A comprehensive overview of the Indian contingent's schedule at the Asian Games on September 28, detailing participation across various sports including archery, athletics, cricket, boxing, hockey, and more, with specific event timings in IST.
Teenaged Indian archer Kumkum Mohod made history at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games by winning India's first-ever women's individual recurve archery gold medal and securing an Olympic quota place. Her coach and association secretary highlight her dedication, academic inclination, and long-term goal of winning an Olympic medal, despite financial challenges.
The Sports Authority of India's Training Centre in Dimapur, Nagaland, will be upgraded to a National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) following an MoU with the state government. This multi-phase development will transform the 64-acre Multi-Disciplinary Sports Complex, providing enhanced facilities for athletes in various disciplines.
TOPGUN Shooting Academy is set to launch Vision Impaired (VI) Shooting across its branches in India. This initiative aims to make the sport accessible to visually impaired individuals, utilising sound-based technology for target aiming, and is recognised by World Shooting Para Sport (WSPS).
Sadhguru's Isha Gramotsavam, a rural sports festival, is expanding its 18th edition into North India, covering 10 states and one Union Territory. This year's event will engage over 80,000 players from 40,000 villages in men's volleyball and women's throwball, offering a prize pool exceeding Rs 1 crore, with the aim of social transformation through sport.
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has approved significant constitutional changes to align with the National Sports Governance Act (NSGA), allowing for longer tenures for office-bearers and revising age limits. These amendments, which have received preliminary approval from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), also impact the structure of the Executive Council and set the stage for upcoming elections, including those for the Athletes' Commission.
Young table tennis players Syndrela Das and Payas Jain have been inducted into the Sports Ministry's TOPS Development group, while Manika Batra's international event funding request has also been approved, aiming to strengthen India's table tennis presence on the global stage.
India, Germany, Qatar, Hungary, Turkey, South Africa, and South Korea are in preliminary talks with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to host the 2036 Summer Olympics, with a shortlist expected by March next year.
India's men's and women's kabaddi teams have secured their spots in the semi-finals of the Asian Games after dominant performances in their respective Group A fixtures. The men's team defeated Chinese Taipei 37-21, marking their fourth consecutive win, while the women's team topped their group by beating hosts Japan 50-25, remaining unbeaten. Both teams showcased strong offensive and defensive play, continuing India's legacy of dominance in Asian Games kabaddi.
Prachiti Nagpurkar, a former chartered accountant, has made history as the first Indian to referee a mixed martial arts (MMA) bout at the Asian Games in Nagoya. She left her lucrative profession to pursue her passion for MMA, where she also owns a gym and trains fighters. Nagpurkar advocates for women in male-dominated sports, expressing pride in her role as a female official in the cage.
Archer Kumkum Mohod and wrestler Sujeet Kalkal have been named the first recipients of the Jaspal Rana Award and Raja Randhir Singh Award, respectively, by the Indian Olympic Association. These awards recognise their exceptional performances at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, where Mohod secured two archery golds and Kalkal won gold in wrestling.
The Indian men's recurve archery team secured a silver medal at the Asian Games after a 1-5 defeat to defending champions Korea in the final. Despite a strong start, the Indian trio of Dhiraj Bommadevara, Yashdeep Bhoge, and Neeraj Chauhan couldn't maintain their lead.
Pune, India, has been selected to host the UCI Road World Championships in 2032, marking the first time the prestigious cycling event will come to the country. This historic achievement is the result of a collaborative bid by the Government of Maharashtra and the Cycling Federation of India, supported by the Government of India, aiming to establish Pune as a premier global cycling destination. The decision was announced at the UCI Congress in Montreal after Pune's successful presentation, highlighting India's growing potential in the sport.
The India U17 men's football team played out a 1-1 draw against Myanmar in their first friendly match in Thanlyin. Myanmar took the lead in the first half, but India equalised through a penalty in the second half, despite dominating possession.
India's large contingent of 501 athletes is set to compete at the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, aiming to showcase the nation's growing sporting depth and its ambition to become a global top-10 sporting power by 2036. Despite initial accommodation challenges, the focus is on building on the momentum from the record 2022 Hangzhou Games, with strong medal hopes in shooting, athletics, cricket, badminton, and hockey.
India overcame early setbacks in shooting and athletics to achieve a strong fourth-place finish at the Asian Games, matching its previous edition's ranking. A late surge in boxing, archery, wrestling, and hockey, alongside historic wins in golf and cricket, contributed significantly to the medal tally, despite a lower overall medal count compared to the 2022 edition.
The BCCI has opened applications for the Head of Sports Science and Medicine position at its Centre of Excellence, a role that has remained vacant since March 2025 despite previous attempts to fill it. The successful candidate will provide strategic leadership for sports science and medicine services, focusing on player welfare, injury prevention, and rehabilitation for elite Indian cricketers.
India's women's kabaddi team secured their record-extending fourth Asian Games gold medal by defeating Iran 37-34 in a thrilling final.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has invited India, Germany, Qatar, and Turkiye, among others, to present their bids for hosting the 2036 Olympic Games to its Future Host Commission next month. Ahmedabad is India's preferred city for the mega-event, with negotiations led by the Indian Olympic Association in collaboration with the Gujarat government and Union Sports Ministry. The host will be announced in mid-2029, following a streamlined selection process focusing on venue master-plan, funding, public support, and athlete experience.
President Droupadi Murmu extended her congratulations to Indian shooters for their impressive performance at the Asian Games, securing both gold and silver medals. She specifically lauded Kamaljeet and Suruchi Inder Singh for their gold in the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team event and Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil, and Niraj Kumar for their silver in the men's 50m rifle 3 positions event.
