PM Modi hails India’s historic 85-medal haul at Asian Games 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised India’s performance at the Asian Games 2026 in Japan, where the country secured a total of 85 medals. Speaking at the NDTV World Summit 2026, he highlighted several first-time achievements by Indian athletes.

India finished fourth in the medal table at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games with 21 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze medals. This marked India’s second consecutive top-five finish at the continental event.

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“A few days ago, I got the opportunity to meet young athletes returning from the Asian Games. India has won 85 medals this time. Among these, we have achieved several milestones for the first time. The Women’s Recurve Team has won team and individual Gold Medals for the first time. In a single Asian Games, India has won three Gold Medals in Boxing,” PM Modi said.

He also drew attention to the women’s recurve archery team, which made history by winning both team and individual gold medals. Additionally, Indian boxers secured three gold medals at the event.

The Prime Minister noted India’s bronze medal in Sepak Takraw, a sport less familiar to many, with the men’s quadrant team winning the country’s first medal in the discipline across both men’s and women’s categories. “For the first time, in the recent Asian Games, India has also won a medal in an event of this sport, the Men’s Quadrant,” he added.

Other significant milestones included gold medals for both the men’s and women’s hockey teams at the same Games, historic performances in recurve archery, and India’s first medals in soft tennis and mixed martial arts (MMA). India also won its first-ever gold in the women’s trap shooting event.

Weightlifting yielded a silver medal, ending a 28-year medal drought in the sport at the Asian Games. A silver in Greco-Roman wrestling marked a notable achievement after a 64-year absence of an Indian finalist in the event.