India's Star Athletes Gear Up for Medal Contests at Asian Games 2026
India's Medal Hopes Shine Bright at Asian Games 2026
Aichi-Nagoya [Japan], September 23: India is set to showcase its top talents, including Olympic medallists Manu Bhaker and Mirabai Chanu, on a thrilling day at the Asian Games 2026. Various sports such as shooting, weightlifting, and badminton will present numerous opportunities for medals, as reported by a leading sports outlet.
Manu Bhaker, a double Olympic medallist, is gearing up for the women's 10m air pistol event, eager to add an Asian Games medal to her impressive collection. After narrowly missing an individual medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023, she is determined to make a strong comeback at this continental competition.
Mirabai Chanu, who earned a silver at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, will also be in the spotlight as she competes in the women's 49kg weightlifting category. Chanu finished just outside the medal positions at Hangzhou 2023, placing fourth due to an injury that hindered her final clean and jerk attempt.
Having recently clinched gold at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Chanu aims to maintain her momentum and secure a podium finish at the Asian Games, which remains the only major multi-sport event where she has yet to win a medal.
In shooting, Indian athletes will have additional chances to secure medals, with skeet shooters completing their qualification rounds over three days. Anantjeet Singh Naruka is one to watch, having bounced back strongly on the second day after a challenging start.
The Indian men's badminton team faces a formidable opponent in the semi-finals against the People's Republic of China. After defeating Japan in the quarter-finals, Lakshya Sen and his teammates are now focused on reaching the gold medal match.
Squash will kick off its campaign in Aichi-Nagoya, with Indian players participating in the first round of singles matches. Anahat Singh, who has received a bye, will commence her journey on Thursday. The singles events at the Asian Games also serve as a qualification route for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, with quotas available for the champions in both men's and women's categories.
Wushu athlete Roshibina Devi is set to compete in the women's 60kg sanda semi-finals, where she is guaranteed to earn her third individual Asian Games medal across three appearances.
Additionally, Indian teams will continue their group-stage matches in hockey and kabaddi, while boxer Ankush prepares for the men's 80kg category. Swimming events will also present further medal opportunities for Indian competitors on Wednesday.
With numerous medal contenders in action, India is poised to enhance its performance at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games as the competition enters a pivotal stage.