Kumkum Mohod from Amravati, Maharashtra, has won India's first-ever women's individual recurve archery gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Her family and community are overjoyed, and her father expresses confidence in her future Olympic aspirations.
Teenage swimmer Zhang Zhanshuo made history by winning seven gold medals at the Asian Games, surpassing previous records and cementing China's dominance in the pool. The Games also saw other notable performances, including a second gymnastics gold for Carlos Yulo and an upset in men's table tennis where Japan defeated China.
India's women's hockey team is set to face defending champions China in the Asian Games final, aiming to secure their first gold medal in 44 years and a direct qualification for the LA Olympics. The team, buoyed by recent successes like the FIH Nations Cup win and a strong World Cup performance, is confident but acknowledges China's strength. Both teams had unbeaten runs to the final, setting up a high-stakes clash.
13-year-old Ojaswani Saraswat has already created history by becoming the youngest Indian woman to make the cut at a Ladies European Tour (LET) event.
India's para track and field athletes delivered an outstanding performance at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games, securing a total of six medals, including three gold. Long jumper Nishad Kumar, javelin thrower Rinku, and visually impaired middle-distance runner Soumya each clinched gold in their respective events on the opening day of athletics competitions. This strong showing placed India second only to hosts Japan in the medal tally for the day.
Indian shooters Kamaljeet and Suruchi Singh secured a gold medal in the 10m air pistol mixed team event at the Asian Games in Nagoya, bouncing back from individual disappointments. They dominated the final, finishing significantly ahead of South Korea.
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.
India's men's hockey team secured their fifth Asian Games gold medal, and second consecutive, by defeating Malaysia 5-1. This victory also guarantees them a direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The women's team also achieved gold, marking a double triumph for Indian hockey.
India's Olympic bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain has secured a medal at the Commonwealth Games after receiving a direct entry into the women's 75kg semifinals. With the pressure of a podium finish lifted, Borgohain is now solely focused on winning the gold medal, crediting her recent training and renewed confidence.
India finished fourth with 85 medals at Aichi-Nagoya, down from 106 in Hangzhou, highlighting the challenge of sustaining progress on the road to 2036.
Teenager Kumkum Mohod clinched a historic gold medal in the women's individual recurve event at the Asian Games in Nagoya, defeating South Korea's Oh Yejin in a thrilling shoot-out.
India's shooters Neeru Dhanda and Kynan Chenai clinched the gold medal in the trap mixed team event at the Asian Games on Wednesday.
Star Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu is set to compete in the Asian Games, aiming to secure her first medal at the event. Despite an Olympic silver and world title, an Asian Games medal remains the only major honour missing from her collection, making this a crucial competition for her.
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.
Indian athletes secured five medals, including two silvers, at the ongoing Asian Games in Nagoya. Long jumper Ancy Sojan and high jumper Sarvesh Kushare each won silver, while decathlete Tejaswin Shankar, 3000m steeplechaser Parul Chaudhary, and 200m runner Harita Bhadra clinched bronze medals, contributing to India's growing tally.
Boxer Parveen Hooda secured an Asian Games gold medal, marking a significant redemption after her previous bronze was stripped due to a whereabouts failure and a subsequent 22-month suspension. Her victory, achieved with a narrow win over Chen Nien-chin, is dedicated to her ailing father and represents a powerful personal comeback fueled by resilience and philosophical reflection.
Lovlina, Arundhati lead as India claim nine gold medals in BOXAM Elite 2026
Indian women's boxing head coach Santiago Nieva is confident the team can secure an elusive gold medal at the upcoming Asian Games, building on their strong performance at the Commonwealth Games. Despite facing tough competition from powerhouses like China and Kazakhstan, Nieva believes the current squad is the best the country has seen and is capable of overcoming challenges, including previous struggles against Chinese opponents, by focusing on controlling bouts.
India's para-athletes concluded their Asian Para Games campaign with an unprecedented 114 medals, including 30 gold, marking their best performance to date. The final day was particularly successful, yielding nine gold medals across various disciplines. Notable achievements included world records set by Mona Agarwal in shooting, and Sandeep and Haney in athletics. Shuttlers Nitesh Kumar and Naveen Sivakumar secured individual golds, while archer Harvinder Singh also contributed to the gold tally. The swimming contingent also exceeded expectations with 11 medals.
Wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson stated that India's Asian Games cricket gold was not achieved 'on a platter', attributing the success to the experienced 'A' team's ability to manage pressure in the high-stakes final against Pakistan.
