India's women's table tennis team commenced their Asian Games campaign with a resounding 3-0 victory over Indonesia in their opening Group F match. Sreeja Akula, Diya Chitale, and Yashaswini Ghorpade each secured wins in their respective rubbers, ensuring a dominant start for the Indian contingent.
The Indian men's kabaddi team commenced its Asian Games title defence with a decisive 49-24 victory over hosts Japan in their opening Group A fixture.
Indian soft tennis players Aadhya Tiwari and Jay Meena were eliminated from the Asian Games mixed doubles event in the round of 16 after a 2-5 loss to the Philippines pair. They had qualified for the knockout stage by finishing second in their group with two wins.
India's Quimcy Joaquim Dsouza has made a strong start at the 2026 Asian Games, securing two victories in the Teqball women's singles event to reach the semi-finals.
Defending champions Indian men's and women's kabaddi teams have made strong starts to their Asian Games campaign, securing decisive victories over Japan and Bangladesh in their respective opening matches. The men's team defeated hosts Japan 49-24, while the women's team overcame Bangladesh 42-21.
Quimcy Dsouza has taken an unusual route to the Asian Games, moving from athletics and football to becoming one of India's leading Teqball players.
India's Quimcy Joaquim Dsouza has reached the women's singles semifinals in Teqball at the Asian Games, putting her one win away from securing the country's first-ever medal in the sport. She topped her group after defeating Japan's Yuina Sakamoto and Cambodia's Koemyean DY. The Indian mixed doubles pair of Quimcy and Mohammed Anas Imran Beg also remain in contention for a medal through the repechage round despite an earlier quarterfinal loss. Teqball is making its debut at the Asian Games.
India's Asian Games soft tennis campaign came to an end on Friday after the men's team suffered a 0-2 defeat to Indonesia in the quarterfinals.
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 has opened its Asian Games medal tally with two silvers in shooting, driven by Elavenil Valarivan's performance, and secured an unexpected podium finish in Mixed Martial Arts. The women's cricket team also advanced to the finals, aiming for a second consecutive gold.
Japan hosted a vibrant opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, showcasing its technological advancements and cultural heritage. The event, themed 'Harmonic Heart Beat', welcomed 11,000 athletes from 45 nations, despite prior logistical challenges.
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's U20 football team secured a historic qualification for the AFC U20 Asian Cup main tournament after a 20-year hiatus, following a dominant 3-0 victory over Bangladesh. Goals from Danny Meitei Laishram, Vishal Yadav, and Md Arbash sealed their spot as one of the best runners-up, with the main tournament scheduled for 2027 in China.
India's Asian Games contingent faces accommodation issues at Costa Serena, as athletes report cramped rooms and long delays amid organisational chaos.
Japan inaugurated the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya with a vibrant opening ceremony that seamlessly blended advanced technology and rich cultural traditions, despite earlier organisational challenges.
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.
India's U20 football team secured a dominant 3-0 victory over Bangladesh in their final AFC U20 Asian Cup Qualifiers group match. Goals from Danny Meitei Laishram, Vishal Yadav, and Md Arbash sealed the win, bringing India's total to six points. The team's qualification for the main tournament, potentially after 20 years, now hinges on the outcome of the Syria-Uzbekistan match.
Indonesian hockey players, particularly Ferdian Fathur Rahman and Firdaus Muhammad, are deeply inspired by the Bollywood film "Chak De! India" as they prepare to face India at the Asian Games.
The Sports Ministry has invested over Rs 702 crore in the last three years to prepare Indian athletes for the upcoming Asian Games in Japan, featuring 310 debutants.
The Indian women's hockey team has departed for the Asian Games in Japan, aiming to win the gold medal and secure a direct qualification spot for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
India's Madhavendra Pratap Sharma and Kazakhstan's Akhilbay Imangali are leading the rapid event of the Asian Junior Chess Championship in Mumbai, both with a perfect score of 4 points after four rounds. While the open section sees clear leaders, the girls' rapid championship is a much closer contest with six players sharing the lead, all unbeaten. With three rounds remaining, the competition for titles and podium finishes remains intense in both categories.
India's U20 football team, the Blue Colts, is set to kick off their AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers campaign against Syria in Tashkent. This opening match is crucial as India aims to secure their first-ever win against Syria and qualify for the Asian Cup for the first time since 2006, navigating a tough group that also includes Uzbekistan and Bangladesh.
