The Indian hockey teams will return to their traditional blue jerseys for the upcoming Asian Games, reversing a controversial decision to switch to a saffron-coloured kit. The previous change had led to widespread criticism, internal discord within Hockey India, and even political debate, despite claims of visibility issues on blue turf.
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.
Top-ranked 25m pistol shooter Esha Singh discusses her preparation for the upcoming Asian Games, highlighting her unique approach of competing against herself rather than others. She reflects on her recent World Cup gold and world record, emphasizing the importance of mental freshness and focusing on basics.
India's compound mixed archery pair of Chikitha Taniparthi and Sahil Jadhav won a gold medal and secured a 2028 Olympic quota place at the Asian Games by defeating Korea in a thrilling shoot-off. This victory marks a significant achievement for Indian archery, following another gold in the women's compound team event.
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.
Indian boxer Sachin Siwach secured a hard-fought split-decision victory over Jordan's Mohammad Adnan Abu Jajeh to advance to the men's 60kg quarterfinals at the Asian Games, moving one step closer to a medal.
The Indian women's table tennis team secured a thrilling 3-2 comeback victory against Singapore in the Asian Games Group F match, with Sreeja Akula and Yashaswini Ghorpade delivering crucial wins. In contrast, the Indian men's team suffered a 0-3 defeat to Iran in their Group F encounter.
Indian kurash athlete Pincky Balhara secured a bronze medal at the Asian Games, becoming the most successful Indian in the sport at the event. Her achievement came despite suffering a knee injury during the quarterfinal, which was further targeted by her semifinal opponent. Balhara, who trains with boys at her uncle's academy due to the lack of a national federation, expressed disappointment over the injury preventing a higher finish.
India's men's and women's Kabaddi teams successfully defended their gold medals at the Asian Games, both defeating Iran in their respective finals. The men's team secured their ninth gold with a 40-34 victory, while the women's team clinched their fourth gold with a 37-34 win, showcasing strategic play and composure under pressure.
India's Quimcy Dsouza lost her Teqball women's singles semifinal match to Indonesia's Sumaya in a gruelling three-game contest at the Asian Games. Despite the defeat, Dsouza remains in contention for a bronze medal and is scheduled to compete in the playoff.
The Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, are set to feature top athletes across various disciplines. This preview highlights key contenders like swimmers Pan Zhanle, javelin throwers Haruka Kitaguchi and Arshad Nadeem, badminton star An Se-young, gymnastic sensation Carlos Yulo, tennis prodigy Alexandra Eala, and the formidable Indian cricket teams, all poised to make a significant impact.
Asian Cricket Council president Mohsin Naqvi will not attend the Asian Games 2026 gold medal cricket match between India and Pakistan due to prior commitments. His absence helps avoid a potential protocol conflict given the ongoing tensions with the BCCI regarding trophy presentations.
Neeru Dhanda has taken the sole lead in the women's trap qualification at the Asian Games, positioning herself for a historic individual gold. Fresh from a World Cup win, Dhanda maintained strong consistency. In the men's trap, Shapath Bharadwaj made a significant recovery to move into joint fifth place, keeping India's medal hopes alive in both individual and team events.
Asian Games double gold medallist Parul Chaudhary and Olympian race-walker Priyanka Goswami are intensely preparing for the upcoming Asian Games in Japan. Chaudhary will compete in three events, including the new 1500m, while Goswami transitions to the marathon race walk, both expressing confidence in their adaptive training and aiming for medals.
Satnam Singh and Salman Khan secured India's first-ever men's double sculls bronze medal at the Asian Games, a significant achievement amidst an otherwise challenging performance by the Indian rowing team. The medal comes despite pre-competition controversy regarding team selections, with the duo forming their partnership just five days before the event.
Fariba Hashimi, who disguised herself as a man and faced attacks while cycling in Afghanistan, fled to Italy and now uses her Asian Games journey to inspire women.
India finished fourth with 85 medals at Aichi-Nagoya, down from 106 in Hangzhou, highlighting the challenge of sustaining progress on the road to 2036.
Indian table tennis mixed doubles pairs, Harmeet Desai-Yashaswini Ghorpade and Diya Chitale-Manush Shah, have successfully advanced to the quarterfinals of the Asian Games. Both duos secured victories against their respective opponents, with a win in the next round guaranteeing them a medal.
Ace Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu is gearing up for an 'Olympic-level' competition at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, where she expects to face the strongest lifters from China, North Korea, and Thailand, making it her toughest challenge yet.
India achieved its most successful day at the Asian Games, securing 10 gold medals, 21 silver, and 29 bronze, bringing the total to 60 and improving its ranking to seventh. Compound archers swept all team golds, including an Olympic quota, while trap shooters Neeru Dhanda and Kynan Chenai also won mixed gold. Boxing and wrestling added bronze medals, and the women's hockey team reached the final, assuring at least a silver.