Indian Revenue Service officer Ekta Vishnoi, currently Joint Secretary in the Department of Biotechnology, has won three gold medals at the World Masters Classic and Equipped Powerlifting Championships in Nevada, USA.
Shooter Mona Agarwal and jumps specialist Nishad Kumar, both double gold medallists, have been chosen as India's flag bearers for the closing ceremony of the Asian Para Games in Nagoya. Agarwal set Games and world records in shooting, while Kumar secured golds in high jump and long jump.
Indian boxer Jyoti secured the country's only gold medal at the World Boxing Cup 2 in Guiyang, China, defeating Uzbekistan's Farzona Fozilova in the 48kg final.
India's equestrian dressage team finished fourth at the Asian Games in Tokyo, narrowly missing a bronze medal. The team scored 201.971 points, falling short of Japan's 204.117 points. China secured gold, and South Korea took silver in the event.
Indian para-archers Sheetal Devi and Toman Kumar secured a gold medal in the compound mixed team event at the Asian Para Games.
India achieved a respectable fourth-place finish in the Asian Games medals tally, securing 85 medals including 21 gold, driven by a significant late surge in boxing, archery, wrestling, and hockey, despite initial setbacks in shooting and athletics.
Indian shooters Suruchi Singh and Kamaljeet secured a gold medal in the 10m air pistol mixed team event at the Asian Games, demonstrating a strong comeback after individual disappointments. Additionally, the men's 50m rifle 3 positions team, comprising Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Rudrankksh Patil, and Niraj Kumar, earned a silver medal, with Tomar and Niraj also qualifying for individual finals.
BCCI President Mithun Manhas lauded the Indian men's cricket team for retaining their Asian Games gold medal, highlighting their exceptional performance under pressure against arch-rivals Pakistan and commending individual contributions from players like Tilak Varma and Abhishek Sharma.
Indian wrestler Sujeet Kalkal secured a gold medal at the Asian Games, overcoming an Olympic champion and a significant deficit in the final bout. His victory, marked by an extraordinary comeback, has fueled his belief in contending for an Olympic medal in 2028, showcasing his fearless mindset and determination.
Indian shooter Neeru Dhanda secured back-to-back gold medals at the Asian Games, triumphing in the women's trap and mixed team events despite battling fatigue, illness, and challenging weather conditions. Her remarkable resilience and focus, coupled with a women's team silver, made her a standout performer for India.
Indian shooter Esha Singh secured a silver medal in the women's 25m pistol final at the Asian Games after a dramatic series of shoot-offs. Her father, Sachin Singh, expressed immense pride, calling it a 'double gold' due to the challenging circumstances and multiple shoot-offs his 21-year-old daughter overcame. He also highlighted disturbances during the match and thanked supporting organisations.
Yash Mulik of Maharashtra broke his own U18 national record in the 110m hurdles, clocking 13.29 seconds to win gold at the National Junior Athletics Championships on Sunday. The event also saw Fasalul Haque win gold in the men's U20 110m hurdles, with several other athletes achieving top honours across various categories.
The Asian Games medals tally after Day 7 shows China in a commanding lead with 176 medals, including 107 gold. Japan and Korea follow, while India is positioned tenth with a total of 30 medals.
Indian Army athletes achieved their best-ever medal haul at the recently concluded Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, securing 20 medals, including six gold, eight silver, and six bronze. This significant contribution accounted for nearly one-fourth of India's total 85 medals. Standout performers included Naib Subedar Neeru Dhanda in trap shooting and Naib Subedar Gulveer Singh in distance running, who also set a national record. The Army's increased representation and performance, particularly from women athletes, highlight the robust sporting ecosystem within the Indian Army.
India's Pranav Soorma secured a gold medal in the discus throw at the Asian Para Games, setting a new Asian record in his debut major competition for the event. Compatriot Ram Ratan Singh won silver, ensuring a 1-2 finish for India in the combined F51/52/53 event. Soorma, who previously won gold in club throw, highlighted the technical challenges of adapting to discus throw and the extensive practice involved.
Indian para archers Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag secured a silver medal in the compound women's doubles final at the Asian Para Games on Wednesday.
Ambitious India out to match Hangzhou benchmark in Nagoya.
Indian squash players Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh both secured silver medals at the Asian Games after losing their respective singles finals to Malaysian opponents.
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.
If India's medal tally ultimately falls significantly short of Hangzhou, the conversation should not stop with the athletes or coaches. It should extend to a much more uncomfortable institutional question: After years of increased investment, programmes, infrastructure and policy attention, where exactly is the system failing to convert that investment into medals, champions and depth across sports? asks Jaydeep Ray.
