DHARAMSHALA, The Central University of Himachal Pradesh (CUHP) is set to host the prestigious All India Inter-Zonal Kabaddi (Women) Championship for the 2025-26 academic session. This national-level event, sanctioned under the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) sports calendar, will bring together the top-performing university teams from across the country.

Event Schedule and Venue

The championship is scheduled to take place from February 9 to February 12, 2026. Matches will be held at the Department of Youth & Sports Services indoor complex, located near the iconic HPCA Cricket Stadium in Dharamshala. This scenic, high-altitude location underscores the region's growing reputation as a major hub for national sporting events.

Tournament Structure and Participating Teams

The tournament represents the pinnacle of university-level kabaddi in India, featuring qualifying teams from the North, South, East, and West zones^{C}. The competition begins with a round-robin format across four pools, with top teams advancing to the knockout stages

The participating teams are divided into the following pools:

• Pool A: Lovely Professional University (Jalandhar), Kavi Kulaguru Kalidas Sanskrit University (Ramtek), Dr. C.V. Raman University (Bilaspur), and Vinayaka Mission Research Foundation (Salem)

•  

  Pool B: Periyar University (Salem), L.N. Mithila University (Darbhanga), Guru Kashi University (Punjab), and University of Kota (Rajasthan)

• Pool C: Bharti Vidyapeeth University (Pune), Kurukshetra University (Kurukshetra), Mother Teresa Women's University (Kodaikanal), and Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University (Raipur).

• Pool D: Atal Bihari Vajpayee University (Bilaspur), Bharathiar University (Coimbatore), Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, and Chandigarh University (Mohali).

As the host, CUHP is ensuring professional officiating and adherence to strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), including anti-doping measures managed by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA). This championship serves as a vital scouting ground for national talent. Success here provides a primary pathway for student-athletes to qualify for the Khelo India University Games and potentially represent India at the FISU World University Games.

About the Host: Central University of Himachal Pradesh

Established in 2009, CUHP is a premier research university and the first institution in the state to be accredited with an A+ Grade by NAAC. Beyond its academic excellence, the university is actively contributing to India's university sports culture by hosting such high-profile national championships.