India Enhances Support for Athletes at Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya
Strengthening Support for Indian Athletes
Aichi-Nagoya [Japan], September 22: The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has bolstered its logistical and athlete support for the Indian team participating in the Asian Games 2026.
As per a recent announcement, a specialized Reception and Assistance Team, which includes members from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), SAI, and the Indian Embassy in Japan, has been stationed at the airport. Their role is to greet athletes, coaches, and support staff upon arrival, assist with necessary formalities, and offer refreshments and guidance for their journey to the Games venues and accommodations.
SAI has implemented various initiatives to ensure the contingent's smooth participation:
Transport for shooters: Dedicated transport services have been arranged for Indian shooters to facilitate their travel to and from competition sites.
Medical team mobility: Vehicles have been organized to allow medical teams to navigate efficiently between venues, ensuring timely assistance, as stated in the release.
Additional accommodation: Extra rooms have been secured for coaches and support staff who could not be accommodated by the Organising Committee due to space constraints.
By collaborating closely with the IOA, the Embassy of India, and the Games Organising Committee, SAI is providing comprehensive logistical, medical, and operational support, allowing athletes to concentrate on their competitions throughout the Games.
In the meantime, India experienced a mixed day at the Asian Games. The women's table tennis team advanced to the quarterfinals after a close 3-2 victory over Thailand, while the men's team faced a 0-3 defeat against the Republic of Korea. In fencing, Taniksha Khatri moved on to the women's individual epee quarterfinals after defeating Natpapat Sangngio, whereas Mitva Chaudhari was eliminated by Yang Jingwen. The women's badminton team lost 3-1 to Japan in the quarterfinals, but Sakshi Chaudhary progressed in boxing by defeating Aira Villegas from the Philippines in the women's 51kg Round of 32.
In shooting, Anantjeet Singh Naruka secured second place, while Mairaj Khan and Bhavtegh Singh Gill finished 23rd and 35th, respectively, after Day 2 of the men's skeet qualification. In the women's skeet qualification, Raiza Dhillon placed fifth, Parinaaz Dhaliwal ninth, and Maheshwari Chauhan sixteenth. Elavenil Valarivan and Parth Mane finished fourth in the 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team final. India also achieved a 63-31 victory over South Korea in men's kabaddi, but lost 0-3 to Malaysia in sepaktakraw.
In soft tennis, Aryan Thakur and Jay Meena secured wins, while Aadhya Tiwari faced a defeat. In swimming, Aryan Nehra finished fourth in the men's 1500m freestyle final B, and India's 4x100m medley relay team qualified for the final. In wushu, Langlentombi Devi Hanjabam finished ninth in the women's Nanquan final, while Alisha Choudhary was eliminated in the women's -55kg kumite. In equestrian dressage, Ashish Limaye placed 13th, Arjan Nagra 23rd, and Fouaad Mirza 26th. India's eFootball duo, Shakeel Danial Patel and Chinmay Sahoo, drew 0-0 with Uzbekistan in Group F.