India Shines at Asian Games 2026: Six Medals and Final Spots in Hockey and Cricket
India's Medal Triumph on Day 12
On October 1, India celebrated a successful Day 12 at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, securing six confirmed medals, which included two silver and four bronze. Notably, both the men's hockey and cricket teams advanced to their respective gold medal matches.
Nitesh Siwach made headlines by clinching a silver medal in the men's 97kg Greco-Roman wrestling category, despite a tough loss to Japan's Yuri Nakazato in the final.
In the gold medal bout, Nitesh fell behind 0-2 early on after being penalized for passivity. Although he defended well, he couldn't gain an advantage in the final moments of the first round.
Nakazato extended his lead to 4-0 with two minutes left, demonstrating superior control throughout the match. Ultimately, Nitesh secured the silver medal as Nakazato claimed gold.
In sailing, the duo of Manu Francis and Prince Noble finished second in the men's skiff event, amassing 23 points over nine races, while Hong Kong took home the bronze.
Later, Harshita Tomar and Shital Verma added another bronze to India's tally in the women's skiff event, finishing third after a disqualification of the original third-place team.
The Indian squash teams also contributed to the medal count, with the women's team earning bronze after a semifinal loss to Hong Kong, and the men's team following suit with a defeat against Malaysia.
In archery, Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru secured bronze in the men's compound individual event, defeating Vietnam's Cong Duc Dang with a score of 149-144.
India's men's sepaktakraw team reached the semi-finals after an unbeaten group stage, showcasing a thrilling comeback against Myanmar.
The day was highlighted by the men's hockey team's dramatic 4-3 victory over Pakistan, with Abhishek scoring the winning goal in the final moments. This marks the first time since 1998 that both the men's and women's hockey teams will compete in the finals at the same Asian Games.
In cricket, India triumphed over Sri Lanka by 124 runs in the semi-final, setting up a gold medal match against Pakistan. Ishan Kishan led the charge with an impressive 80 runs off 46 balls.
As Day 13 approaches, India looks forward to more opportunities for medals in various sports, including archery, boxing, and hockey.