Frenchman Samai Reboul, coach of the Indian national surfing team, views India's Asian Games debut as a crucial step towards qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The team, comprising two men and two women, is preparing in Mahabalipuram for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, where surfing makes its continental debut and offers Olympic quota places.
Manu Bhaker and Pawan Sehrawat will lead the Indian contingent as flag bearers at the opening ceremony of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
Praveen Chithravel battled freezing conditions to win Commonwealth Games 2026 triple jump silver, ending his 2022 heartbreak and setting sights on the Asian Games.
Five Indian relay teams are set to compete in the World Athletics Relays in Gaborone, Botswana, aiming to secure qualification for the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing.
A faction of the Boxing Federation of India (BFI), claiming support from 27 state units, met Union Minister of State for Sports Raksha Khadse to seek intervention regarding alleged governance lapses by president Ajay Singh. The group submitted a memorandum to the Sports Ministry, IOA, and World Boxing president, detailing accusations of power concentration, sidelining elected members, and lack of grassroots development. This comes after a planned no-confidence motion was put on hold by the Punjab and Haryana High Court until November 13. The BFI later issued a statement claiming unity among its state units.
India's women's 10m air rifle team, comprising Elavenil Valarivan, Sonam Maskar, and Vidarsa Vinod, secured a silver medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. This marks India's first confirmed medal at the event, with Sonam and Elavenil also qualifying for the individual final.
Indian para-badminton players, including Paralympics medallists Suhas Yathiraj and Krishna Nagar, have made a strong start at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya. Suhas Yathiraj secured a straight-game victory in men's singles SL4, while Krishna Nagar also won his opening SH6 match. Other Indian shuttlers also registered wins across various categories, though some pairs faced defeats.
Vithya Ramraj broke PT Usha's 42-year-old national record in the 400m hurdles at the Asian Games on Monday, prompting a gracious message from the Indian track legend.
Indian wrestlers Tanu Sharma and Neelam Sirohi, who secured bronze and silver respectively at the Senior World Wrestling Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, share their experiences, challenges, and future aspirations. Tanu discusses overcoming injuries and her dream of representing India, while Neelam reflects on years of perseverance and her goal for Olympic qualification. Both athletes were warmly welcomed upon their return to India.
Indian athletes, including Parul Chaudhary, Gulveer Singh, and Vithya Ramraj, secured multiple medals and broke records in various athletics events at the Asian Games, showcasing a strong performance in long-distance running and hurdles.
Union Minister Raksha Khadse has encouraged sportspersons to strive for excellence, highlighting the government's focus on strengthening sports infrastructure and supporting athletes through initiatives like Khelo India.
Indian long jumper Shaili Singh discusses her controversial fourth-place finish at the Asian Games, where her jump measurement was disputed. She expresses her determination to move past the incident, focusing on upcoming competitions and her recovery from an ankle injury, while also exploring the triple jump.
Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu finished as runner-up at the French Open Super 750 badminton tournament, losing to world No. 1 An Se Young. Despite the loss, Sindhu expressed satisfaction with her performance but acknowledged significant room for improvement, particularly in maintaining leads and adapting to court conditions.
This article provides a comprehensive schedule of Indian athletes participating in various events at the Asian Games on September 20.
India achieved its most productive day at the Commonwealth Games, securing a record-breaking seven gold medals in boxing, along with significant successes in judo and para track and field, propelling the nation to fourth place in the medal table.
Kenya's Charles Matata broke the course record to win the men's elite race at the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon on Sunday, clocking 58 minutes and 52 seconds. Ethiopia's Wudinesh Alemu secured the women's elite title. Indian elite races were won by Shailesh Kushwaha and Ankita Dhyani, with significant prize money awarded across categories.
Indian canoe slalom paddlers Hitesh Kewat, Pradhyumna Singh Rathod, Pallavi Jagtap, and Rina Sen have successfully advanced to the semifinals in their respective events at the Asian Games. Shikha Chouhan also qualified for the semifinals in the women's kayak single. The semifinals and medal rounds for most are scheduled for Wednesday, with Chouhan competing on Thursday.
Sharmila Dhankar has won India's first-ever para athletics gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in the women's shot put F57 event. Her teammate Shilpa Shyla also secured a bronze medal after a successful protest against a Nigerian athlete, marking a historic day for Indian para-athletics.
Indian para swimmers Ravi Budigina, Himanshu Nandal, and Rohit Kumar have secured multiple medals at the Asian Para Games. Budigina won a silver in the men's 100m backstroke S13, his second silver of the current edition. Nandal clinched his second bronze in the men's 100m breaststroke S11, while Rohit Kumar added another bronze in the men's 100m breaststroke SB4 event.
South Korea's men's hockey team faced confusion when organisers mistakenly played North Korea's banned national anthem before their match, compounding earlier complaints regarding organistional issues at the Asian Games.
