Chhattisgarh’s Sanju Devi Selected for Indian Women’s Kabaddi Team for Asian Games 2026

Chhattisgarh’s Sanju Devi is witnessing a steady rise in the representation of its sportspersons at national and international competitions. Adding another achievement to the state’s sporting profile, Chhattisgarh kabaddi player Sanju Devi has been selected for the Indian Women’s Kabaddi Team for the Asian Games 2026.

The 20th Asian Games will be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from 19 September to 4 October 2026. The kabaddi competition will take place from 21 to 26 September 2026.

Sanju Devi’s selection is particularly significant because she has already made a mark at the international level. She was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the 2025 Women’s Kabaddi World Cup and also played an important role in India’s performance at the Asian Kabaddi Championship.

Why in News?

Sanju Devi of Chhattisgarh has been selected for the Indian Women’s Kabaddi Team for the Asian Games 2026.

Her selection has gained importance because:

• She will represent India at the 20th Asian Games in Japan.
• The Asian Games will be held in Aichi-Nagoya from 19 September to 4 October 2026.
• The kabaddi competition is scheduled for 21–26 September 2026.
• Sanju Devi was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the 2025 Women’s Kabaddi World Cup.
• She also contributed to India’s performance at the Asian Kabaddi Championship.
• In recognition of her international achievements, the Chhattisgarh Government awarded her ₹50 lakh in April 2026.
• The incentive was presented by Deputy Chief Minister and Sports & Youth Welfare Minister Arun Sao.

Chhattisgarh’s Sanju Devi: A Rising International Kabaddi Player

Sanju Devi’s selection for the Asian Games is the result of her strong and consistent performances in international kabaddi.

Her recent achievements have helped establish her as an important player in Indian women’s kabaddi.

Major achievements

• Represented India in international kabaddi competitions.
• Played an important role in India’s success at the Women’s Kabaddi World Cup 2025.
• Received the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award at the World Cup.
• Contributed to India’s performance at the Asian Kabaddi Championship.
• Selected for the Indian Women’s Kabaddi Team for Asian Games 2026.
• Received ₹50 lakh from the Chhattisgarh Government for her international performances.

Her journey demonstrates how consistent performance at major tournaments can help athletes secure a place in India’s senior international teams.

About Asian Games 2026

The 2026 Asian Games will be the 20th edition of the Asian Games and will be hosted by Japan.

What is Asian Games 2026?

For India, kabaddi remains an important Asian Games sport. The selection of Sanju Devi therefore provides an opportunity for a sportsperson from Chhattisgarh to participate at one of Asia’s biggest multi-sport events.

Also Read: Bilaspur’s Abhijeet Sakhuja at Asian Games 2026

Why Sanju Devi’s Selection Matters for Chhattisgarh?

Sanju Devi’s achievement is important beyond her individual sporting career. It reflects the increasing visibility of Chhattisgarh’s athletes at the national and international levels.

• Growing international representation
  • Players from Chhattisgarh are increasingly becoming part of Indian teams in different sporting disciplines. Sanju Devi’s selection adds another name to this growing list.
• Recognition of sporting talent
  • Her international success highlights the availability of competitive sporting talent within the state.
• Encouragement for young athletes
  • International-level achievements can motivate young players, particularly those from rural and semi-urban areas, to consider sports as a serious career option.
• Promotion of women in sports
  • Chhattisgarh’s Sanju Devi achievement is also significant for women’s sports. Her success can encourage greater participation of girls in kabaddi and other competitive disciplines.
• Strengthening Chhattisgarh’s sporting identity
  • Consistent international representation can help establish Chhattisgarh as an emerging contributor to India’s sporting talent pool.

Sanju Devi’s 2025 World Cup Achievement

• One of the most important milestones in Sanju Devi’s career came at the 2025 Women’s Kabaddi World Cup.
• She played a significant role in India’s campaign and was subsequently named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament.

Why the MVP recognition is important?

• The MVP award indicates that her contribution was not limited to simply being part of the team. Her individual performance was recognised at an international competition.
• This achievement also strengthened her credentials for selection to subsequent international competitions, including the Asian Games 2026.

Contribution to the Asian Kabaddi Championship

• Along with her World Cup performance, Sanju Devi also made an important contribution to the Indian team at the Asian Kabaddi Championship.
• Her performances across major competitions demonstrate consistency, which is particularly important when selecting players for a major multi-sport event such as the Asian Games.

