Indian swimmers, including Olympian Srihari Nataraj, faced a challenging day at the Asian Games in Tokyo, with most failing to advance beyond the heats. Nataraj finished 10th in the 50m backstroke final, while other Indian athletes also struggled in various events.
Indian Teqball player Quimcy Dsouza lost her Asian Games women's singles semifinal to Indonesia's Sumaya in a gruelling three-game match. Despite a strong start, Dsouza, a former state-level footballer, was overcome by Sumaya's sepak takraw background. Dsouza will now compete in the bronze medal playoff, aiming for a podium finish in Teqball's debut at the Asian Games.
India's T20I skipper Shreyas Iyer expressed his excitement about participating in the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, highlighting the opportunity to interact with top athletes and understand their mindset, while also focusing on the team's immediate T20I challenges.
The Indian women's table tennis team secured a hard-fought victory over Thailand to advance to the quarterfinals of the Asian Games. However, the men's team faced an early exit after a 0-3 defeat against South Korea in the round of 16.
Heavy rain in Nagoya led to the brief evacuation of around 400 athletes and officials and caused flooding and venue leaks, but the city's mayor, Ichiro Hirosawa, has confirmed that the Asian Games will proceed as planned without disruption.
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.
Olympic silver medallist Vijay Kumar has urged the 30-member Indian shooting contingent for the Asian Games to prioritise individual medals over team events. He also highlighted the need for significant improvements in coaching, advocating for more former international medallists in the system, and stressed the importance of better grassroots talent identification, drawing comparisons with China. Kumar also commented on the void left by coach Jaspal Rana's death and questioned recent selection policies.
Commonwealth Games silver medallist Gyaneshwari Yadav is preparing for the Asian Games, aiming to surpass her personal best of 199kg. She plans to leverage her CWG experience despite facing tough international competition from powerhouses like China and South Korea. Yadav also acknowledges the upcoming domestic challenge from Mirabai Chanu and Bindyarani Devi in the 53kg category but remains confident and inspired by Chanu.
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.
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.
Shafali Verma smashed a stunning unbeaten century as India beat Bangladesh by 114 runs to enter the women's cricket final at the Asian Games.
Indian dressage rider Anush Agarwalla has voiced profound disappointment and hurt after being excluded from the upcoming Asian Games, despite being a gold medalist in the previous edition. He criticised the selection process as "unfair" and a "betrayal," stating he was never given a chance to compete, and called for a more transparent system in Indian sports.
Indian boxers Sakshi Chaudhary (51kg) and Jadumani Singh (55kg) have both advanced to the pre-quarterfinals of the Asian Games. Chaudhary secured an upset victory over Paris Olympics bronze-medallist Aira Villegas, while Singh dominated his opponent, Chandra Bahadur Thapa, to move into the next round.
Indian boxers Sakshi Chaudhary and Jadumani Singh have made a remarkable start at the Asian Games, securing their spots in the pre-quarterfinals with impressive victories, including a significant upset by Chaudhary over an Olympic medallist.
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.
Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker shared her emotional experience as India's flag-bearer at the Asian Games opening ceremony, deeply missing her late coach Jaspal Rana. Rana, who passed away recently, was instrumental in her career and had a unique philosophy about attending opening ceremonies, making Bhaker's flag-bearing role particularly poignant.
Indian wrestling coach Virender Dahiya and wrestler Antim Panghal have expressed strong confidence in the national team's preparation and potential for the upcoming Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Dahiya believes the team will significantly improve on its previous medal tally, while Panghal highlights the strong team cohesion and gold medal aspirations. The squad features a mix of experienced and young talent, aiming to overcome strong regional competitors.
A small contingent of the 74-member Indian athletics team is still awaiting visa clearance for Japan, potentially impacting their acclimatisation camp ahead of the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. AFI officials are working to resolve the issue, which stems from VFS requirements regarding application locations.
A comprehensive schedule detailing the events and timings for Indian athletes participating in various sports at the Asian Games, including badminton, boxing, canoeing, equestrian, fencing, hockey, kabaddi, rowing, soft tennis, sepaktakraw, shooting, squash, swimming, table tennis, weightlifting, and wushu.