India's assistant coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar emphasised the importance of winning crucial moments ahead of the Asian Games gold medal cricket match against arch-rivals Pakistan. Drawing on his own experience from the 1998 Independence Cup final, Kanitkar stated that while the hype is significant, players must focus on their game and aim for a second successive Asiad gold for the country's medal tally.
The Delhi High Court has declined to intervene in the Centre's decision not to send an Indian contingent for the men's 94 kg Jiu-Jitsu category at the Asian Games, dismissing a petition by athlete Shubham Kumar. The court stated it cannot compel participation when authorities have made a decision, especially as the Games have already commenced, rendering effective relief impossible.
Vithya Ramraj, after breaking PT Usha's 400m hurdles record, anchored the Indian women's 4x400m relay team to a gold medal at the Asian Games in Nagoya. This marked her third medal of the Games, with strong performances from Kiran Pahal, M R Poovamma, and Prachi.
The Olympic Council of Asia has signed a contract with Kuwait to host the inaugural Asian Esports and Mind Sports Games in 2027. This new continental event is expected to feature around 4,000 athletes, with discussions ongoing for the Philippines to host the second edition in 2029. Esports has evolved from a demonstration event to an official medal sport at the Asian Games, and this dedicated event offers Indian players more opportunities.
Defending champion Sheetal Devi and debutant Swati Chaudhary have secured at least two medals for India at the Asian Para Games by reaching the finals of their respective para archery events on Tuesday. Sheetal Devi will compete in the women's compound final, while Swati Chaudhary will vie for gold in the women's W1 final. India's mixed teams also advanced to the semifinals.
Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra and badminton legend Pullela Gopichand have launched the Indian School of Coaching Excellence (ISCE), an initiative designed to strengthen India's sports coaching landscape.
Indian high jumper Sarvesh Kushare, fresh off a silver medal win at Aichi-Nagoya, credited support from SAI and the Athletics Federation of India for his success at the 2026 Asian Games.
National record holder Animesh Kujur secured a silver medal in the men's 200m event at the New Taipei City Athletics Open 2026, clocking his fourth fastest career time. Other Indian athletes, including Shaili Singh and Tejas Shirse, also won medals at the event.
NorthEast United FC secured a dominant 4-1 victory over Kerala Blasters FC in an Indian Super League match. Alaaeddine Ajaraie scored a brace, with Antonio Moyano and debutant Aman CK also finding the net for the Highlanders. Kerala Blasters managed a single goal through Yansane.
India achieved a historic one-two finish in the men's 100m T47 para athletics final at the Commonwealth Games, with Dilip Mahadu Gavit winning gold and Mohammed Basil Morssinganakath securing silver. This marked India's third gold medal at the Games.
India has announced a 36-member squad, comprising 23 men and 13 women, for the World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene, USA, from August 5 to 9. The team includes national record holder Pooja Singh and long jumper Shahnavaz Khan, and will compete across 18 track and field events.
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.
Abhishek Verma, India's top compound archer, is determined to return to the national team after missing the Asian Games. He aims for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the 2030 Commonwealth Games in India, despite India securing an Olympic quota in compound archery. Verma also shares insights on India's medal prospects and the importance of mixed team selection.
Indian men's hockey team goalkeeper Suraj Karkera commented on Pakistan's withdrawal from the upcoming Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) Punjab 2026. While acknowledging that fans will miss the intense rivalry, Karkera stated the Indian team remains focused on performing their best. Bangladesh has replaced Pakistan in the tournament, where India, fresh off their Asian Games gold, will enter as top-ranked contenders.
India is set to field a strong contingent at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4, with key athletes like PV Sindhu, Mirabai Chanu, and Lovlina Borgohain leading the charge to defend titles in cricket, kabaddi, and men's hockey.
A new book, "Heroes: The Changemakers of Indian Sports" by journalist-author Thirumoy Banerjee, chronicles the inspiring journeys of 15 Indian athletes, including Manu Bhaker, C A Bhavani Devi, Nikhat Zareen, Aman Kumar Kadyan, and Sumit Antil. It highlights their determination, resilience, and triumphs over setbacks, offering insights into their paths to success and celebrating their unwavering spirit.
India continued its strong performance at the Asian Games, securing gold medals in both men's and women's Kabaddi, a historic silver in marathon by Sawan Barwal, and advancing to squash finals. The day also saw mixed results in shooting, athletics, and badminton, contributing to India's growing medal tally.
India's kurash contingent experienced a disappointing outing at the Asian Games, with all four participating athletes losing their respective bouts.
Kabaddi player Pawan Sehrawat has replaced shot-putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor as India's male flag-bearer for the Asian Games opening ceremony due to Toor's ceremonial kit not being available. Toor was unable to collect his kit in time to attend the event, leading to the last-minute change.
Indian wushu athlete Nyeman Wangsu secured the 15th position in the women's Changquan final at the Asian Games, scoring 9.573 points. Hong Kong's Hui Yu Lydia Sham won gold, with Macau and Indonesia taking silver and bronze respectively.
