Aparna Dahiya Exits Asian Games After Defeat; India Shines in Other Sports

Indian wushu athlete Aparna Dahiya faced a disappointing defeat in the Asian Games 2026, losing to Iran's Sogand Sinkaeichetan. Despite her recent gold medal win at the Sanda World Cup, she was unable to advance in the tournament. However, India had a successful day overall, with notable performances in shooting, hockey, and mixed martial arts, showcasing the country's strength across various sports. As the competition continues, all eyes are on the Indian athletes aiming for more medals.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 20, 2026, 17:17 IST

Aparna Dahiya's Setback in Wushu

On Sunday, Indian wushu competitor Aparna Dahiya faced a 0-2 loss against Iran's Sogand Sinkaeichetan in the women's 52kg Sanda Round of 16 at the Asian Games 2026.

Despite her recent triumph at the 11th Sanda World Cup in Macau, where she clinched gold, Dahiya lost both rounds with a score of 5-0, allowing Sinkaeichetan to progress further in the tournament.

Aparna's victory in Macau marked India's first gold at this edition of the Sanda World Cup, where she notably defeated reigning world champion Thi Phuong Nga Ngo from Vietnam in straight sets.

Originating from Silana village in Haryana and coming from a farming background, Dahiya had previously avenged her loss to the Vietnamese athlete at the World Wushu Championships.

Upcoming Matches

Later on Sunday at 4:50 PM IST, India's Vikrant Baliyan is set to compete against Iran's Soheil Mousavi in the men's 75kg Sanda Round of 16.

India's Strong Performance in Other Sports

India had a successful opening day at the Asian Games, showcasing impressive performances across various sports.

In shooting, Elavenil Valarivan secured a silver medal in the women's 10m air rifle individual final and contributed to another silver in the team event alongside Sonam Maskar and Vidarsa Vinod.

In mixed martial arts, Suchika Tariyal earned a medal by defeating Mongolia's Altanchimeg Baigalmaa in the women's traditional 60kg quarterfinal.

The Indian hockey teams also had a remarkable day, with the women's team overpowering Uzbekistan 19-0 in Pool B and the men's team defeating Indonesia 13-1 in Pool A.

The women's cricket team advanced to the finals after a victory over Bangladesh in the semifinals.

In table tennis, both the men's and women's teams achieved 3-0 victories against Indonesia in their Group F matches, with the women also narrowly defeating Singapore 3-2.

The women's badminton team kicked off their campaign with a 3-0 win against Kazakhstan.

In swimming, Rishabh Das qualified for the men's 100m backstroke final, finishing fifth in the heats and sixth in the final, while Benediction Beniston and Akash Mani placed 12th and 23rd, respectively, in the men's 100m freestyle heats.

Wushu athlete Suraj Singh Mayanglambam finished 11th in the men's Changquan final, and teqball player Quimcy Dsouza, along with the mixed doubles pair of Dsouza and Mohamed Anas Beg, lost their respective bronze-medal matches.