The number of athletes may have been reduced but India\u2019s ambitions of flexing its sporting muscle at the continental level will be tested when the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games officially kickstart at the Paloma Mizuho Stadium here on Saturday (September 19, 2026).<\/p>\n
The quadrennial event, which began in India and which the country hopes to host again in near future for the third time, will have 501 Indian athletes in 259 medal events across 36 disciplines competing for a total of 356 medals. With 106 medals in the previous edition, any hopes of getting anywhere close to it would mean a fifth of Indian athletes finishing on the podium.<\/p>\n
\n\ud83e\udd4a\ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf3 ROAD TO THE ASIAN GAMES!<\/p>\n
Indian boxer Priya Ghanghas shares a glimpse into her preparation, training and mindset as she gears up for the Asian Games 2026. \ud83d\udcaa\ud83d\udd25<\/p>\n
Every session builds strength, every punch sharpens the purpose, and every day brings her closer to the dream,\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/CT6M50upbQ<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 SAI Media (@Media_SAI) September 18, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n
The record haul in Hangzhou has raised expectations but the country would do well to add a tinge of reality to temper them. With an ambitious target of being in the top-10 in the medal tally by the 2036 Olympics, the performances at Aichi-Nagoya Games will provide both \u2014 a practical assessment of where Indian sports stands after the high of 2023 and a template for course correction to ensure the long-term targets remain feasible.<\/p>\n
No one will be more in the spotlight than the track and field athletes and the shooters, who contributed almost half of the total medals in Hangzhou. Among the latter, Manu Bhaker \u2014 who along with shotputter Tajinderpal Singh Toor will be India\u2019s flagbearers \u2014 on Saturday \u2014 will deservedly be the one to watch.<\/p>\n
\n\nTwo-time Asian Games champion Tajinderpal Singh Toor is back with one goal \u2014 to defend his title and once again make India proud on the biggest stage in Asian athletics. \ud83d\udcaa\ud83c\udffd\ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf3<\/p>\n
After a strong start to the 2026 season and consistently crossing the 20m mark, Toor is fine-tuning\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/Odc9TFPZua<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 SAI Media (@Media_SAI) September 15, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n
But there are others too, some bringing youth (Tillottam Sen and Ashi Chouksey in rifle and Esha Singh and Suruchi Phogat in pistol) and others experience (Rahi Sarnobat).<\/p>\n
And then there are those that have both, the likes of Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and Anish Bhanwal leading this group.<\/p>\n
The situation is same in athletics. With Neeraj Chopra out with injury, the mantle of doing the heavy lifting among the 74-member strong contingent will fall on the proven customers \u2014 Tejaswin Shankar, Murali Sreeshankar and Toor on the field. On the track, the return of Avinash Sable would be a welcome sight, the steeplechaser along with Gulveer Singh the biggest bet for a medal, even gold.<\/p>\n
On the badminton court, P.V. Sindhu would be hoping for one last hurrah in her pursuit of a maiden Asiad title while Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will be looking for more consistency after a topsy-turvy year so far in terms of results and injury concerns in their title defence.<\/p>\n
\n\nNisha Dahiya is leaving no stone unturned as she gears up for the Asian Games 2026! \ud83d\udcaa\ud83c\udffd\ud83c\udfc5<\/p>\n
With every training session, she is sharpening her skills, building strength and preparing herself to take on some of the biggest names in Asian wrestling. A key part of her journey is the\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/TRHRhBSjT8<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 SAI Media (@Media_SAI) September 15, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n
Women boxers and compound archers are also expected to add to the medal count while Mirabai Chanu will be up against it in search of her first medal in the event, 12 years after her debut in Incheon and three years after a shock exit.<\/p>\n
Among the teams, hockey will expectedly be the main attraction with tickets to LA28 at stake for both men and women. The recent outings at the World Cup is unlikely to have much impact, specially the men, who will only have to guard against complacency. For the women, China would be the biggest challenge but recent form gives hope.<\/p>\n
Cricket will get the eyeballs, as it is bound to, but in terms of competition, there will be little by way of excitement unless either of the genders have a terrible day in their title defences.<\/p>\n
\n\n\ud83e\udd3c\u200d\u2642\ufe0f\ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf3 PREPARATION BEFORE THE ASIAN GAMES!<\/p>\n
Indian Kabaddi team captain Sunil Kumar shares insights into his preparation, training and mindset as he gears up for the Asian Games. \ud83d\udcaa\ud83d\udd25<\/p>\n
The tackles are stronger, the focus is sharper, and the goal remains unchanged, to wear the\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/nLM2LQWLaD<\/a><\/p>\n