Indian athletes, including wushu and table tennis players, faced initial check-in difficulties upon arrival for the Asian Games in Nagoya. While some wushu players and coaches reportedly had issues with room allocation on the designated cruise ship, officials stated the problems were resolved. The Games' accommodation plan involves a mix of cruise ships, container rooms, and hotels, with some contingents already raising concerns about the quality and availability of lodging.
India's men's 4x100m medley relay team finished last in the final at the Asian Games, clocking 3:44.26. Earlier, Aryan Nehra placed fourth in the 1500m freestyle Final B.
India's men's hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh expressed confidence in his team's ability to overcome World Cup disappointment and secure the Asian Games title, stating, "We always dominate in Asia."
After the second day of competitions at the Aich-Nagoya Asian Games, China has taken a commanding lead in the medal tally with 38 medals, including 23 golds. Japan and Republic of Korea follow in second and third place respectively. India is currently ranked 12th with a total of 6 medals, comprising 4 silver and 2 bronze.
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.
Seasoned kabaddi player Pawan Sehrawat has been named India's male flag-bearer for the Asian Games opening ceremony, replacing shot-putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor. Toor was unable to attend due to not receiving his ceremonial kit in time, a logistical issue stemming from the athletics team's acclimatisation camp near Tokyo.
India's Pranavi Urs has taken a three-stroke lead in the Asian Games women's golf competition after a superb four-under 66 in the third round. She is now in strong contention for an individual gold medal, with a total of 15-under 195. Her performance also propelled the Indian women's team into second place, four shots behind China.
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.
Defending champions India began their Asian Games campaign with a resounding 13-1 victory over Indonesia in their opening Pool A match. Striker Dilpreet Singh was the star, netting four goals, while Shilanand Lakra and Sukhjeet Singh each scored a brace, showcasing India's dominant performance.
The Indian Sports Ministry has sought assistance from the Indian diaspora in Nagoya to help with athlete accommodation at the Asian Games, as several Indian and other athletes have faced delays and issues with their designated lodging due to a lack of a dedicated athletes' village.
Indian women's hockey team chief coach Sjoerd Marijne shares insights into the team's historic Asian Games gold medal victory, revealing his "eye of a tiger" message that inspired the players.
Indian rower Salman Khan, who once worked as an Uber driver, has won a historic bronze medal in men's double sculls at the Asian Games. His journey from supporting his family after his father's death to joining the Indian Army and becoming an Asian Games medallist is truly inspiring.
Indian shooter Manu Bhaker finished fifth in the women's 10m air pistol at the Asian Games, an emotionally charged event for her following the recent death of her mentor and legendary coach Jaspal Rana. Bhaker broke down while recalling Rana's profound life and career advice, particularly his emphasis on process over outcome, which she tried to apply during her challenging performance.
The Asian Games shooting range in Nagoya has implemented a strict dress code for photographers and TV cameramen, leading to some confusion among media personnel. While the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) has long had such rules, the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organising Committee has made them exceptionally clear, even requiring a video journalist to change from blue to black jeans. The rules aim to maintain a professional appearance and distinguish shooting as a sport, reflecting Japan's meticulous approach to event organisation.
India's athletics campaign at the Asian Games saw Sawan Barwal secure an unexpected silver in the marathon with a national record, while Tajinderpal Singh Toor also claimed silver in shot put. Prachi Chaudhary added a bronze in quarter-mile, bringing India's athletics medal tally to eight. The day also saw injuries to medal contenders Jyothi Yarraji and Praveen Chithravel.
Organisers of the Asian Games in Nagoya are actively addressing complaints regarding athlete accommodation, including issues with bed sizes in container huts and cabin sizes on the newly docked cruise ship, Costa Serena, which will house 4,000 participants.
India's shooting campaign at the Asian Games faced a setback as Elavenil Valarivan and Parth Mane finished fourth in the 10m air rifle mixed team final, extending the country's wait for a gold medal. Despite strong qualification, the Indian pair struggled in the final, while China secured gold with a world record. This follows other near-misses for India, highlighting the intense competition and the need to convert strong starts into medals. The focus now shifts to upcoming events, including Manu Bhaker's participation.
Indian boxers Sakshi Chaudhary and Sumit faced early exits at the Asian Games. Sakshi lost her pre-quarterfinal bout to Kazakhstan's Alua Balkibekova, while Sumit was forced to concede his match due to a knee injury. Another Indian boxer, Parveen, is scheduled to compete later.
Animesh Kujur secured a remarkable double, winning both the 100m and 200m titles, while Harita Bhadra clocked the second-fastest time ever by an Indian woman in the 100m at the inaugural Indian Athletics Final Series, showcasing strong form ahead of the Asian Games.
India spinner Varun Chakaravarthy has been ruled out of the T20 series against Afghanistan due to a fresh injury, casting significant doubt on his participation in the upcoming Asian Games. This comes shortly after his recovery from a previous hamstring injury, raising concerns about player injury management.
