Patna : The Patliputra Sports Complex will host the 52nd Junior National Boys Kabaddi Championship 2026 from November 1 to 4, bringing together teams representing 29 states for four days of national-level competition.
Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary will inaugurate the championship at 3 pm on November 1. The tournament will be played across two courts, providing young kabaddi players with a platform to demonstrate their skills and compete for national-level opportunities.
Apart from the championship title, participants will have an opportunity to earn selection to the junior Indian kabaddi team and attract the attention of Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) franchises.
The event is being organised under the aegis of the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India and jointly hosted by the Bihar State Kabaddi Association and the Bihar State Sports Authority (BSSA), in association with the Sports Department.
Chief Minister To Inaugurate Four-Day Championship
Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary and Sports Minister Shreyasi Singh will attend the inaugural ceremony as special guests.
BSSA Director General-cum-Chief Executive Officer Ravindran Shankaran, Organising Secretary Kumar Vijay Singh and Bihar State Kabaddi Association President Apoorva Sukant shared details of the preparations during a press conference on Saturday.
The organisers have made arrangements for participating teams and officials ahead of the tournament, which will bring together young players from across the country.
Pro Kabaddi League Scouts To Assess Emerging Talent
Scouts from various Pro Kabaddi League franchises, along with coaches and team management representatives, will monitor players’ performances during the championship.
Their objective is to identify promising talent and assess players who could potentially join their respective franchises in the future.
The competition will also serve as a platform to identify players for the junior Indian kabaddi team.
A three-member selection committee comprising former Indian coach E. Bhaskaran, Arjuna Award recipient Manjeet Chhillar and international player Rishank Devadiga will be present to assess the participants.
The presence of experienced coaches and players is expected to give young competitors an opportunity to demonstrate their abilities before figures involved in national-level kabaddi.
Kabaddi Players And Coaches To Encourage Participants
Several prominent personalities from Indian kabaddi are expected to attend the championship to encourage the participating players.
Those expected to be present include Indian women’s team member Riya Kumari, Dronacharya Award-winning coach Balwan Singh, Indian men’s team player Arjun Deshwal and Bihar’s Pro Kabaddi player Sandeep Kumar.
Their participation is expected to motivate young players and highlight the opportunities available through competitive kabaddi.
Arrangements Made For Around 615 Participants
Organisers have deployed 50 officials to oversee the technical conduct of the tournament and ensure that matches proceed smoothly.
Accommodation and food arrangements have been made for approximately 615 participants. The competition will be conducted on two courts over four days.
The organisers are coordinating logistical and technical arrangements to accommodate the participating teams and officials throughout the championship.
Bihar Team Prepares Through Month-Long Camp In Rajgir
The host Bihar team has completed preparations through a month-long training camp in Rajgir ahead of the national championship.
Ravi Kumar from Begusarai will captain the Bihar team. Ramesh Kumar Yadav will serve as head coach, while Anand Kumar Singh has been appointed assistant coach.
The home team will compete against representatives from across the country, seeking to make the most of the opportunity to perform on home ground.
With national team selection and potential Pro Kabaddi League opportunities among the prospects for participating players, the championship is expected to provide an important platform for emerging talent.
The four-day competition will conclude on November 4 at the Patliputra Sports Complex.
