Aichi-Nagoya: The Indian women’s kabaddi team will take on Nepal in the semi-final of the Asian Games 2026 on Friday, September 25, with a place in the final at stake. The defending champions have already assured themselves of a medal after progressing unbeaten from the group stage.
The semi-final will be played at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium and will begin at 9:30 am IST. Indian viewers can watch the match live on the Sony Sports Network, while live streaming will be available through the SonyLIV app and website. The broadcast and streaming details are as provided by the broadcaster.
India enter semi-final unbeaten
India produced a strong campaign in the women’s Group A stage, recording victories in all their matches.
The Indian team defeated Bangladesh in its opening fixture before beating Iran 37-23. The defending champions then completed the group stage with another convincing victory over Japan.
Against Japan, India established control early and went into half-time with a 32-13 lead. The team added 18 more points in the second half. India collected 37 raid points, seven bonus points and six all-out points during the contest.
The unbeaten run helped India finish at the top of Group A and secure a place in the knockout stage.
Nepal stand between India and the final
India’s semi-final opponents, Nepal, come from Group B. The two teams will meet at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium in the first knockout stage of the women’s competition.
The match is scheduled for 9:30 am IST on September 25. The winner will advance to the gold-medal match, while the losing semi-finalist will receive the bronze medal.
India’s progress into the semi-final has already guaranteed the women’s kabaddi team a podium finish at the Aichi-Nagoya Games. The team will now look to reach the final and continue its title defence.
India chasing another Asian Games gold
India’s women’s kabaddi team has a strong record at the Asian Games. Before the 2026 edition, the team had won gold medals in 2010, 2014 and 2022, while taking silver in 2018. The Indian women had therefore medalled at every Asian Games edition they had entered.
The 2026 campaign is another opportunity for the defending champions to add to that record. India entered the tournament as the reigning champions following their gold-medal success at Hangzhou in 2022.
The squad is coached by Neeta Dadwe and Mamtha Poojari, while Pushpa Rana has been named captain. Sanju Devi, who was the Most Valuable Player at the 2025 Women’s Kabaddi World Cup, is also part of the Indian team.
When and where to watch India vs Nepal
The key broadcast details for the Asian Games women’s kabaddi semi-final are:
- Match: India vs Nepal, women’s kabaddi semi-final
- Date: Friday, September 25, 2026
- Time: 9:30 am IST
- Venue: Tokai Citizens Gymnasium, Japan
- Live telecast: Sony Sports Network
- Live streaming: SonyLIV app and website
- Stage: Semi-final
These details have been provided by the broadcaster and published by NDTV Sports.
India aim to reach gold-medal match
The Indian women’s team will now look to carry its group-stage momentum into the knockout round. A victory over Nepal would send the defending champions into the gold-medal match on Saturday, September 26, while a defeat would leave India with the bronze medal.
The semi-final is part of India’s busy Day 6 schedule at the Asian Games, with both the men’s and women’s kabaddi teams featuring in their respective semi-finals. Shooting, athletics, swimming, hockey, squash and other sports are also on India’s programme on Friday.
For Indian viewers, the 9:30 am start provides an early opportunity to follow the defending champions as they attempt to move one step closer to another Asian Games kabaddi title.