India to compete in key events at Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya

The Asian Games 2026 will take place in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4, with sporting events beginning on September 10, nine days before the opening ceremony. India is set to participate across multiple disciplines as it aims to build on its previous performances, according to Olympics.com.

India’s campaign will open with teqball on September 17, followed by the Indian women’s cricket team facing Japan in the quarter-finals on September 18. The country will defend titles in men’s and women’s cricket and kabaddi. Additionally, the Indian men’s hockey team will enter the Games as defending champions.

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Prominent athletes include two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu in badminton, with the competition running from September 20 at the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium. Olympic medallist Mirabai Chanu will lead a five-member weightlifting squad, while double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker will be a key shooter. Paris 2024 bronze medallist Aman Sehrawat will represent India in wrestling.

India’s boxing contingent arrives following a record Commonwealth Games campaign where boxers secured 10 medals, including seven gold and three silver. Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain and Commonwealth champion Sakshi Chaudhary are among the competitors.

More than 70 Indian track and field athletes are expected to compete between September 24 and 29, as athletics remains a major focus. With several Olympic and Commonwealth medallists, India will aim for strong performances across disciplines and to defend key team sport titles at the Aichi-Nagoya Games.

The Asian Games schedule includes a wide range of sports. The badminton singles events will run from September 25 to 29, boxing preliminaries from September 21 to 30 with finals on October 2, and athletics events from September 24 to 29 comprising track, field, and combined events.

Other disciplines and their dates include karate on September 22, rowing between September 20 and 24, rugby sevens from October 1 to 3, shooting from September 20 to October 1, and weightlifting from September 23 to 29. Wrestling competition will take place from September 30 to October 3 with men’s Greco-Roman and freestyle, as well as women’s categories.

The hockey tournament features men’s and women’s teams with matches scheduled throughout the Games, including quarter-finals and medal matches in early October. Similarly, kabaddi matches will begin on September 21 with finals on September 26.

Additional sports with scheduled events include artistic gymnastics, canoe/kayak, esports, fencing, golf, judo, kurash, sailing, sepak takraw, soft tennis, sport climbing, squash, surfing, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball, and wushu, each with detailed event dates spanning late September to early October.

India aims to deliver strong shows in team and individual events, drawing on its pool of medallists, with ambitions to retain several titles won in previous Asian Games editions.