Asian Games 2026 Kabaddi: Bangladesh's 39-35 and 48-47 wins — topping the group raises game-management questions

Day 1 of the kabaddi event at the Asian Games 2026 ended with a chain of close finishes and one-sided contests. Bangladesh beat the Republic of Korea 39-35 despite the presence of experienced players like Jang Kun Lee. Bangladesh then edged Chinese Taipei 48-47 by a single point. Thailand stunned Nepal 59-48, India cruised past hosts Japan 49-24, and Pakistan crushed Malaysia 65-22. At the end of the day, Bangladesh and Pakistan topped their respective groups. The Bangladesh–Korea match felt like a tactical tug-of-war. Korea's defense repeatedly tested Bangladesh's raiders, but Bangladesh's cover defenders stepped up at key moments. The four-point margin hides how tense the final minutes were. Against Chinese Taipei, Bangladesh needed a final defensive stand to protect a one-point lead. These results show Bangladesh can win, but also reveal game-management issues. The bench raiders did not contribute enough, and the team relied heavily on its starters. Thailand's win over Nepal was the day's biggest surprise. Their aggressive raids broke Nepal's structure. India's win over Japan was disciplined: a deep bench and organised defense made the match one-sided. Pakistan's 65-22 victory over Malaysia was built on relentless bonus points and raiding power. My 32 years of watching kabaddi tell me that Group-topping starts are not enough. Bangladesh must improve second-half raiding rotation and closeout strategy. In knockout matches, one-point wins can become one-point losses. The encouraging sign is Bangladesh's defensive attitude. The real test begins now. I also looked at the stands, not just the scoreboard. Women's kabaddi and women spectators deserve the same visibility. Like blockchain, every result should be recorded with transparency. The pitch was always there; I just brought the phone.