India's Kabaddi Teams Aim for Gold at Asian Games 2026
Kabaddi Teams Compete for Gold Medals
On Saturday, both the men's and women's kabaddi teams from India will vie for gold medals at the Asian Games 2026. They are set to face the Islamic Republic of Iran in the finals, which will take place at the Tokai Citizen Gymnasium. The women's final is scheduled for the morning, followed by the men's match in the afternoon. The Indian men's team is targeting its ninth gold medal at the Asian Games, while the women's team seeks to claim their fourth title.
Badminton Matches Commence
PV Sindhu will kick off her singles campaign in badminton, leading India's efforts after the surprising exit of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty from the men's doubles. Additionally, Lakshya Sen will compete in the men's singles, facing off against Singapore's former world champion, Loh Kean Yew.
Athletics Events Underway
Gulveer Singh, who recently earned a silver medal in the men's 10,000m, will return to compete in the 1500m heats, aiming for a spot in the finals. In the women's 1500m final, Parul Chaudhary and Pooja will represent India.
Track and Field Medal Aspirations
Tajinderpal Singh Toor is looking to secure his third consecutive gold medal in the men's shot put. Praveen Chithravel aims to surpass his bronze medal performance from Hangzhou 2023 in the men's triple jump final. India also has strong medal prospects in the men's marathon with Sawan Barwal and Kartik Karkera, as well as in the men's and women's 400m finals. Tejaswin Shankar, Jyothi Yarraji, and Animesh Kujur will participate in the qualifying rounds of their respective events.
Archery Qualification Rounds Commence
The archery team from India will begin its campaign with qualification rounds, looking to build on its impressive performance that yielded nine medals at the Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games.
Boxing and Squash Medal Contenders
In boxing, Jadumani Singh Mandengbam, Kapil Pokhariya, and Priya Ghanghas will compete for spots in the quarter-finals. Meanwhile, squash players Abhay Singh and Anahat Singh, who have already secured semi-final berths, will aim to advance further. Anahat is set to face Japan's world No. 6, Satomi Watanabe, while Abhay will compete against Pakistan's Irfan Muhammad.
Additional Events to Watch
Shooting events will continue with the women's 50m rifle 3 positions competition. The Indian men's hockey team will play against the host nation, Japan, in a pivotal match as they strive for a semi-final spot. India also has medal opportunities in canoe sprint, fencing, and esports, with sailing joining the events on Saturday.