The Philippines Tennis Association has requested a WTA exemption for Alexandra Eala to participate in the Asian Games, which clashes with the mandatory China Open.
Japan's 17-year-old swimmer Shin Ohashi has set a new men's 200 metres breaststroke world record, clocking 2:04.83 at the Asian Games in Tokyo, surpassing China's Qin Haiyang's previous mark.
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.
India's Asian Games campaign saw its medal tally rise to 17 with strong performances in athletics, wushu, kabaddi, and hockey, despite some disappointments in shooting, boxing, and gymnastics. The mixed 4x400m relay team secured silver, while Seema won bronze in 10,000m. Wushu player Roshibina Devi claimed silver, and rowers added a bronze. Kabaddi and men's hockey teams continued their unbeaten runs, advancing to later stages.
Indian boxers are undergoing intensive training at a multinational camp in Patiala, featuring international medallists, before heading to Japan for a final preparatory stint ahead of the Asian Games. The team aims to build on its strong performance at the Commonwealth Games, despite anticipating tougher competition from boxing powerhouses like Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan at the upcoming continental event.
The Indian women's table tennis team advanced to the quarterfinals at the Asian Games after a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Thailand. However, the Indian men's team faced an early exit, losing 0-3 to South Korea in the round of 16, marking their second defeat in the group stage.
Commonwealth silver medallist Rishikanta Singh, India's only male weightlifter in the Asian Games squad, has been ruled out of the upcoming continental event due to a knee injury, leaving the team with only four female lifters.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced that Pakistan will participate in the Men's Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament in India, scheduled from October 27 to November 5. This participation aligns with the Indian government's policy allowing multi-lateral sporting engagements with Pakistan, despite a ban on bilateral series. The tournament will be held in Jalandhar and Mohali, featuring six nations including India and Pakistan, with a highly anticipated India-Pakistan match on November 1.
Indian shooting duo Elavenil Valarivan and Parth Mane finished fourth in the 10m air rifle mixed team final at the Asian Games, unable to convert a strong qualification performance into a medal. China won gold with a world record, while South Korea and Japan secured silver and bronze respectively.
A comprehensive schedule outlines the participation of Indian athletes across various disciplines at the Asian Games on September 23, including key events in badminton, boxing, shooting, hockey, and weightlifting, with several athletes vying for qualification and medal rounds.
India's women's hockey team secured a resounding 20-1 victory over Thailand at the Asian Games, with drag-flicker Deepika Sehrawat setting a new record by scoring nine goals in a single match. This marked India's third consecutive win in Pool B, maintaining their top position ahead of their upcoming match against hosts Japan.
Defending champions India began their Asian Games campaign with a dominant 13-1 victory over Indonesia in their opening Pool A match. Striker Dilpreet Singh led the charge with four goals, supported by braces from Shilanand Lakra and Sukhjeet Singh. India's focus remains on securing the gold medal and a direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Wushu player Divyanshi Choudhary has alleged physical and mental harassment by the national federation after being dropped from the Asian Games squad on medical grounds. Choudhary claims she was replaced despite doctor's clearance, while the Wushu Association of India maintains she had an ACL tear. The athlete, who defeated her replacement in trials, expressed distress and even threatened self-harm in a video.
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.
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.
Pakistan is set to participate in the Men's Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament in India, with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann confirming the union government's policy allows multi-lateral engagements despite bilateral tensions. The tournament, featuring six nations including India and Pakistan, will be held from October 27 to November 5 in Jalandhar and Mohali, with free entry for all matches.
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.
The Indian women's badminton team was eliminated from the Asian Games after a 1-3 loss to Japan in the quarterfinals. While the doubles pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand secured a win, singles players PV Sindhu, Unnati Hooda, and Tanvi Sharma were defeated by their Japanese counterparts, leading to India's exit from the tournament.
Indian shooters Elavenil Valarivan and Parth Mane have successfully qualified for the 10m air rifle mixed team final at the Asian Games, securing their place among the top four teams. They will compete for a medal later today.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya addressed the Indian contingent for the upcoming Asian Games, urging them to perform under pressure and continue the nation's impressive medal growth. He highlighted India's significant increase in medal tally from 2014 to 2023, attributing it to an improved sports ecosystem, and expressed confidence in the 503-member squad's potential.
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.
