Exciting Day Ahead for Indian Athletes at 2026 Asian Games

A Thrilling Schedule for Team India

On September 28, the Indian team is gearing up for an action-packed day at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, with athletes competing in over a dozen sports as they aim to enhance their medal count.

The day kicks off early with events in surfing, archery, and shooting, followed by critical team competitions, knockout rounds, and finals in athletics.

Surfing will commence at 07:28 JST (03:58 IST) at Long Beach in Tahara, where Sivaraj Babu is set to compete against ALCISO Jayuard from the Philippines in the men's shortboard Round 3 Heat 2. Kishore Kumar will also take to the waves later in the morning against China's MA Wensong.

In archery, Sahil Rajesh Jadhav and Thirumuru Ganesh will participate in the men's compound individual 1/16 elimination round starting at 08:15 JST (04:45 IST), with hopes of advancing to the next stage.

Shooting presents another significant opportunity for medals, as Esha Singh, Manu Bhaker, and Rahi Sarnobat will compete in the women's 25m pistol team final and individual qualification rapid stage from 09:40 JST (06:10 IST). The men's trap team, featuring Kynan Chenai, Ahvar Rizvi, and Shapath Bharadwaj, along with the women's team of Neeru, Manisha Keer, and Aashima Ahlawat, will also continue their qualification rounds.

In tennis, Sumit Nagal is set to face South Korea's Seongchan Hong in the men's singles second round, while Dhakshineswar Suresh will compete against Indonesia's Gunawan Trismuwantara.

Team events will be prominent, with the Indian women's sepaktakraw team going up against Japan, the men's volleyball team challenging Hong Kong, and the women's squash team meeting China.

The sailing events will kick off at 11:00 JST (07:30 IST), featuring Prince Noble and Manu Francis in the men's 49er skiff, Vishnu Saravanan in the men's ILCA 7, Harshita Tomar and Shital Verma in the women's 49er FX, and Nethra Kumanan in the women's ILCA 6.

In combat sports, Pincky Balhara will start her journey in the women's -78kg Kurash quarterfinals at 11:30 JST (08:00 IST).

The afternoon will bring some of the most anticipated knockout matches. The men's cricket team is set to face Afghanistan in Quarterfinal 2 at 13:30 JST (10:00 IST), while Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Lovlina Borgohain will compete against South Korea's Seong Suyeon in the women's 75kg boxing quarterfinals.

The women's 25m pistol trio of Esha Singh, Manu Bhaker, and Rahi Sarnobat will aim for a spot in the individual final, scheduled for 14:15 JST (10:45 IST), pending qualification.

Later in the evening, the Indian men's hockey team will take on Bangladesh in Pool A at 19:00 JST (15:30 IST). The squash teams will also continue their competitions, with the women's team facing Japan and the men's team up against South Korea.

Boxing will see further Indian representation, with Priya competing against Tajikistan's Samadova Mijgona in the women's 60kg quarterfinals and Kapil Pokhariya facing South Korea's Kim Gichae in the men's 90kg quarterfinals.

The most significant medal opportunities are anticipated at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium, where India's track and field athletes will participate in several finals.

Seema and Sanya Yadav will kick off the athletics medal events in the women's discus throw final at 18:05 JST (14:35 IST). Vithya Ramraj and Anu Raghavan will follow in the women's 400m hurdles final, with Santosh Kumar and Tamilarasan competing in the men's 400m hurdles final.

All eyes will be on Avinash Mukund Sable at 19:47 JST (16:17 IST) as he competes in the men's 3000m steeplechase final.

The men's long jump final will feature Sreeshankar Murali and David Solomon Patturaj, while Yoonus Shah and Gulveer Singh will compete in the men's 1500m final.

India will also have Rohit Yadav and Yashvir Singh in the men's javelin throw final, and Parul Chaudhary and Seema will participate in the women's 5000m final.

The athletics events will conclude with relay races, starting with the Indian men's 4x400m relay team competing in Round 1 at 21:31 JST (18:01 IST), followed by the women's 4x100m relay final at 22:04 JST (18:34 IST).

With a variety of medal events across shooting, athletics, combat sports, and more, September 28 is set to be one of the busiest days for the Indian contingent at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.