The Sports Ministry has approved a 492-member contingent of athletes, including 265 men and 227 women, for the upcoming Asian Games in Japan. The squad features prominent athletes like Neeraj Chopra, PV Sindhu, and Lovlina Borgohain across various disciplines, with athletics having the largest representation.
The India U-20 men's football team has concluded its preparations for the AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers with an unbeaten run in four friendly matches, securing three wins and a draw without conceding any goals. The team is now heading to Uzbekistan for the crucial qualifiers, aiming for a strong performance.
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.
Twenty-two rowers have been inducted into the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) Development Group to prepare for the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The selection, made by the Mission Olympic Cell, includes prominent names like Balraj Panwar and Arvind Singh.
GM-elect Mayank Chakraborty defeated Jaiveer Mahendru to join IM Artem Pingin and FM Sharnarthi Viresh in the lead at the Asian Junior Open Classical Chess Championship. In the Girls' Championship, WCM Shohradova Leyla and WFM Pratitee Bordoloi maintained their joint lead after a draw, with the tournament heading for an exciting finish.
The Asian Junior Classical Championship in Mumbai saw top seed Mayank Chakraborty win his opening match, while other leading contenders Vignesh Advaith Vemula and Akhilbay Imangali were held to draws. The girls' section witnessed several upsets, with lower-rated players securing draws or victories against higher-rated opponents. The tournament features a strong field of 85 players from nine federations, including International Masters and FIDE Masters.
The Sports Ministry has approved a 492-member Indian contingent, comprising 265 male and 227 female athletes, for the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Athletics forms the largest group with 73 participants, including star athletes like Neeraj Chopra and Jyothi Yarraji. Other prominent sports like shooting, weightlifting, badminton, boxing, and wrestling also feature strong teams, with some adjustments made due to doping violations.
The Asian Junior Classical Championship in Mumbai saw top seed Mayank Chakraborty win his opening match, while other leading contenders Vignesh Advaith Vemula and Akhilbay Imangali were held to draws. The girls' section witnessed several upsets, with lower-rated players securing draws or victories against higher-rated opponents. The tournament features a strong field of 85 players from nine federations, including International Masters and FIDE Masters.
The Indian U20 men's football team is set to play two friendly matches against Yemen in Bengaluru as part of their preparations for the AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers. These matches follow two recent victories against Singapore and precede their travel to Tashkent for the qualifiers against Syria, Uzbekistan, and Bangladesh.
FC Goa's AFC Champions League Two campaign concluded with a 0-3 loss to Turkmenistan's FC Arkadag, relegating the Indian club to the AFC Challenge League, the third tier of Asian club football.
Veteran athletics coach Parveer Singh, who guided athletes like Seema Punia, Tajinderpal Singh Toor, and Annu Rani to international medals, has been named for the prestigious Dronacharya Award. The article details his extensive career spanning over two decades, his role as a coach educator, and his academic contributions to sports coaching.
Indian teqball player Quimcy Dsouza lost a hard-fought bronze medal match to Japan's Yuina Sakamoto at the Asian Games in Nagoya. Dsouza showed a strong comeback, taking both sets to a narrow 11-12 finish, but ultimately fell short.
Quimcy D'Souza, a self-funded and self-coached Indian teqball player, competed at the Asian Games with the aim of popularising the sport in India. Despite narrowly missing out on two bronze medals, D'Souza views her journey as a crucial first step towards establishing teqball in the country and inspiring more athletes.
India's men's cricket team, along with Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, has secured direct entry into the knockout stage of the 2026 Asian Games, with preliminary rounds set for other nations.
Quimcy Dsouza, a former Maharashtra footballer, made an unconventional journey to the Asian Games teqball semifinals after discovering the sport through Ronaldinho. Despite a defeat, she expressed pride in her performance and her role in pioneering teqball in India, highlighting the challenges of limited funding and her dedication to growing the sport.
Reigning Indian Super League champions East Bengal are set to face Kuwaiti league runners-up Al Arabi SC in a critical AFC Champions League Two preliminary-stage knockout fixture. The single-leg qualifier will determine a spot in the group stage, with East Bengal navigating squad challenges under new coach Antonio Lopez Habas.
India concluded its campaign at the Asian U-19 and U-23 Boxing Championships with an impressive haul of five gold, 10 silver, and four bronze medals. The performance highlighted the strength of India's youth boxing programme, with notable gold medal wins by Chandrika Bhoresh Pujari, Prachi, and Nisha.
