, and will look to continue that momentum at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium. The match begins at 9:45 am IST and will be televised on the Sony Sports Network, with live streaming available on SonyLIV.