Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and a state delegation have been invited by the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) to witness the semi-finals and finals of the Asian Games hockey competitions in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. This invitation is significant as Punjab is set to host the men's Asian Champions Trophy 2026, with the experience gained in Japan expected to aid in organising future international sporting events in the state.
Fresh from their record-extending Asia Cup triumph, defending champions India will begin their Asian Games title defence as overwhelming favourites against hosts Japan in the women's quarter-finals in Nagoya on Friday.
Organisers of the upcoming Asian Games in Nagoya and the Aichi region are seeking to reduce the number of participants after registrations for athletes and officials significantly exceeded the projected 15,000, raising concerns about accommodation capacity.
India's men's team suffered a 0-3 defeat to Malaysia in the regu event of the Asian Games sepaktakraw competition.
Indian shot putter Manpreet Kaur secured a bronze medal at the Asian Games with a throw of 17.17m. Chinese athletes Song Jiayuan and Zhang Linru won the gold and silver respectively. This adds to Kaur's recent international success, following a bronze at the 2023 Asian Championships.
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.
Indian boxers Kapil Pokhariya (90kg) and Priya Ghanghas (60kg) have advanced to the quarterfinals at the Asian Games after dominant victories. However, Jadumani Singh (55kg) was eliminated after a loss to Tokyo Olympics silver-medallist Carlo Paalam.
Indian judoka Inunganbi Takhellambam has reached the bronze medal contest in the women's 70kg category at the Asian Games after winning her repechage bout. Her journey included an ippon victory and a walkover. Meanwhile, Yamini Mourya's campaign in the women's 57kg category concluded after defeats in the quarterfinals and repechage rounds. The article also explains key judo terms like ippon, yuko, and Fusen-gachi.
Indian boxers Parveen Hooda and Ankush Panghal have advanced to the gold medal bouts at the Asian Games, while Narender Berwal secured a bronze medal. Parveen's win marks a significant comeback, making her only the third Indian female boxer to reach the final. The team has already surpassed its previous medal tally.
Indian tennis players Dhakshineswar Suresh and Sumit Nagal have made winning starts to their men's singles campaigns at the Asian Games, securing places in the pre-quarterfinals.
India's men's hockey team has secured a direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics by winning the Asian Games gold. Skipper Harmanpreet Singh and other players emphasize focusing on the process and utilizing the extended preparation time to perform well at the Games, reflecting on their successful Asian Games campaign, including a tough semifinal against Pakistan.
India dropped teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi despite his impressive Asian Games run, preferring Sanju Samson as Gautam Gambhir backed experience and resisted pressure to alter the winning combination.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy congratulated archers Chikitha Taniparthi, Vennam Jyothi Surekha, and Prithika Pradeep for winning a gold medal in the women's compound archery team event at the Asian Games 2026. He also extended wishes to all Indian athletes and highlighted the inspiring nature of their achievements, which also included a mixed team gold and an Olympic quota for the 2028 Olympics.
Indian long-distance runner Seema won a bronze medal in the women's 10,000m race at the Asian Games. She revealed that she kept her participation a secret from her 78-year-old mother, who suffers from high blood pressure and worries excessively when Seema travels. Seema, from Himachal Pradesh, is only the third Indian woman to medal in this event at the Asian Games and plans to compete in the 5000m race to try for a different medal. She credits her training under Scott Simon for her success.
India's mixed 4x400m relay team, comprising TS Manu, MR Povamma, Jay Kumar, and Kiran, has qualified for the final at the Asian Games after finishing second in their heat with a time of 3:16.23.
Indian surfers Sugar Shanti Gayen and Kamali Prakash finished last in their respective women's shortboard heats during surfing's debut at the Asian Games in Tahara, Japan.
Indian Greco Roman wrestler Sunil Kumar made a strong start at the Asian Games, advancing to the men's 87kg semifinals with a dominant technical superiority victory.
Veteran Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar have secured a medal for India in the Asian Games mixed doubles squash event by reaching the semi-finals.
The Indian senior women's rugby sevens team is undergoing a national camp in Kolkata to prepare for the upcoming Asian Games in Nagoya. Coach Terence Joseph and Captain Shikha Yadav emphasise execution, consistency, and building on recent form against strong Pool B opponents like China and Hong Kong China.
Indian sailors Manu Francis and Kurisinkal Noble secured a silver medal in the men's skiff opening race 9 at the Asian Games sailing competition in Gamagori City, Japan. The duo finished with 23 points, behind China, and had previously won bronze at the Asian Sailing Championships. The women's skiff team finished fourth.
