India finished fourth at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games with 85 medals, a significant dip from the previous edition's record haul. While traditional strongholds like shooting and athletics underperformed, breakthroughs in archery, wrestling, golf, boxing, hockey, and cricket showcased a broadening sporting base. The performance serves as a reality check on sustaining progress towards top global rankings and highlights areas for improvement in mental conditioning and preparation.
Mirabai Chanu secured a silver medal in the women's 49kg weightlifting category at the Asian Games in Nagoya, ending her 12-year pursuit for this elusive honour. This marks India's first Asian Games weightlifting medal since 1998. Chanu expressed immense relief and joy, calling it a dream fulfilled and her life complete. She also discussed her future plans regarding the 2028 Olympics' 53kg category.
India's Asian Games campaign looked bleak in Nagoya. A slow medal start saw the country slip to around 12th, before a late surge took India back to fourth with 85 medals.
The first-ever BRICS Traditional and Indigenous Demonstration Games concluded in Ahmedabad, featuring nearly 160 participants from 10 member nations. India prominently showcased yogasana and mallakhamb, alongside other traditional sports like kalaripayattu. The event also saw demonstrations of wushu from China, togyzkumalak from Kazakhstan, and Jiu-Jitsu from Brazil. Participants from South Africa, China, and Russia praised India's hospitality and the cultural exchange.
Indian archers, fresh from their stellar performance at the Asian Games, are set to compete in the second season of the Archery Premier League (APL) starting October 8 in Hyderabad. The league will feature 48 archers across six franchises, including Asian Games medallists like Kumkum Anil Mohod, Jyothi Surekha Vennam, and Sahil Rajesh Jadhav, alongside international stars.
Unnati Sharma's bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026 has filled her family with pride, with her sister Riya Sharma revealing that the judoka's ultimate goal is to compete at the Olympics.
Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh assured themselves of singles medals at the Asian Games by advancing to the semi-finals in their respective events at the Asian Games on Friday.
Suresh Raina said Bhuvneshwar Kumar's return to the national squad the reward of hard work, discipline and consistent performances in domestic cricket.
Double Olympic-medallist Manu Bhaker finished fifth in the women's 10m air pistol individual event at the Asian Games, while India narrowly missed a team bronze, finishing fourth. Other Indian shooters Esha Singh and Suruchi Singh also did not qualify for the final. India's shooting contingent has secured seven medals so far, but no gold.
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 wrestler Aman Sehrawat won the men's 57kg gold medal at the Asian Games, defeating North Korea's world champion Chong Song Han in the final.
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.
Olympic bronze medallist Aman Sehrawat and Antim Panghal have secured their spots in the men's 57kg and women's 53kg finals, respectively, at the Asian Games in Nagoya. Both wrestlers, who previously won bronze at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, are now poised to compete for gold.
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.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya met World Aquatics president Husain Al-Musallam to discuss strengthening cooperation, developing aquatic sports in India, and exploring India's readiness to host Asian-level championships. India is also targeting to host the 2038 Asian Games and 2036 Olympics.
Defending champions Rajputana Royals defeated Prithviraaj Yodhas 5-3 in the opening match of the second Archery Premier League season. Led by Ojas Deotale, Ella Gibson, and Mete Gazoz, the Royals secured a hard-fought victory despite a strong comeback attempt by the Yodhas, who ultimately faltered with a costly error in the final moments.
The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) has suspended the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) from December 1 due to a prolonged governance crisis, stemming from the dissolution of EFI's executive committee by the Delhi High Court and the absence of fresh elections. This suspension bars Indian riders, officials, and horses from international competitions until new elections are held and evaluated by the FEI.
The Sports Ministry has rescheduled its review meeting with National Sports Federations to October 15 to discuss India's performance at the recently concluded Asian Games. The focus will be on the underwhelming show of experienced athletes in sports like badminton, shooting, and athletics, following a lower medal count compared to the previous edition.
Indian athlete Vithya Ramraj expressed immense happiness after winning the bronze medal at the Asian Games 2026 and breaking legendary PT Usha's national record, clocking a personal best of 54.75 seconds.
The Mizoram government has announced a cash reward of Rs 40 lakh each for hockey players Lalremsiami and Lalthantluangi, who were part of the Indian women's team that won gold at the Asian Games. Chief Minister Lalduhoma felicitated the athletes, highlighting their historic achievement for the state and the government's commitment to promoting hockey through schemes and infrastructure development.
