The Sports Ministry awarded a cash prize of Rs 67,50,000 to honor the Indian women’s Kabaddi team’s victory.
The Indian women’s Kabaddi team took part in the 6th Asian Women’s Kabaddi Championship from March 6 to 8, 2025, in Tehran. They defended their title by defeating Iran 32-25 on Saturday. This tournament was held after eight years, with the last one in 2017, where India beat South Korea to win.
The team returned on Tuesday and was honored by Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports. To celebrate their fifth title win, the minister announced a cash reward of ₹67,50,000 for the team.
After the event, the minister said, “We will do our best to support female athletes. Like the men’s league, we will start a women’s Kabaddi league to give more chances to women. Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants our girls to have equal opportunities in building a strong India.”
He also said, “At the Chintan Shivir in Hyderabad, we decided to involve the corporate sector in supporting one sport. They will provide financial help and open academies with good coaches. We will make sure the government supports traditional sports like Kabaddi.”
India was in Group A with Thailand, Bangladesh, and Malaysia. They easily reached the semifinals by winning all three matches—beating Bangladesh 64-23, Thailand 76-21, and Malaysia 73-19. With these big wins, they finished at the top with a +150 score difference. In the semifinal, India defeated Nepal 56-18 and moved on to the final against host team Iran.
In their toughest match of the tournament, Team India won with a score of 32-25. South Korea is the only other country to have won this tournament, securing victory at home in 2016.
Captain and raider Sonali Shingate credited the win to teamwork and support from the Ministry of Sports & Youth Affairs. She expressed gratitude for the ministry’s help, especially for the training camp at SAI Sonepat, which played a key role in their success.
She also thanked the Supreme Court for allowing the team to prepare for the championship. “We are happy we could justify the trust placed in us. Now, we are excited for the Women’s Kabaddi World Cup in Bihar this June,” Shingate said.
Mr. Jitendra Pran Singh Thakur, Secretary-elect of the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India, praised the victory, saying it proves India’s dominance in kabaddi. He assured continued support for the team in upcoming international tournaments.
He said that India’s win at the 2025 Asian Women’s Kabaddi Championship in Tehran was a great practice for the team. The team had also won gold at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. Now, they are getting ready for the Women’s Kabaddi World Cup, which will take place in Bihar in June 2025.
The President of the International Kabaddi Federation (IKF), Mr. Vinod Tiwary, who is also a top official in the Olympic Council of Asia, congratulated the Indian team on their victory.
He said that IKF members agree that India has played a key role in Kabaddi’s growth. He also thanked Indian sports officials and the Supreme Court for ensuring that the Indian women’s team could compete in the 2025 Asian Women’s Kabaddi Championship in Tehran.
