This article provides a comprehensive schedule of Indian athletes participating in various events at the Asian Games on September 20.
India's junior pickleball team finished fourth, and the kids' team secured a silver medal at the Pickleball World Cup in Da Nang, Vietnam. The Open and Masters teams reached the quarter-finals, while Purvansh Patel won gold and Veer Shah won bronze in individual singles categories.
India's men's team suffered a 0-3 defeat to Malaysia in the regu event of the Asian Games sepaktakraw competition.
Dave Cousins, India's new national compound archery head coach, believes a historic first Olympic medal for India is inevitable. He is preparing the team for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games and has long-term plans for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, noting the changing Asian archery landscape and the impressive work ethic of Indian archers.
Former Brazil captain Cafu discussed India's upcoming friendly against Brazil, highlighting the learning opportunity despite ranking differences. He also suggested India popularise football among children for growth, commented on Brazil's World Cup drought, and reflected on the evolving role of fullbacks in modern football.
India secured a silver medal in the men's 10m air rifle team event at the Asian Games, with Rudrankksh Patil and Himanshu Dhillon also advancing to the individual final. China won gold with a new world record, while South Korea took bronze. This medal adds to India's growing shooting tally, which includes a silver in the women's 10m air rifle team event and a record 22 medals at the Hangzhou Asian Games.
Legendary Indian hockey player Harbinder Singh reminisces about India's historic first Asian Games gold medal in 1966, defeating arch-rivals Pakistan. He shares insights into the team's motivation, the challenging final match played with 10 men, and the evolution of hockey over the decades, including concerns about declining domestic spectator interest and India's prospects for future Asian Games.
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 India U20 men's football team played a 0-0 draw against Yemen in the first of two friendly matches in Bengaluru, as part of their preparation for the upcoming AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifiers.
India women's hockey team coach Sjoerd Marijne attributed his side's goalless draw against Australia, which led to their World Cup semi-final exit, to nerves and an inability to convert opportunities, despite calling the fifth-sixth place playoff a 'significant achievement'.
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.
India's Rudrankksh Patil, Himanshu Dhillon, and Parth Mane secured a silver medal in the men's 10m air rifle team event at the Asian Games. The young trio displayed composure, with debutant Parth Mane's performance being particularly noteworthy, contributing to India's growing medal tally in shooting.
India failed to qualify for the Davis Cup Final 8 after losing 3-1 to Korea in the Qualifier Round 2 tie. Despite a fighting doubles victory by Dhakshineswar Suresh and N Sriram Balaji, Sumit Nagal's defeat in the reverse singles sealed India's fate, making Korea the first Asian team to reach the knockout stage under the new format.
Gautam Gambhir builds a lot of trust and confidence within the team, and every player knows their role and has clarity, said Shreyas Iyer, praising his head coach's man-management skills.
India's women's badminton team, led by PV Sindhu, secured a dominant 3-0 victory over Kazakhstan at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. This win propels them into a challenging quarterfinal match against hosts Japan, a team boasting several top-ranked players.
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.
India delivered a commanding performance in the Asian Games women's cricket final, crushing Sri Lanka by 147 runs to retain their gold medal and open their 2026 campaign with India's first gold of the Games.
India's shooting campaign at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games commenced with a strong performance, securing two silver medals in the women's 10m air rifle event. Experienced shooter Elavenil Valarivan was instrumental, winning an individual silver and contributing to a team silver alongside Sonam Uttam Maskar and debutant Vidarsa Vinod. While Elavenil narrowly missed individual gold, her performance, coupled with the team's success, provided an encouraging start for India.
Indian shooters Himanshu Dhillon and Rudrankksh Patil secured individual silver and bronze medals respectively in the men's 10m air rifle event at the Asian Games. India also won a team silver, contributing to the nation's growing medal tally in the continental competition.
Hockey India has defended its decision to change the national men's and women's hockey teams' jerseys to saffron for the upcoming FIH World Cup, citing technical feedback and the symbolic value of the colour.
India's women's cricket team is set to face Sri Lanka in the Asian Games final, aiming to secure a gold medal and extend their continental dominance. While India enters as favourites with strong performances, Sri Lanka, led by Chamari Athapaththu, will look to challenge their supremacy in what promises to be an exciting clash.
