Sri Lanka’s men’s kabaddi team secured a historic silver medal at the inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026, finishing as runners-up after reaching the tournament final in Ahmedabad, India.

The Sri Lankan team faced hosts India in the men’s final on 31 October at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex, where India secured a 54–20 victory to claim the inaugural championship title.

Despite missing out on the gold medal, Sri Lanka’s journey to the final marked a significant achievement for the country’s kabaddi programme on the international stage.

Sri Lanka’s Road to the Final

Sri Lanka demonstrated impressive form throughout the men’s competition, competing against some of the strongest kabaddi nations in the Commonwealth.

The team recorded several important victories during the group stage, including wins against Scotland (53–10), England (50–22), Nigeria (53–14) and Bangladesh (31–20).

Although Sri Lanka suffered a defeat against Kenya and later against India in the group stage, the team progressed to the knockout stages.

In the semi-final, Sri Lanka produced an outstanding performance to overcome Kenya 28–24 in a closely contested encounter, securing their place in the historic final against India.

However, the hosts proved too strong in the final, dominating the contest to secure a 54–20 victory and claim the men’s championship.

Sri Lanka Women Finish with a Medal

Sri Lanka’s women’s team also delivered a commendable campaign at the inaugural championship.

The team recorded victories against Scotland, England and Bangladesh during the group stage, earning a place in the semi-finals.

However, they were unable to overcome India in the last four, going down 39–14.

With the semi-final defeat, Sri Lanka secured a bronze medal in the women’s competition, while Uganda went on to defeat Kenya 23–21 to reach the final.

India subsequently defeated Uganda 35–15 in the women’s final to complete a double championship triumph.

A Historic Championship for Kabaddi

The inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship was held from 23 to 31 October 2026 in Ahmedabad, bringing together 13 men’s teams and 10 women’s teams from across the Commonwealth.

The competition provided a new international platform for kabaddi, bringing together nations from Asia, Africa, Europe and other regions.

India claimed both the men’s and women’s titles, while Sri Lanka finished with silver in the men’s competition and bronze in the women’s event.

Sri Lanka’s performances represent an encouraging milestone for the sport and provide a strong foundation for the continued development of kabaddi in the country.

Men’s Champions: India
Men’s Runners-up: Sri Lanka

Women’s Champions: India
Women’s Runners-up: Uganda
Women’s Bronze: Sri Lanka and Kenya

24 Schools, 15 Venues and Three National Trophies as Ball Blaster Enters Its Third Year

COLOMBO — Ball Blaster, Sri Lanka’s premier school football tournament, is set to return in 2026 with its biggest edition yet, organized by Aasgard Sports (Private) Limited in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Schools Football Association and the Ministry of Education.

Now entering its third year, Ball Blaster has grown from 2023 with 20 schools into one of the country’s largest youth football events. The 2025 edition featured 16 schools competing across four groups, drawing national broadcast attention through Sri Lankan Sports TV and PEO TV. For 2026, the tournament expands significantly, with 24 schools set to compete across 15 venues nationwide, in a season spanning six weeks and 84 matches.

A NEW FORMAT: THREE TROPHIES, THREE CHAMPIONS

The standout feature of Ball Blaster 2026 is a new three-tier trophy format. Schools will be drawn into four groups of six, playing a round-robin group stage before advancing into one of three parallel championships based on their group finish: the Cup Trophy for group winners, the Bowl Trophy for runners-up, and the Plate Trophy for second runners-up. The format ensures every participating school remains in contention for a national title deep into the tournament.

All three championships will reach their conclusion on the same finals weekend, with third-place playoffs and grand finals for the Cup, Bowl and Plate trophies all being played at Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo.

“Ball Blaster has always been about giving young footballers a stage,” said a spokesperson for Aasgard Sports. “This year, we’re expanding that stage to every corner of the island, and making sure every school that takes part has something real to play for, right to the final whistle.”

BUILDING ON A STRONG 2025

Ball Blaster’s growth has been underpinned by strong sponsor support. The 2025 edition was backed by Lifebuoy as Title Sponsor, alongside Lemonade as Refreshing Partner and Sky Market Travels as Travelling Partner. Organizers say conversations are already underway with returning and new sponsors ahead of the 2026 season, as the tournament’s expanded scale — nationwide venues, a longer season and three separate finals — offers significantly greater visibility for partners.

BROADCAST AND COVERAGE

As in previous years, Ball Blaster 2026 will be broadcast live via Sri Lankan Sports TV and PEO Sports, with matches also available on YouTube and across Sri Lankan Sports TV’s digital platforms.

For sponsorship and partnership enquiries, contact: Pasindu Mihiranga Sri Lankan Sports TV | Aasgard Sports (Private) Limited 0726 85 18 18 marketing@srilankansportstv.com

www.srilankansportstv.com

Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) President Jaswar Umar has described the inaugural FIFA Series in Colombo as a major milestone for the country’s football development, saying the tournament has given Sri Lanka renewed confidence and a stronger connection with the international game.

Umar, who has been involved in efforts to strengthen Sri Lankan football administration and development, said hosting the tournament demonstrated that developing football nations could compete on the global stage when given meaningful opportunities.

The FIFA Series, held in Colombo in March 2024, brought Sri Lanka together with Bhutan, Papua New Guinea and the Central African Republic. The four participating nations represented three different confederations, giving Sri Lanka an unusual opportunity to face teams with different playing styles.

Sri Lanka completed its campaign unbeaten, drawing 0-0 against Papua New Guinea and defeating Bhutan 2-0. Umar said the matches provided valuable experience for the national team and helped players adapt to different forms of international competition.

He stressed that the benefits extended beyond the football field. Sri Lankan officials involved in administration, technical operations, media, medical services and event management gained practical experience in organising matches to international standards.

The Racecourse Ground also received an important upgrade through assistance from FIFA’s Forward Programme. The renovation enabled the historic Colombo venue to host international football and created improved facilities for future events.

Umar said one of the most important achievements was bringing international football closer to Sri Lankan supporters. Young fans were able to watch national players compete against foreign opposition in their own city, helping to inspire a new generation.

He thanked FIFA and its President Gianni Infantino for supporting developing football nations.

According to Umar, the FIFA Series has left Sri Lanka with more than match results. It has provided international experience, stronger administrative capabilities, improved infrastructure and, most importantly, renewed belief in the future of Sri Lankan football.