Nagpur, April 30, 2026 Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Cup kabaddi 2026 | Maharashtra kabaddi championship Nagpur: For the first time in 19 years, Nagpur district is hosting Maharashtra’s most prestigious state-level kabaddi competition. The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Cup State Level Kabaddi Tournament — a tournament that has been the launching pad for some of Maharashtra’s finest kabaddi talent — began today, April 30, at the grounds of Sevanand Vidyalaya in Koradi, a town on the western outskirts of Nagpur city.
The tournament runs through May 4, 2026, bringing together 16 men’s teams and 16 women’s teams from districts across Maharashtra in what promises to be five days of high-intensity kabaddi. With over ₹20 lakh in prize money on the table and Pro Kabaddi League stars expected to feature among the participants, this is not a routine district-level event. It is Maharashtra’s premier state kabaddi stage — and Nagpur has it.
Why This Tournament Matters (Maharashtra kabaddi championship Nagpur) — And Why Nagpur Hasn’t Had It in 19 Years
The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Cup is organised annually by the Sports Department of the Maharashtra Government under the state’s sports policy. It is considered the highest state-level kabaddi competition in Maharashtra — above district tournaments and regional competitions — and is the primary platform through which Maharashtra identifies and develops kabaddi talent for national-level representation.
The tournament rotates between districts and divisions across Maharashtra each year. Nagpur district last hosted it 19 years ago, which means an entire generation of young kabaddi players in Vidarbha has grown up without seeing this level of competition in their own backyard.
The Vidarbha Kabaddi Association this year expressed a formal desire to the Maharashtra Sports Department that the tournament be held in Koradi. Responding to that request, Sanket Bawankule — President of the Nagpur District Rural Kabaddi Association and a key figure in organising the event — decided to host the competition at the premises of Sevanand Vidyalaya, a school with a ground large enough to handle state-level competition infrastructure.
The decision to bring the tournament to Koradi specifically — rather than to a stadium within Nagpur city — is significant. Koradi is a semi-urban town with deep roots in Vidarbha’s traditional sports culture. Hosting a state-level tournament here brings elite competition directly to a community that is passionate about kabaddi but rarely gets to witness Maharashtra’s best players up close.
The Ground Inspection — Preparations That Left Nothing to Chance
With a tournament of this scale, preparation matters as much as play. Nagpur District Collector Kumar Ashirwad personally visited Sevanand Vidyalaya’s ground to inspect the arrangements — a sign of how seriously the district administration has taken the responsibility of hosting this event.
The Collector was accompanied by Sports Officer Anil Borawar, State Sports Guide Nishant Patil, Tehsildar Ganesh Jagdale, and Koradi Sansthan Chief Officer Pravin Likhitkar during the inspection visit. The team reviewed the playing surface, seating arrangements, lighting, and ancillary facilities to ensure the ground meets the standards required for a state-level government-organised competition.
State Revenue Minister and Nagpur Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule — who is also serving as Chairman of the tournament’s organising committee — announced the key details at a press conference alongside Deputy Director of Sports and Youth Services, Nagpur Region, Pallavi Dhatrak. Bawankule confirmed that both men’s and women’s competitions would feature 16 teams each, and that prize money exceeding ₹20 lakh would be distributed across teams and individual players throughout the tournament.
The Teams: All of Maharashtra’s Kabaddi Power in One Place
The draw for the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Cup 2026 has brought together districts from across Maharashtra — representing the full geographic and competitive diversity of the state’s kabaddi ecosystem.
Men’s Teams (16 Districts): Ahilyanagar, Kolhapur, Raigad, Pune, Sangli, Mumbai Upnagar, Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar), Thane, Nashik, Mumbai City, Beed, Nanded, Amravati, Bhandara, Nagpur and Washim.
Women’s Teams (16 Districts): Mumbai Upnagar, Mumbai City, Pune, Ratnagiri, Palghar, Kolhapur, Nashik, Thane, Nanded, Jalna, Satara, Parbhani, Nagpur, Amravati, Washim and Nagpur Rural.
The draw covers Maharashtra’s five divisions comprehensively — Konkan, Nashik, Pune, Aurangabad, and Amravati — meaning this is a genuine all-Maharashtra competition, not a regionally skewed one. The presence of both Mumbai City and Mumbai Upnagar as separate entries reflects the scale of kabaddi activity in the Mumbai metropolitan area, while Vidarbha’s representation through Nagpur, Nagpur Rural, Amravati, Bhandara and Washim gives the host region a strong presence in the draw.
