The Bangladesh men’s kabaddi team made a impressive start to their Asian Games campaign with a hard-fought victory over South Korea. In their opening Group A fixture held on Monday morning (September 21, 2026), the Men in Red and Green defeated the South Koreans 39-35 in a tightly contested match.
Held at the Tokai Citizen Gymnasium in Nagoya, Japan, the match saw a fiercely competitive battle from the opening whistle. Bangladesh held a narrow 17-16 lead at the end of the first half.
Bangladesh intensified their attack in the second half through decisive raid points and all-outs (lona). The red-and-green side added 22 points to their tally in the second half, while South Korea managed 19 points, sealing a 39-35 win for Bangladesh as time expired.
Bangladesh is placed in a tough Group A alongside India, South Korea, Chinese Taipei, and host nation Japan. According to tournament rules, the top two teams from each group will advance directly to the semifinals to guarantee at least a bronze medal.
If Bangladesh can defeat Chinese Taipei in their next match, they will be well-positioned to secure a group runner-up spot and advance to the semifinals. The Asian Games kabaddi events are taking place at the Tokai Citizen Gymnasium from September 21 to September 26.