Chhattisgarh Government’s ₹50 Lakh Incentive

• The Chhattisgarh Government has also recognised Sanju Devi’s international achievements.
• In April 2026, Deputy Chief Minister and Sports & Youth Welfare Minister Arun Sao presented ₹50 lakh to Sanju Devi.
• The incentive was given in recognition of her performances for India at the:
  • 2025 Kabaddi World Cup
  • Asian Kabaddi Championship

Significance of the incentive

Government incentives can provide athletes with financial encouragement and recognition after major sporting achievements.

For sportspersons, such support can contribute towards:

• Professional training
• Sports equipment
• Nutrition and fitness
• Travel and competition expenses
• Advanced coaching
• Preparation for future international competitions

More importantly, public recognition can motivate upcoming athletes to pursue competitive sports with greater confidence.

Women’s Kabaddi and Sports Development

Sanju Devi’s achievement also highlights the broader importance of promoting women’s participation in sports.

Women athletes often require structured support throughout their sporting journey, from grassroots participation to international competition.

Key areas requiring attention

• Safe and accessible sports facilities for girls
• Dedicated coaching programmes
• Regular women’s competitions
• Sports scholarships
• Professional nutrition and fitness support
• Physiotherapy and injury management
• Opportunities for international exposure
• Financial assistance for promising athletes

Developing these systems can help convert local sporting talent into sustained national and international success.

Challenges in Producing International-Level Athletes

The success of Sanju Devi demonstrates what is possible, but developing more athletes at the same level requires addressing several challenges.

Major challenges

• Infrastructure gaps
  • Not every district has access to modern and specialised sports facilities.
• Lack of specialised coaching
  • International-level athletes require coaches with expertise in advanced techniques, tactics and performance analysis.
• Financial limitations
  • Training, nutrition, equipment and travel can be expensive, particularly for athletes from economically weaker backgrounds.
• Limited international exposure
  • Regular participation in high-level competitions is important for athletes to understand international standards.
• Sports science requirements
  • Modern competitive sports increasingly depend on nutrition, physiotherapy, strength and conditioning, recovery and data-based performance analysis.
• Grassroots talent identification
  • Potential athletes need to be identified early through schools, colleges and district-level competitions.

Way Forward for Sports Development in Chhattisgarh

Sanju Devi’s achievement can be used as an opportunity to strengthen the state’s overall sports ecosystem.

• Strengthen grassroots talent identification
  • Schools, colleges and local competitions should become important sources for identifying promising athletes.
• Develop district-level sports infrastructure
  • Modern grounds, training centres, gyms and specialised facilities should be made available beyond major urban centres.
• Strengthen women’s sports programmes
  • Dedicated training programmes, competitions and scholarships can increase female participation in sports.
• Introduce scientific training
  • Athletes preparing for national and international events should receive access to:
    • Sports nutrition
    • Physiotherapy
    • Strength and conditioning
    • Injury prevention
    • Performance analysis
    • Mental preparation
• Ensure long-term financial support
  • One-time incentives are valuable, but athletes also need continuous assistance for training, equipment, travel and competition.
• Build a clear athlete-development pathway
  • A structured system should connect:
  • School → District → State → National → International level
  • This can make the transition from grassroots sport to elite competition more systematic.
• Create more competitive opportunities
  • Regular state and national-level tournaments can provide athletes with the match experience necessary to compete at the international level.

Conclusion

Sanju Devi’s selection for the Indian Women’s Kabaddi Team for the Asian Games 2026 is a significant sporting achievement for Chhattisgarh. Her recognition as the MVP at the 2025 Women’s Kabaddi World Cup, contribution at the Asian Kabaddi Championship and subsequent selection for the Asian Games reflect her consistent performance at the international level.

The ₹50 lakh incentive provided by the Chhattisgarh Government further demonstrates institutional recognition of sporting excellence.

CGPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. Sanju Devi, recently in the news, is associated with which sport?

A. Hockey
B. Kabaddi
C. Wrestling
D. Athletics

Answer: B. Kabaddi

Q2. Sanju Devi has been selected for which team for the Asian Games 2026?

A. Indian Women’s Hockey Team
B. Indian Women’s Wrestling Team
C. Indian Women’s Kabaddi Team
D. Indian Women’s Volleyball Team

Answer: C. Indian Women’s Kabaddi Team

Q3. The 20th Asian Games 2026 will be hosted by which country?

A. China
B. Japan
C. South Korea
D. Indonesia

Answer: B. Japan

CGPSC Mains Practice Questions

Question 1

Discuss the significance of Sanju Devi’s selection for the Indian Women’s Kabaddi Team for Asian Games 2026 in the context of sports development in Chhattisgarh.

Question 2

“Government incentives and institutional support play an important role in transforming grassroots sporting talent into international-level athletes.” Discuss with reference to Chhattisgarh.

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