The Indian Women’s Kabaddi Team clinched the gold medal at the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, China, on April 27, 2026. This victory marks a historic sixth consecutive title for the women’s team and serves as India’s first gold of the current edition. They defeated the Sri Lankan team with a score of 47-31. India dominated the match from the start, though Sri Lanka put up a strong fight in the first 20 minutes before India's experience took control. This gold was India’s first medal of the 2026 Games.

India advanced to the final after a convincing 50–31 win over Bangladesh.The team prepared at the SAI RC Gandhinagar national coaching camp.The Indian Men's Beach Kabaddi team secured a silver medal, losing to Iran in their respective final. In the final, Sri Lanka provided a stiff challenge in the opening minutes, but India’s tactical defense and superior raiding power eventually broke their resistance. The final score of 47–31 highlights India's ability to maintain a comfortable lead under pressure.

Asian Beach Games returns after decades long- hiatus

The return of the Asian Beach Games in April 2026 marks a significant milestone, ending a 10-year hiatus caused primarily by the COVID-19 pandemic. The event was last held in Da Nang, Vietnam, in 2016, making the current Sanya edition a long-awaited "revival" for the continent's top beach athletes. The 6th edition was initially planned for 2020 in Sanya.Due to global health concerns, the Games were postponed multiple times, first to 2021 and eventually moved to April 2026 to ensure athlete safety and full participation.

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The shift resulted in a full decade passing since the previous Games, leading to the slogan "See Ya In Sanya!" (Jiǔjiǔ bùjiàn jiǔjiǔ jiàn), which translates to "Long time no see/Let's meet for a long time!". India’s return has been highlighted by the Women’s Kabaddi gold medal, marking the country's first gold of these Games and their sixth consecutive title.Organisers set up eight competition clusters, with six along the "Coconut Dream Corridor" of Sanya Bay, integrating the sport directly into the natural landscape.