India At Asian Games 2026 LIVE Score, Day 1: Quimcy D'Souza Aims To Ensure Contingent's First Medal In Teqball

Asian Games 2026 Highlights, Day 1 Roundup: Dsouza Eyes Teqball Bronze, Korea and Japan Dominate Handball Courts, and Kuwait Edges Iran

India Teqball Player Quimcy Dsouza | Photo: Social Media

As the Asian Games action unfolded, day one delivered high drama across multiple disciplines. In teqball, India's Quimcy Dsouza fought brilliantly but fell short in a tight 1–2 semifinal battle against Indonesia's Sumaya, winning the first set 12–7 before dropping the next two 9–12 and 7–12. Dsouza will now shift her focus to the bronze medal match. Meanwhile, the handball arenas saw commanding performances and tight finishes. In the women’s bracket, the Republic of Korea put on an absolute masterclass to crush Hong Kong, China 48–16 after leading comfortably 25–9 at the break. Japan similarly dominated Vietnam, storming to a lopsided 40–14 victory following a 19–5 first-half surge. Over in the men's Group B clashes, Kuwait edged out the Islamic Republic of Iran 26–24 in a thriller, erasing a halftime deficit by outscoring their opponents 13–9 in a stellar second-half comeback.

Hello, we are back with another live blog, and it is India's opening day campaign at the Asian Games 2026 at Aichi Nagoya. Excited for a cracking day and campaign ahead. Stay tuned for all the live updates.

Kabaddi player Pawan Sehrawat replaces shot-putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor as India's flag-bearer for the Asian Games opening ceremony.

For complete details on the Asian Games opening ceremony streaming details, refer to our comprehensive this story:

India’s campaign at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games reaches a crucial juncture as teqball star Quimcy Joaquim Dsouza takes on Indonesia’s Sumaya in the women’s singles semifinals.

Having topped Group A following a stunning comeback win over top-seeded Japanese player Yuina Sakamoto and a clinical straight-sets victory over Cambodia's Koemyean DY, Dsouza is just one win away from assuring India of its first-ever medal in teqball, which is making its official debut at the continental showpiece.

A victory in this clash will secure at least a silver medal for the 24-year-old, while a defeat will still leave her with an opportunity to fight for a bronze medal. All eyes are on the table as Dsouza looks to make history for the nation in the football-table tennis hybrid sport. Stay tuned for live game updates!

Quimcy Dsouza claimed the first set against Indonesia's Sumaya, dominating the opening exchange in the Asian Games semifinal.

Sumaya bounced back strongly, winning the second set to level the match against Quimcy Dsouza in the semifinal.

Quimcy Dsouza fought tenaciously through a blistering exchange before narrowly dropping a hard-fought third set to Indonesia's Sumaya in their gripping Asian Games semifinal. Despite a valiant effort and brilliant tactical rallies on the curved table, the Indian contender fell just short in the decisive set, bringing an intense conclusion to a magnificent, high-stakes battle.

Quimcy Dsouza started strong by taking the first set 12-7 against Indonesia's Sumaya. However, Sumaya mounted a fierce comeback, winning the next two sets 12-9 and 12-7 to take the match 2-1. Despite the tough semifinal defeat, Quimcy moves forward to face Yuina Sakamoto in the bronze medal match.

Curious about India's rising star? Read our feature story on who Quimcy Dsouza is. Click Here!

Check out our full explainer to learn the rules, scoring, and more: Click here!

Myanmar's Khin Hnin Wai triumphed over Lebanon's Kamar Dandal in a straight-sets teqball semifinal match. Hnin Wai secured the win with scores of 12-7 in the first set and 12-8 in the second, closing out a decisive 2-0 final victory.

Now, she will face Indonesia's Sumaya in the gold medal match.

China put on a commanding offensive display at the Asian Games, crushing Thailand 111-46 in Group A. After securing a massive 33-14 lead in the first quarter, China never looked back, comfortably outscoring their opponents across every single period to seal a runaway victory.

Following her semifinal defeat to Indonesia's Sumaya in women's singles teqball, Quimcy Dsouza will face Yuina Sakamoto for the bronze medal. The match starts at 11:30 AM IST on Sunday.

Republic of Korea's women's handball team crushed Hong Kong, China 48-16 after dominating the first half 25-9.

Japan cruised to a commanding 40–14 victory over Vietnam in the women's handball round at the Kasugai City Gymnasium. Dominating from the opening whistle, Japan surged to a 19–5 lead by halftime and continued their relentless pressure in the second half to secure the lopsided win.

According to reports, Thailand’s national sepak takraw team faced an accommodation mix-up upon arriving in Nagoya for the 2026 Asian Games, with players reportedly left without rooms for several hours.

The team, which reached Japan on September 16, was due to stay aboard the Costa Serena at Nagoya Port, but officials could not find their names in the accommodation system.

Thai delegation officials said a contractor working with the Japanese organisers had failed to upload the team’s documents. While the issue was being resolved, some athletes reportedly slept on the cruise ship’s lobby floor and ate instant noodles after travelling from Thailand without settling into their rooms.

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Kuwait edged out the Islamic Republic of Iran 26–24 in a thrilling Group B men's handball clash at the Asian Games. Despite Iran holding a 15–13 lead at halftime, Kuwait mounted a strong second-half comeback, outscoring their opponents 13–9 to seal a hard-fought victory.

The draws for the 2026 Asian Games team events, announced on Saturday, September 19, have presented difficult paths for India's men's and women's badminton squads under a straight knockout format.

Women's Campaign: The women's team starts off against Kazakhstan on Sunday, September 20. The match will start at 11.30 AM IST.

Men's Campaign: The men's squad—who took home silver at the last edition—opens against Bangladesh on Monday, September 21.

Follow our live coverage on opening ceremony. Catch all the live action, dazzling performances, and the grand parade of athletes as the Asian Games officially get underway. right here for real-time updates from the ceremony, and click here to stream the event live.