For kabaddi followers in Nagpur, the home district’s men’s and women’s teams will be among the most watched — with the added motivation of performing on home soil in front of a local crowd for the first time in nearly two decades.
Pro Kabaddi League Stars Expected to Feature
One of the most exciting aspects of this tournament — confirmed by Sanket Bawankule at the press conference — is that star players from the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) are expected to participate, representing their home districts.
The Pro Kabaddi League, now in its twelfth season, has transformed kabaddi from a grassroots sport into a mainstream professional league with national television viewership, franchise ownership by major sports groups, and player salaries that rival those in other professional sports. PKL players are the face of modern Indian kabaddi — athletically elite, tactically sophisticated, and instantly recognisable to kabaddi fans.
State-level tournaments like the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Cup are, in fact, where many PKL players began their competitive careers. For the tournament organisers, the return of PKL-level talent to the state stage adds a layer of spectacle and competitive quality that will make the Koradi ground a genuine attraction for kabaddi enthusiasts from across Nagpur and Vidarbha.
The specific names of PKL players who will participate have not been officially confirmed at the time of publication. Nagpur Updates will update this article as team rosters are finalised and announced.
The Prize Money: ₹20 Lakh at Stake
Over ₹20 lakh in prize money will be distributed across the five days of competition — covering both men’s and women’s categories and recognising individual player performances as well as team achievements.
The prize money structure has not been broken down in full at the press conference, but the total represents a significant financial investment in the tournament by the Maharashtra Sports Department and the organising associations. For district-level kabaddi players — many of whom are students or young professionals who train without major financial support — prize money of this scale is a genuine incentive and a recognition of their years of dedication to the sport.
Koradi as a Sporting (Koradi kabaddi tournament April 2026) Venue: What Makes It the Right Choice
Koradi might not be the first name that comes to mind when people think of major sporting venues in the Nagpur region — that title typically goes to the VCA Stadium in Jamtha for cricket or the Divisional Sports Complex in the city. But for kabaddi, Koradi has a strong grassroots tradition.
The town’s close-knit community, the availability of the Sevanand Vidyalaya ground, and the support of local organisers made it a practical and culturally appropriate choice. The Koradi Sansthan — the temple trust that is one of the most important religious and community institutions in the area — has also been part of the support structure for the event.
Equally important is the accessibility of Koradi from Nagpur city. The town is connected by road to the city’s western areas and is reachable by both private transport and local buses, meaning fans from Nagpur can attend matches without significant logistical difficulty.
Tournament Schedule and Venue Details | Koradi kabaddi tournament April 2026
Dates: April 30 to May 4, 2026 Venue: Sevanand Vidyalaya Ground, Koradi, Nagpur Format: Men’s and Women’s categories, 16 teams each Organised by: Deputy Director of Sports and Youth Services, Nagpur Region, in association with Nagpur Amateur Association of Kabaddi and Nagpur Rural Kabaddi Association Organising Committee Chairman: Chandrashekhar Bawankule, State Revenue Minister and Guardian Minister, Nagpur
Matches are scheduled to be held in the evening sessions at the ground. Spectators are welcome to attend — entry details will be confirmed by the organising committee at the venue.
Kabaddi’s Roots in Maharashtra (Koradi kabaddi tournament April 2026) — Why This Tournament Carries Weight
Kabaddi is not just a sport in Maharashtra — it is a cultural institution. The game has been played in Maharashtra’s villages and towns for generations, and the state has produced some of India’s finest kabaddi players at both the national and international level.
Maharashtra’s state-level kabaddi ecosystem — of which the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Cup is the apex — operates as a talent pipeline. Players who perform at this tournament get noticed by selectors for Maharashtra’s national teams. Strong performances at state level often lead to trials for the senior national championship and, increasingly, to attention from Pro Kabaddi League franchise scouts.
For young players from Vidarbha — a region that has historically produced strong kabaddi talent but whose players often struggle for visibility compared to those from western Maharashtra and Mumbai — having the state’s premier tournament in their own region is an opportunity that could change careers.
Nagpur Updates Will Track the Tournament (Koradi kabaddi tournament April 2026)
Nagpur Updates will be covering the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Cup 2026 through its five days of competition. We will report on match results, standout performers, and the eventual winners in both men’s and women’s categories.
If you are attending the matches at Koradi or have information about team rosters or match schedules, share it with us at admin@nagpurupdates.in.
