LATEST UPDATE: Final Day at the 11th AKC-2023, The outcome of the first match between Japan and Iran will determine which team will face India in the final, Following the second match, India will play their final group stage match before the final. The third match will feature a showdown between Korea and Hong Kong, eying for their first win. The grand finale will be the concluding match.
The Indian men’s kabaddi team will be in action at the Asian Kabaddi Championship 2023 scheduled to be held in Busan, Republic of Korea, from June 27 to 30.
The four-day event marks the return of the continental championship after a gap of six years. The previous edition was held in Gorgan, Iran, in 2017. All matches of the kabaddi tournament will be live streamed in India.
In all, six nations – India, Iran, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Chinese Taipei and Hong Kong – will participate in the Asian Kabaddi Championship 2023.
The Indian men’s kabaddi team will start its campaign against Korea on Tuesday after Iran and Chinese Taipei lock horns in the tournament opener earlier in the day.
The 2023 Asian Kabaddi Championship will be conducted in a single-legged round-robin format and the top two teams after the league phase will meet in the final on July 30.
The Indian men’s kabaddi team will head into the tournament as the defending champions. India beat Pakistan 36-22 in the final of the 2017 edition.
Since the inception of the tournament in 1980, India have been the most successful men’s team in the Asian Kabaddi Championship, winning seven titles in eight editions. Iran won in the 2003 edition held in Kangar, Malaysia.
India have named a 12-member kabaddi team for the Busan meet comprising some of the top players from the Pro Kabaddi league (PKL).
Arjun Deshwal, the leading raider from the last season in PKL, will spearhead the Indian attack alongside seasoned raiders like Naveen Kumar and Pawan Sehrawat. The Indian defence will be bolstered by the presence of Sunil Kumar, Parvesh Bhainswal, Surjeet Singh and Nitesh Kumar.
Asian Kabaddi Championship 2023 – Where to Watch?
The Asian Kabaddi Championship will not be live-streamed on any TV channel in India. However, the fans could catch the live action on the tournament’s official YouTube channel. Click Here >>> 11th Asian Men’s Kabaddi Championship
Full Schedule & Match Timings (All Times in IST)
| Date | Matches | Time |
|---|---|---|
| June 27, Tuesday | Chinese Taipei 28 – 52 Iran | 6:30 AM |
| June 27, Tuesday | India 76 – 13 Korea | 10:30 AM |
| June 27, Tuesday | Japan 85 – 11 Hong Kong | 11:30 AM |
| June 27, Tuesday | India 53 – 19 Chinese Taipei | 12:30 PM |
| June 28, Wednesday | Hong Kong 31 – 60 Iran | 6:30 AM |
| June 28, Wednesday | Korea 18 – 45 Japan | 7:30 AM |
| June 28, Wednesday | Chinese Taipei 117 – 12 Hong Kong | 10:30 AM |
| June 28, Wednesday | India 62 – 17 Japan | 11:30 AM |
| June 28, Wednesday | Korea 17 – 72 Iran | 12:30 PM |
| June 29, Thursday | Taiwan 37-29 Japan | 6:30 AM |
| June 29, Thursday | India 33-28 Iran | 10:30 AM |
| June 29, Thursday | Chinese Taipei 70-25 South Korea | 11:30 AM |
| June 30, Friday | Japan vs Iran | 6:30 AM |
| June 30, Friday | India vs Hong Kong | 7:30 AM |
| June 30, Friday | Korea vs Hong Kong | 9:30 AM |
| June 30, Friday | Final | 10:30 AM |
Asian Kabaddi Championship standings
| Position | Team | Matches | Won | Lost | Tied | Points | Points Scored | Points Given |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 224 | 77 |
| 2 | Iran | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 212 | 109 |
| 3 | Chinese Taipei | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 271 | 171 |
| 4 | Japan | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 176 | 128 |
| 5 | Korea | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 73 | 263 |
| 6 | Hong Kong | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 54 | 262 |
