The Sports Ministry has approved a 768-member Indian contingent, including 503 athletes and 246 officials, for the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The athletics team has the largest support staff, while cricket teams also have significant backing. India will compete in 36 disciplines.
The state-run Pakistan Sports Board is only funding a fraction of the country's 248-member Asian Games contingent, with many athletes and officials relying on federations, the POA, or self-financing. The Pakistan Olympic Association secretary, Khalid Mahmood, confirmed that self-funded medal winners would be compensated and highlighted Pakistan's medal hopes across various disciplines.
The Sports Ministry, led by Mansukh Mandaviya, has announced stringent selection criteria for the upcoming Asian Games, capping the contingent at 600 athletes. The policy prioritises medal prospects, stating that the Games are not for "exposure tours" or securing jobs. This includes a "realistic chance of winning a medal" and being in the top six continental rankings. The ministry will scrutinise recommendations from National Sports Federations, with specific cases like equestrian Anush Agarwalla and table tennis player Manika Batra highlighting the new approach.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his congratulations to the Indian contingent for their commendable performance at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. He praised the athletes for their determination, passion, and sporting spirit, acknowledging their role in bringing immense joy to the nation. India secured fourth place with 85 medals, and Modi expressed hope that these Games would inspire future achievements and strengthen grassroots sports.
All Indian track and field athletes selected for the Asian Games will compete in the final leg of the Indian Athletics Series on September 10. The schedule for other legs of the series has also been revised, while a group of athletes has departed for Europe to prepare for the Commonwealth Games.
The Olympic Council of Asia has advised national bodies, including India, to limit their contingent sizes for the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, due to the host nation's inability to accommodate more than 15,000 participants. This impacts support staff numbers, with India's contingent of 492 athletes requiring strict adherence to the 33% support staff cap. Organisers are implementing innovative accommodation solutions like container huts and a cruise ship.
Indian squash players Anahat Singh, Tanvi Khanna, Abhay Singh, Veer Chotrani, Joshna Chinappa, and Velavan Senthilkumar have all advanced to the quarterfinals in their respective singles and mixed doubles categories at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, marking a highly successful day for the contingent.
Five Indian track and field athletes, including pole vaulter Sindhushree Ganesh and triple jumper Asha Ilango, who faced visa delays, have now received their travel documents and are set to join the Asian Games contingent in Japan. They will participate in an acclimatisation camp before the athletics competition begins.
Indian esports athletes are rigorously training for the Asian Games in Nagoya, aiming for medals and challenging the traditional perception of gaming as merely a leisure activity. With professional support and coaching, players are balancing academics and intense practice, hoping to elevate esports to mainstream sporting status in India.
Indian athletes are set for a busy day at the Asian Games on October 2, with events across archery, boxing, canoe slalom, cycling, golf, hockey, rugby sevens, sailing, sepak takraw, taekwondo, volleyball, and wrestling. Key medal events include finals in boxing featuring Lovlina Borgohain and Parveen Hooda, and the women's hockey final against China.
Legendary cricketer Kapil Dev has expressed his support for the Indian golf contingent heading to the Asian Games in Japan, encouraging them to play fearlessly and draw inspiration from representing the nation. He highlighted the talent and experience of the six-member team and urged them to compete with confidence and pride.
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.
India's fencing campaign at the Asian Games concluded without a medal after C A Bhavani Devi and Shreya Gupta were eliminated in the women's individual sabre event. Bhavani Devi reached the round of 16 before losing to China's Rao Xueyi, while Shreya Gupta also exited in the pre-quarterfinals against South Korea's Jeon Ha-young. Earlier, Mina Devi Naorem and Ashitha Stalinraj Joys were eliminated in the women's foil event.
Persistent rain has caused significant disruptions at the Asian Games, affecting tennis, surfing, and cricket, leading to India and Pakistan advancing to the T20 semi-finals due to higher rankings after their quarter-final matches were washed out.
India's shooting contingent concluded its Asian Games campaign with a total of 15 medals, including three gold, eight silver, and four bronze. Anish Bhanwala finished seventh in the men's 25m rapid fire pistol final, qualifying under a special 'two shooters per country policy'.
The 20th Asian Games have officially commenced in Nagoya with a high-tech opening ceremony. India's 501-member contingent is led by flag bearers Manu Bhaker and Pawan Sehrawat, with some events already underway, including India's women's cricket team reaching the semifinals and a teqball bronze medal opportunity.
India's Asian Games medal-winning boxers, including gold medallists Ankush Panghal, Parveen Hooda, and Lovlina Borgohain, received a grand welcome at the New Delhi airport. The team's performance, securing three golds and three bronzes, was lauded by BFI president Ajay Singh and coach Santiago Nieva, highlighting their strong preparation for the upcoming Olympics.