India's Prachi Choudhary secured a bronze medal in the women's 400m final at the Asian Games in Nagoya, clocking 53.21 seconds. This achievement is particularly significant for Prachi, who expressed her satisfaction in proving her capability in individual events, having previously been told she was only strong in relays. She also mentioned her familiarity with rainy conditions, which were present during the event.
India's equestrian team experienced a disappointing start at the Asian Games, finishing seventh in the eventing team dressage and being eliminated from the team jumping competition. Individual performances also saw Indian riders placed lower down the ranks.
India's men's and women's kabaddi teams successfully defended their Asian Games titles, securing a golden double with thrilling victories over Iran.
Seven para-cyclists, recommended by the national federation for the Asian Para Games, were largely omitted by the Sports Ministry, with only one receiving approval. The excluded athletes are planning a protest, alleging discrimination, while the Sports Authority of India (SAI) maintains selections were based strictly on performance criteria.
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.
The OCA has asked India and other national Olympic bodies not to seek late additions to their Asian Games contingents as Japan struggles to accommodate more than 15,000 participants.
India secured a silver medal in the mixed 4x400m relay, successfully defending their previous win, and Seema Kumari earned a historic bronze in the women's 10,000m, marking India's first medal in the event in 16 years and only the third ever.
Indian squash players Abhay Singh, Veer Chotrani, and Tanvi Khanna secured their spots in the round of 16 at the Asian Games. Abhay Singh and Tanvi Khanna won their opening matches convincingly, while Veer Chotrani also advanced. Anahat Singh is set to begin her campaign, with the ultimate prize for winners being direct entry to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
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.
Indian karateka Chetan Bhatt narrowly missed out on a bronze medal at the Asian Games, losing to Chinese Taipei's Meng-yu Chung by Senshu in the men's Kumite 84kg playoff after the bout ended 1-1.
India concluded its campaign at the World Archery Para Series Stage III with an impressive tally of 15 medals, including four gold, three silver, and eight bronze, finishing second in the overall medal standings. The event served as a crucial preparatory test for the upcoming Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games.
Defending champions India's men's kabaddi team secured a dominant 37-21 victory over Chinese Taipei, advancing to the semi-finals of the Asian Games with an unbeaten record in Group A.
Following a successful campaign at the 2026 Asian Games, India women's boxing head coach Santiago Nieva is prioritising securing as many Olympic quotas as possible at the earliest for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, starting with the World Championships 2027 in Kazakhstan.
Pakistan women's cricket team secured a narrow three-wicket victory over Thailand in a low-scoring thriller at the 2026 Asian Games, qualifying for the semi-finals despite a challenging chase in a rain-affected match.
Indian Teqball players Declan Marshall Gonsalves and Mohamed Anas Imran Beg were eliminated from the men's doubles medal race at the Asian Games in Nagoya after losing both their group matches. Despite strong domestic and some international success, the duo could not secure a win in their debut Asian Games appearance for the sport.
The Indian track cycling teams were eliminated from the medal races in the men's and women's team sprint and women's team pursuit events at the Asian Games in Nagoya. Despite their efforts, the teams could not match the pace of competitors like China, Japan, and Chinese Taipei, thus ending India's medal hopes in these disciplines.
Indian athletes at the Asian Games in Nagoya are facing significant accommodation challenges, including cramped rooms on a cruise ship and long waits for check-in. The host nation's athletes are also affected, with complaints about shared rooms and general mismanagement. Organisers have opted against a traditional Athletes Village, leading to athletes travelling long distances for training, further exacerbating the logistical issues ahead of the mega-event.
Indian badminton players, including PV Sindhu, Kidambi Srikanth, and HS Prannoy, are set to compete in the Arctic Open Super 500 tournament in Vantaa, Finland. This event follows their recent Asian Games campaign, where India secured one medal. The shuttlers aim to build on their form and seek strong performances in the BWF season.
Indian archers Dhiraj Bommadevara, Neeraj Chauhan, and Kumkum Mohod Anil have successfully advanced to the recurve quarterfinals at the Asian Games. Chauhan notably defeated a three-time Olympic gold medallist, while Bommadevara and Anil also secured impressive wins. Kirti, however, was eliminated.
India's Ancy Sojan won a silver medal in the women's long jump at the Asian Games, while Harita Bhadra secured a bronze in the women's 200m. Ancy led for much of the competition but was overtaken by China's Huang Yingying in the final moments. Shaili Singh narrowly missed a bronze in the long jump.
