New Delhi: The Asian Games 2026 will take place in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4. Organisers confirmed that 45 countries and regions will compete across 43 sports at the continental event.
India will aim to build on its record-breaking performance at Hangzhou 2023, where the country won 107 medals, including 28 gold, 38 silver and 41 bronze.
Four individual Olympic medallists have so far been confirmed in India’s contingent for Aichi-Nagoya 2026. Manu Bhaker, a double Olympic medallist from Paris 2024, will lead India’s shooting challenge. PV Sindhu will spearhead the badminton campaign, while Lovlina Borgohain and Aman Sehrawat are expected to be strong medal contenders in boxing and wrestling, respectively, according to reports.
India’s athletics squad is yet to be announced, but Neeraj Chopra is expected to headline the team. The javelin thrower will be eyeing a hat-trick of Asian Games gold medals.
In cricket, Shreyas Iyer will lead India’s title defence in the men’s T20 competition, with young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi also named in the squad. The Indian women’s team, also defending champions, will be captained by Harmanpreet Kaur.
Hockey will carry extra significance this edition, as the men’s and women’s tournaments will double as qualification events for the LA 2028 Olympics. Winners of the Asian Games hockey competitions will earn direct Olympic qualification.
Squash player Anahat Singh will return to the Games after helping India win a women’s team bronze at Hangzhou 2023, where she also claimed a mixed doubles bronze alongside Abhay Singh.
Meanwhile, India’s squad saw a few late changes. Wrestler Deepanshu was suspended for a doping violation and has been replaced by Ronak Dahiya in the Greco-Roman 130kg category.
Shooter Gaurav Kumar Masoori was also dropped after a doping offence, with Akash Bharadwaj named as his replacement. Separately, India’s show jumping squad, comprising Abhishek Chopra, Yashaan Zubin Khambatta, Niharika Singhania and Maryk Sahney, was axed for failing to meet the sports ministry’s selection criteria.