The 20th Asian Games have officially commenced in Nagoya with a high-tech Opening Ceremony. India's 503-member contingent is being led by Manu Bhaker and Pawan Sehrawat. Early events have seen India's women's cricket team reach the semifinals and a medal opportunity in debutant sport teqball, building on India's record performance at the previous Games.
Indian boxers Parveen Hooda and Ankush Panghal have secured their spots in the gold medal bouts of their respective weight categories at the Asian Games, with Parveen overcoming a past suspension to achieve this feat and Ankush defeating a world champion. This achievement marks a significant improvement for India's boxing contingent.
Indian shot putter Manpreet Kaur secured a bronze medal at the Asian Games with a throw of 17.17m. This achievement adds to her recent international performances, including a bronze at the 2023 Asian Championships, highlighting her consistent form.
Indian shooters Anant Jeet Singh Naruka and Parinaaz Dhaliwal clinched a bronze medal in the mixed team skeet event at the Asian Games, contributing to India's growing medal tally in shooting.
Indian boxer Parveen Hooda has advanced to the gold medal bout in the 65kg category at the Asian Games, defeating China's Li Shu. This achievement marks a significant improvement from her previous Asian Games performance, where a bronze medal was revoked. Other Indian pugilists, including Ankush Panghal and Narender Berwal, are also set to compete for final spots, contributing to India's best-ever boxing medal haul at the event.
China has established a significant lead in the Aich-Nagoya Asian Games medal tally after the third official day, securing 53 medals including 32 golds. Japan and Korea follow in second and third place respectively, while India is currently positioned eighth with 7 medals.
India's first Archery World Cup Final male gold-medallist, Dhiraj Bommadevara, has inspired the national team ahead of the Asian Games. Dola Banerjee, India's first World Cup Final gold-medallist, believes his triumph will boost confidence and help the team surpass its previous medal haul, despite a new-look squad.
India's Asian Games athletics team has been reduced from 77 to 74 members, with javelin thrower Annu Rani, long jumper Shahnavaz Khan, and sprinter Nithya Gandhe dropped due to performance and medical reasons after a confirmatory trial.
India's men's 10m air pistol team, comprising Kamaljeet, Aakash Bhardwaj, and Kedarling Uchaganve, failed to secure a medal at the Asian Games. Kamaljeet narrowly missed the final, while Kedarling's poor performance led to Japan clinching the bronze medal. This marks another disappointing day for Indian shooting, which has yet to win a gold medal after five days of competition, raising concerns about their performance at the event.
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.
Ace Indian trap shooter Neeru Dhanda, a triple medallist at the Asian Games with two golds and a silver, has been selected as the women's flag bearer for the closing ceremony in Nagoya. She will return to Nagoya to lead the Indian contingent after her remarkable performance.
Indian tennis players Sumit Nagal and Dhakshineswar Suresh face challenging draws in the Asian Games men's singles, with tough opponents early in their campaigns. While singles prospects appear difficult, India holds strong medal hopes in men's and mixed doubles events, with top-seeded pairs.
The traditional flag hoisting ceremony at the Asian Games in Nagoya was delayed and then abruptly halted due to unspecified "trouble," leaving multiple countries, including India, awaiting clarity. This incident adds to growing criticism against organisers for logistical chaos, including complaints about delayed and cramped container-style lodging facilities provided to athletes to cut costs.
Multiple Asian Games medallist rifle shooter Ashi Chouksey expresses confidence in the Indian contingent's performance at the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Having secured two silvers and a bronze previously, Chouksey is focused on achieving gold and highlights the rigorous preparation, including intense training and psychological support, to ensure India's success against strong competitors like China.
India's six-member golf contingent, led by silver medallist Aditi Ashok, is set to compete at the Asian Games. The team, comprising experienced professionals like Yuvraj Sandhu, Veer Ahlawat, and Diksha Dagar, aims to add to India's seven past golf medals. They face a strong international field, including PGA Tour stars like Tom Kim and Keita Nakajima, on a challenging course.
India's canoeing team concluded its Asian Games campaign without securing any medals, a decline from their bronze-medal performance in the previous Hangzhou edition. The absence of the men's canoe double 1000m event, where India previously medalled, impacted their prospects.
Indian shooting contingent members, including Elavenil Valarivan, Mairaj Ahmad Khan, Anantjit Singh Naruka, and Raiza Dhillon, received a warm welcome upon their return to Delhi after winning medals at the Asian Games. Elavenil expressed confidence despite missing gold, highlighting her win against world and Olympic champions.
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.
Indian Wushu athlete Roshibina Devi secured a silver medal at the Asian Games in the women's 60kg sanda category, overcoming a pre-tournament selection controversy. This marks her third Asian Games medal, adding to her previous bronze and silver.
Indian shooter Elavenil Valarivan secured two silver medals at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, winning an individual silver in the women's 10m air rifle event and contributing to a team silver. Her performance marks an encouraging start for India's shooting campaign, which aims to build on the success of the previous Hangzhou Asian Games.
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.
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.
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.