The Japan Cricket Association (JCA) is set to host its first-ever T20I against reigning world champions India, a landmark event expected to significantly elevate cricket's profile and drive its long-term growth in Japan, according to JCA COO Alan Curr.
India's Davis Cup campaign ended in a 1-3 defeat against Korea, with Sumit Nagal attributing his loss to physical disadvantage against Kwon Soonwoo. Despite winning opening sets in initial singles matches, India failed to convert, leading to an insurmountable 0-2 deficit. Captain Rohit Rajpal emphasized collective responsibility and the impact of home advantage, while Nagal expressed his best effort despite the outcome.
Former India fast bowler R Vinay Kumar has been appointed as the head coach of the Karnataka senior men's cricket team for the 2026-27 domestic season, bringing his extensive experience as a player and captain to the role.
India will take on Pakistan in the table tennis men's and women's team event at the Asian Games on Monday.
The Indian men's and women's hockey teams commence their Asian Games campaign in Japan, with both aiming for a gold medal to secure direct qualification for the Los Angeles Olympics. The men's team seeks to recover from a recent World Cup slump, while the women's team looks to build on their strong World Cup performance, facing significant challenges from opponents like China.
The Indian men's cricket team is facing kit sizing issues and accommodation concerns ahead of their departure for the Asian Games. While most kit problems are being resolved, the BCCI has proactively arranged its own hotel for the team in Nagoya, Japan, due to reported delays and inadequate facilities for other athletes.
India's shooting campaign at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games commenced with a strong performance, securing two silver medals in the women's 10m air rifle event. Elavenil Valarivan was instrumental, winning an individual silver and contributing to the team silver alongside Sonam Uttam Maskar and Vidarsa Vinod. While Valarivan narrowly missed individual gold, her performance, along with the team's, provided an encouraging start for India.
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.
The Indian men's hockey team, led by Harmanpreet Singh, is determined to end a 51-year World Cup drought, beginning their campaign against Wales with genuine optimism following recent Olympic bronze medals and an Asia Cup title.
Veteran Indian shuttler H S Prannoy discusses his likely final Asian Games appearance and his long-term Olympic aspirations for LA 2028. Doubles specialist Chirag Shetty urges the Indian men's badminton team to go for gold, reflecting on their previous silver medal and the team's strong cohesion.
India's national Pokemon UNITE team achieved a remarkable runner-up position at the AESF-sanctioned Pokemon UNITE Asia International Tournament in Bangkok, showcasing strong strategic play and resilience against 11 national teams from across Asia.
India's men's and women's chess teams are set to defend their respective Chess Olympiad titles, with strong lineups featuring world champion D Gukesh and in-form R Praggnanandhaa for the men, and Koneru Humpy leading the top-seeded women's squad.
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.
The Indian men's badminton team blanked Bangladesh 3-0 to enter the quarter-finals of the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya on Monday.
A 20-member Indian fencing squad, led by Olympian C A Bhavani Devi, has departed for Japan to participate in the Asian Games.
The Indian men's chess team, seeded second, is set to face sixth-seeded Holland in the fifth round of the 46th Chess Olympiad after a mixed start. While players like D Gukesh and Nihal Sareen have performed well, top board players R Praggnanandhaa and Arjun Erigaisi are looking to find their form. The Indian women's team, with a perfect score, will play Poland, with B Savitha Shri being a standout performer.
Indian skipper Shreyas Iyer expressed enthusiasm for India's historic bilateral T20 match against Japan, marking cricket's expansion into new territories and celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations. Iyer highlighted the unique cultural experience and the importance of such fixtures for global cricket growth, despite initial weather challenges.
India is set to begin its Asian Games shooting campaign in Nagoya with a formidable 30-member squad, featuring Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker and other world-class performers. The team aims to build on its previous success, with strong prospects in rifle, pistol, and shotgun events, facing a significant challenge from China.
Srihari Nataraj secured a spot in the 50m backstroke final at the Asian Games, clocking 25.37 seconds. However, other Indian swimmers, including Rishabh Das, Akash Mani, Geetesh Shah, Danush Suresh, and the men's 4x200m freestyle relay team, failed to advance beyond the heats, marking a mixed day for India in the pool.
