India Women’s Kabaddi crew captain Pushpa Rana eyes title protection at 2026 Asian Games

New Delhi [India], September 16 (ANI): As the Indian girls’s Kabaddi crew gears as much as symbolize the nation on the upcoming 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, captain Pushpa Rana and Pooja Kajla consider the accountability of defending India’s gold medal comes with confidence and motivation, with the crew firmly setting its sights on the highest spot.

Rana, who has been handed the accountability of main the 12-member squad, stated the crew has been getting ready extensively by analysing opponents and dealing on areas of enchancment recognized by the teaching workers, as per a launch. 

“First of all, we practice according to the situation. We also analyse the videos of the upcoming matches. Our coaches also tell us about the shortcomings of the past and what needs to be improved. And now we are working on that. I think our team is well prepared,” stated Rana.

Kabaddi has historically carried immense expectations on the Asian Games, with India having gained 11 gold medals within the sport, together with three within the girls’s occasion. The Indian girls’s crew will look to defend the gold medal gained in Hangzhou, the place they edged Chinese Taipei 26-25 within the ultimate. The Indian girls’s crew additionally clinched the gold medal on the World Cup in November final yr, and Rana believes that expectation to win once more is a supply of confidence reasonably than stress. 

“Yes, I feel that motivation. When our seniors have already done a good job, they have made their own history, so it is upto us to maintain that momentum. So, we see it as motivation, we don’t see it as pressure. We are also working hard to maintain that momentum,” she stated.

Rana additionally highlighted the significance of expertise throughout the squad as she takes on her first captaincy task. Having beforehand served as vice-captain, she stated she continues to depend on the steerage of senior gamers comparable to Ritu Negi and Sonali Shingate to strengthen crew bonding. 

“I rely a lot on the seniors because they are already captains like Ritu Negi and Sonali Shingate. So, their advice is very important to me,” stated Rana. She additionally recognized Chinese Taipei as one of many groups to look at, recalling the carefully fought 26-25 ultimate on the earlier Asian Games.

For Arjuna awardee Pooja Kajla, the chance to win one other Asian Games gold additionally carries the possibility to encourage the subsequent era of ladies in sport. 

“First of all, it is very important to win gold at the Asian Games. Along with that, as we talk about the girls of the Cricket World Cup, there are also juniors who are very inspired by the success of Indian women in sport. So, if we bring gold, then small children get inspired by us, and they will also ask their parents to let them play,” stated Kajla.

Kajla additionally credited the crew’s preparation on the energy and conditioning camp, organised collectively by the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI) alongside Mashal Sports, the Organisers of Pro Kabaddi League, for serving to the gamers construct higher habits round restoration and efficiency. 

“They gave us a few more classes on sleep and recovery. So, I got to learn a lot from there,” she stated.

The Kabaddi contest on the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games will start on September 21, with India’s girls going through Bangladesh of their opening Group A fixture. They will then tackle Iran on September 23 and Japan on September 24, earlier than the semi-finals on September 25 and the gold medal match on September 26.

Indian Women’s Kabaddi Team for 2026 Asian Games:

Pushpa Rana (captain), Ritu Negi, Sonali Shingate, Sanju Devi, Pooja Kajla, Ritu Sheoran, Jyoti Thakur, Pinki Roy, Manisha Kumari, Bhavna Thakur, Raj Rani and Nikita Kumari. (ANI)