India's Quimcy Dsouza experienced a double setback at the Asian Games in Nagoya, narrowly missing out on bronze medals in both women's singles and mixed doubles Teqball. Despite a valiant effort against Japan's Yuina Sakamoto in singles, losing 0-2, and a subsequent loss in mixed doubles with Mohamed Anas Beg, her performance highlighted India's growing presence in the sport.
Suchika Tariyal secured India's first-ever medal in mixed martial arts at the Asian Games, winning a bronze in the women's traditional 60kg event despite a semifinal loss. This historic achievement adds to India's medal tally at the continental showpiece.
Archery emerged as one of India's biggest success stories at the 2026 Asian Games, bringing in as many as five gold medals led by 17-year-old sensation Kumkum Mohod leading the way.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurated the first 'Odisha T-20 League CM Trophy' at Barabati Stadium, aiming to provide a platform for cricketing talents. The league, with ambassadors like Suresh Raina, seeks to identify rural talent and is supported by a significant government investment of Rs 4,124 crore for sports infrastructure development, including new stadiums and the renovation of Barabati Stadium.
The Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) has threatened to suspend the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) due to its failure to finalise a new constitution and hold elections as directed by the Delhi High Court. The international body cited breaches of good governance principles and has given EFI until September 28 to provide an explanation before its board considers suspension on October 13. The crisis stems from long-standing governance disputes and divisions within the ad-hoc committee appointed to oversee the federation.
India's women's 4x400m relay team, featuring Kiran Pahal, Prachi Choudhary, MR Poovamma, and Vithya Ramraj, secured a historic gold medal at the Asian Games 2026. The athletes received a grand welcome upon their return to Delhi, expressing immense pride and dedicating their victory to the nation and their supporters. Prachi and Vithya also earned individual bronze medals, and the team now aims for gold at the World Championships.
Baranica Elangovan has made history by winning India's first-ever medal in the women's pole vault at the Asian Games, securing a bronze with a clearance of 4.15m. Her achievement, despite being below her personal best, marks a significant milestone for Indian athletics and follows a challenging recovery from an ACL injury.
Ankush Panghal secured a gold medal in boxing at the Asian Games, contributing to India's best-ever gold medal performance in boxing at the event, alongside Lovlina Borgohain and Parveen Hooda. This achievement follows a strong showing at the recent Commonwealth Games.
Prachiti Nagpurkar, a former chartered accountant, has made history as the first Indian to referee a mixed martial arts (MMA) bout at the Asian Games in Nagoya. She left her lucrative profession to pursue her passion for MMA, where she also owns a gym and trains fighters. Nagpurkar advocates for women in male-dominated sports, expressing pride in her role as a female official in the cage.
India's Quimcy Joaquim Dsouza has reached the women's singles semifinals in Teqball at the Asian Games, securing a chance for the country's first-ever medal in the sport. She defeated top-seeded Yuina Sakamoto and Cambodia's Koemyean DY to top her group, and a win in the semifinals will guarantee a historic medal.
Indian athletes are set for a packed day of competition at the Asian Games, participating in various sports including athletics, boxing, canoe sprint, hockey, kabaddi, rowing, shooting, squash, swimming, table tennis, and wushu. Several medal events are scheduled in rowing and shooting, with key matches in team sports like hockey and kabaddi.
A live demonstration of Muay Thai was held in New Delhi to popularise the traditional Thai martial art in India. Thai officials highlighted Muay Thai's role as a national soft-power asset, aiming to foster closer ties between India and Thailand through cultural exchange and economic potential.
International Hockey Federation (FIH) President Tayyab Ikram has commended India's professional approach to hockey, urging other Asian nations to adopt similar strategies to improve their global standing. He highlighted India's journey from past Olympic glory to recent bronze medals, positioning it as a model for development in the sport.
Paralympic champions Pramod Bhagat and Bhavina Patel have been chosen as flag bearers for the Indian contingent at the upcoming Asian Para Games in Nagoya, Japan, scheduled from October 18 to 24. Both athletes have significant achievements in their respective sports, and their selection aims to inspire the team.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has announced the formation of a 10-member Task Force, chaired by Yugal Kishore Joshi, to explore the revival of Formula 1 in India. The committee will assess challenges, identify policy interventions, and develop a roadmap to potentially host a race by 2028, addressing issues that led to its discontinuation after 2013.
India's bid to host the 2038 Asian Games will not be decided before 2028, as the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has revealed that five other countries are also vying for the same edition.
Former Indian tennis star Sania Mirza has voiced concerns over the country's tennis system, stating it's 'still not great' and that India loses talented players during their transition from junior to senior levels, despite an abundance of potential.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his congratulations to the Indian contingent for their commendable performance at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. He praised the athletes for their determination, passion, and sporting spirit, acknowledging their role in bringing immense joy to the nation. India secured fourth place with 85 medals, and Modi expressed hope that these Games would inspire future achievements and strengthen grassroots sports.
The Mizoram government has announced a cash reward of Rs 40 lakh each for hockey players Lalremsiami and Lalthantluangi, who were part of the Indian women's team that won gold at the Asian Games. Chief Minister Lalduhoma felicitated the athletes, highlighting their historic achievement for the state and the government's commitment to promoting hockey through schemes and infrastructure development.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has confirmed Pakistan's participation in the upcoming Men's Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament in India. The event, scheduled from October 27 to November 5 in Jalandhar and Mohali, will feature six nations, with India hosting its arch-rivals under the central government's policy allowing multi-lateral sports engagements.
