Minister Proposes Women’s Kabaddi League and Announces Cash Prize of INR 67.5 Lakh
The Indian Women’s Kabaddi team was celebrated for their remarkable triumph in the 6th Asian Women’s Kabaddi Championship held in Tehran from March 6 to 8, 2025, where they successfully defended their title with a 32-25 victory over the host nation, Iran. The tournament, which had been on a break for eight years, saw India retaining the championship they last won in 2017 in Iran, defeating South Korea.
Upon their return, the team was honored by Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, the Hon’ble Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports. In recognition of their impressive achievement, the Sports Ministry announced a cash award of INR 67,50,000 for the victorious squad.
Dr. Mandaviya shared his thoughts on the team’s success, saying, “We are committed to supporting our female athletes. Following the success of the men’s kabaddi league, we will be launching a women’s kabaddi league to provide more opportunities for our women players. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is keen on ensuring that our daughters receive equal opportunities to contribute to the development of a Viksit Bharat.”
He also outlined plans for corporate involvement in the sports sector, adding, “At the Chintan Shivir in Hyderabad, we decided to encourage the corporate sector to adopt one sport, providing financial support, building academies with top-notch coaching, and ensuring athletes get the best training. The government will make sure this includes indigenous sports like kabaddi.”
India, placed in Group A with Thailand, Bangladesh, and Malaysia, breezed through the group stage, winning all three of their matches with dominant performances: defeating Bangladesh 64-23, Thailand 76-21, and Malaysia 73-19, and topping the group with an impressive cumulative score difference of +150. In the semi-final, India crushed Nepal 56-18, setting up a thrilling final against Iran. In a tough match, India emerged victorious, securing the championship with a 32-25 win. South Korea remains the only other nation to have claimed this title, winning on home soil in 2016.
The team’s success was attributed to the leadership of captain and raider Sonali Shingate, who expressed her gratitude for the unwavering support from the Ministry of Sports & Youth Affairs. “This win belongs to each member of our team, whose stellar performance ensured we returned as champions. The Ministry’s support, especially the training camp at SAI Sonepat, played a crucial role in our preparation. We are also grateful to the Supreme Court for allowing us to prepare adequately for this championship. We are now looking forward to the Women’s Kabaddi World Cup in Bihar this June,” Shingate said, beaming with pride.
Mr. Jitendra Pran Singh Thakur, Secretary-elect of the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI), praised the team’s victory, stating, “This victory highlights India’s dominance in kabaddi and the growing strength of our women athletes on the global stage. The AKFI is proud of their achievements and will continue supporting them in future tournaments organized by the International Kabaddi Federation (IKF) and the Asian Kabaddi Federation.”
The Indian team’s triumph at the 2025 Asian Women’s Kabaddi Championships is seen as a strong preparation for the upcoming Women’s Kabaddi World Cup, scheduled to be held in Bihar in June 2025. Mr. Vinod Tiwary, President of the International Kabaddi Federation and Deputy Director General of the Olympic Council of Asia, also congratulated the Indian team. “The IKF and its member countries recognize India’s leadership in kabaddi. We are grateful to the Indian authorities and the Indian Supreme Court for ensuring the participation of the Indian women’s team in the 2025 Asian Women Kabaddi Championship,” he added.