Pakistan kabaddi Asian Games failure prompts PKF reforms after medal-less run
The Pakistan kabaddi Asian Games campaign at Nagoya ended without a medal for the first time in history, and the federation is now weighing sweeping reforms to restore a once-dominant side.
How the Pakistan kabaddi Asian Games campaign unravelled in Nagoya
Pakistan opened the tournament convincingly, beating Malaysia 65-22 and Nepal 58-43. Then came the collapse. Thailand, a relatively inexperienced side, beat Pakistan 48-45 after the Green Shirts surrendered a 14-point lead in the final seven minutes. Iran then won the crucial group decider 51-30, ending Pakistan’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals.
The Thailand defeat hurt most. PKF secretary general and former national captain Mohammad Sarwar told reporters the side led by 14 points before the match slipped away in the last seven minutes, calling it heartbreaking for the entire squad.
Pakistan have collected seven bronze and two silver medals in kabaddi at previous Asian Games. Returning empty-handed for the first time in four decades makes this the poorest showing in the country’s kabaddi history.
Exposure and the mat-versus-circle divide
Sarwar pointed to one cause above all others: a lack of international exposure. Other sides travel and play matches regularly, building the match temperament major tournaments demand. Pakistan rarely play against India and seldom travel abroad except for major events, and a joint pre-Games training camp with Iran fell through when the team could not travel there amid the conflict involving Iran and the United States.
Sarwar also acknowledged a structural problem. The Asian Games use mat kabaddi, the Asian-style format in which Iran and South Korea have made major gains. Pakistan, however, still give priority to circle-style kabaddi, the domestic variant that dominates local tournaments. Iran concentrate on the Asian style while remaining weak in circle kabaddi, and Sarwar said Pakistan must rebalance their focus.
The contrast at Nagoya was instructive. At the same Games, Pakistan’s hockey team ended a 12-year wait for an Asian Games medal with a 5-3 fightback over South Korea, and the volleyball side swept China 3-0 for bronze after beating India to reach the semi-finals. Kabaddi, once a reliable medal source, was the outlier in an otherwise productive fortnight for Pakistani sport, as our Asian Games 2026 closing wrap records.
An Iranian coach and a league revival
The PKF are now considering hiring an Iranian coach to improve performance in the Asian style. “We are now considering hiring an Iranian coach, even though we were the ones who taught them kabaddi,” Sarwar told reporters, adding that the federation would see how the experiment worked.
The admission carries its own sting: Pakistan were long counted among the region’s kabaddi teachers, but Iran have overtaken them in the Asian format through sustained focus.
The federation also plans to revive the Super Kabaddi League, the domestic competition held a few years ago. Sarwar said such an event was important to keep the sport alive and to strengthen players financially, arguing that regular high-quality domestic competition would sharpen the side ahead of international duty.
India won both the men’s and women’s kabaddi titles at Nagoya, beating Iran 40-34 and 37-34 in the finals, helped by a professional league that gives their players regular competition and exposure. Pakistani players featured in that league in the past, but their participation has been suspended in recent years over strained political relations.
The road to Riyadh
Pakistan’s next target is the 6th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, scheduled for December 11 to 21 in Riyadh. Sarwar said the federation would build a good team and see how the players performed.
Two months is a short window for real change. The reforms under discussion all need time to take effect, and whether the PKF can move fast enough to avoid another poor campaign will define the federation’s credibility over the next cycle.
FAQ
Has Pakistan ever won an Asian Games kabaddi medal before?
Yes — seven bronze and two silver at previous Asian Games. Nagoya 2026 was the first time Pakistan returned without a kabaddi medal.
Why did Pakistan fail at the 2026 Asian Games?
A 48-45 loss to Thailand after surrendering a 14-point lead, then a 51-30 defeat by Iran. The PKF blame limited international exposure and a failed pre-Games training camp in Iran.
What is the difference between mat and circle kabaddi?
Mat kabaddi, the Asian-style format, is played at the Asian Games. Circle style dominates domestic tournaments in Pakistan, which the PKF say has left them behind in the mat format.
What reforms is the PKF considering?
More international exposure, an Iranian coach for the mat format, greater focus on Asian-style kabaddi, and revival of the Super Kabaddi League. Next target: the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Riyadh this December.