Defending champions India are set to face arch-rivals Pakistan in a high-stakes men's hockey semifinal at the Asian Games. The winner of the gold medal will secure a direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Elavenil Valarivan's family celebrated her historic Asian Games silver medals, saying 12 years of dedication, sacrifice and support from coaches and authorities finally brought her long-awaited success.
Indian teenager Joga Purty has qualified for the quarterfinals of the Asian Games women's speed climbing event, finishing ninth in the qualification round.
The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) has suspended the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) from December 1, 2026, due to a prolonged governance crisis. This decision, made on October 13, 2026, means Indian riders, officials, trainers, and horses cannot participate in international competitions. The suspension stems from the Delhi High Court's dissolution of EFI's executive committee in February 2026 and the subsequent delay in holding fresh elections, despite an ad hoc committee being formed. The suspension will be reviewed after new elections are held and evaluated by the FEI.
Two-time Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker failed to qualify for the 25m air-pistol final at the Asian Games, finishing 11th.
Indian squash players Abhay Singh, Veer Chotrani, and Tanvi Khanna secured their spots in the round of 16 at the Asian Games. Abhay Singh and Tanvi Khanna won their opening matches convincingly, while Veer Chotrani also advanced. Anahat Singh is set to begin her campaign, with the ultimate prize for winners being direct entry to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh clinched silver medals at the Asian Games, showcasing their potential despite falling short of gold against formidable Malaysian opponents and missing direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Indian shooter Esha Singh, who won a silver medal at the Asian Games in the women's 25m pistol event, shared her experience of the "nerve-racking" five shoot-offs in the final. She expressed no regret over missing gold, attributing her performance to years of experience and crediting her extensive support system. Singh is now focused on upcoming World Championships and Olympic quota events.
Boxer Lovlina Borgohain received a grand welcome in Guwahati after winning a gold medal at the Asian Games in the women's 75-kg category.
The Indian Special Olympics football team secured a bronze medal at the Gothia Cup in Sweden, marking their third consecutive podium finish. Special Olympics Bharat president Malika Nadda praised the team's resilience and determination, while coaches highlighted the challenges of adapting to artificial turf and expressed ambitions for future gold medals.
Double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker and defending shot put champion Tajinderpal Singh Toor have been named India's flag-bearers for the Asian Games opening ceremony. Both athletes have significant achievements, with Bhaker making history at the Paris Olympics and Toor winning gold in previous Asian Games editions. Their selection highlights the importance of shooting and athletics to India's medal tally.
Asian Games gold medalist wrestler Sujeet Kalkal's father, Dayanand, shared insights into his son's remarkable journey, highlighting his transition from football to wrestling, his academic excellence as a non-medical science topper, and his recent triumph at the Asian Games.
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.
The Indian Special Olympics football team secured a bronze medal at the Gothia Cup in Sweden, marking their third consecutive podium finish. Special Olympics Bharat president Malika Nadda praised the team's resilience and determination, while coaches highlighted the challenges of adapting to artificial turf and expressed ambitions for future gold medals.
Indian kurash player Yash Kumar Chauhan has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for multiple banned substances during the Asian Games.
India's Deepu Mallesh has advanced to the quarterfinals of the men's speed climbing event at the Asian Games, clocking a best time of 5.09 seconds. This marks his debut at the Games. Meanwhile, Joga Purty, who also qualified for the women's quarterfinals, was eliminated due to a false start. Sport climbing is a relatively new event at both the Asian Games and the Olympics.
Star Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu secured a silver medal in the women's 49kg event at the Asian Games, marking India's first weightlifting medal at the event since 1998. This achievement adds to her impressive collection of Olympic, World Championship, and Commonwealth Games medals.
Indian shooter Aishwary Pratap Singh Chauhan's quest for an individual medal at the Asian Games was hampered by a malfunctioning match button during the 50m rifle 3-position final. The technical glitch disrupted his concentration and cost him crucial points in the prone series, leading to a fifth-place finish despite being a strong medal contender.
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.
India's foreign trap shooting coach, Peter Wilson, has voiced his disappointment over the exclusion of World Championship bronze medallist Zorawar Singh from the Asian Games squad. Wilson highlighted Zorawar's calibre and the "great shame" of his omission, attributing it largely to the National Rifle Association of India's (NRAI) selection policy which prioritises domestic trials over international results. He also addressed the Indian shotgun team's recent poor World Cup performances and discussed the need for systemic changes to improve access to shotgun shooting in India.
