Sanya, China, April 27, 2026: Defending champions India rallied from a spirited Sri Lankan challenge to claim a 47-31 victory in the women’s kabaddi final at the 6th Asian Beach Games on Monday.
While the 16-point margin suggests a comfortable win, the road to India’s first gold of the Games was paved with tactical hurdles and a relentless opposition.
Sri Lanka deserves immense credit for refusing to be intimidated by India’s pedigree. At halftime, India held a precarious 20-18 lead. Minutes after the restart, the momentum shifted entirely as Sri Lanka surged ahead 23-21.
The charge was led by raider Diluxshana Vimalenthiran, who repeatedly punctured the Indian defence. Her standout moment came in the first half when a powerful four-point raid left the favourites stunned, allowing Sri Lanka to lead 12-7 at the time.
Faced with a legitimate threat to their crown, India relied on veteran experience. Adapting to the heavy sand - a surface that penalizes individual lunges - the team shifted to coordinated chain tackles.
Coach Tejeswini Bai’s halftime instructions were clear. “I told them to play with a cool head... Not to be too ambitious, as Lanka was playing a good game defensively," the coach said.
The strategy paid off. India began to systematically chip away at the deficit. Nikita emerged as the match-winner, displaying clinical toe touches and technical escapes that are notoriously difficult on sand. A pivotal raid by Nikita pushed the lead to 30-25, forcing Sri Lanka into high-risk manoeuvres that backfired.
The lead widened to 32-26 and, as the game slipped away from Sri Lanka, India tightened their grip. At 40-28, the champions were firmly in control. Another explosive raid from Nikita netted four points, effectively ending the contest at 44-28.
With one minute remaining and the score at 46-29, all doors to a Sri Lankan comeback were shut. Captain Ritu took the final raid, standing near the centre line as the clock ran down before the team erupted in celebration.
Reflecting on the pressure, Indian captain Ritu admitted the initial struggle but remained steadfast. “We were very confident. There were slip-ups, but I told the team not to take pressure,” she said. She also noted the technical disparity: “We play the traditional format, whereas Lanka plays beach kabaddi quite a bit.”
This victory is a testament to India’s composure and raw talent. While the win is sweet, Ritu’s observation highlights the challenge for the next Games: bridging the “beach-specific” technical gap to ensure their dominance remains unchallenged.
Source: By Sundeep Misra