Aichi-Nagoya, Sept. 21 -- India began the defence of their women's kabaddi title at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya with a 42-21 win over Bangladesh in their opening Group A fixture at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium on Monday.

India produced a dominant display to defeat Bangladesh, combining a disciplined defensive setup with consistent attacking pressure, led by Sanju Devi's contribution in offence, as per a release.

India established control early, making it difficult for Bangladesh to reach the bonus line while regularly finding points through successful raids. Bangladesh Captain Sraboni Mollick kept her side on the scoreboard, but India's defence continued to limit their opportunities.

Manisha Kumari was particularly effective f...