The India women's hockey team ended a 44-year wait for gold at the Asian Games as they defeated hosts China 1-0 in the final on Friday (Oct 2). India had last won the women's hockey gold at the 1982 Asian Games. The sole goal of the match came in the first quarter when Lalremsiami scored from a penalty corner. China could not break through India's defense for the remainder of the match as the Indian women came out victorious to bag the gold. Thanks to this victory, India also secured direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.<h2>India end 44-year wait for women's hockey gold at Asian Games</h2>After winning gold in the 1982 edition, the India women's hockey team won bronze at the 1986 Asian Games in South Korea, silver in 1998 in Thailand, bronze in 2006 in Qatar, bronze in 2014 in South Korea, silver in 2018 in Indonesia, and bronze in 2023 in China before clinching gold at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The Hockey India has also announced ca cash prize of INR 11 lakh to each player and INR 5.5 lakh to each support staff.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-games-2026-women-s-recurve-archery-team-and-boxers-lovlina-parveen-win-gold-1790933922645">Asian Games: Women's recurve archery team and boxers Lovlina, Parveen win gold</a>The final started an hour late after the team buses were stuck in traffic caused by an unrelated accident, but the Indian team didn't let the delay affect their focus and went on to win the match.Thanks to this hockey gold, India climbed to 5th spot on the medal tally with 16 gold, 25 silver, and 35 bronze medals.<h2>Boxers and archery recurve team secure gold as well</h2>Earlier in the day, the India women's recurve archery team also won their maiden Asiad gold by defeating South Korea. Apart from them, boxers Lovlina Borgohain, Parveen Hooda, and Ankush Panghal also won gold medals in the women's 75 kg, women's 66 kg, and men's 80 kg categories, respectively.

India women's hockey team won their first Asian Games gold in 44 years with a 1-0 win over China, securing LA 2028 entry. Archery and boxing stars also won gold as India moved to 5th in medal tally.

The India women's hockey team ended a 44-year wait for gold at the Asian Games as they defeated hosts China 1-0 in the final on Friday (Oct 2). India had last won the women's hockey gold at the 1982 Asian Games. The sole goal of the match came in the first quarter when Lalremsiami scored from a penalty corner. China could not break through India's defense for the remainder of the match as the Indian women came out victorious to bag the gold. Thanks to this victory, India also secured direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. India end 44-year wait for women's hockey gold at Asian Games After winning gold in the 1982 edition, the India women's hockey team won bronze at the 1986 Asian Games in South Korea, silver in 1998 in Thailand, bronze in 2006 in Qatar, bronze in 2014 in South Korea, silver in 2018 in Indonesia, and bronze in 2023 in China before clinching gold at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The Hockey India has also announced ca cash prize of INR 11 lakh to each player and INR 5.5 lakh to each support staff. Also Read - Asian Games: Women's recurve archery team and boxers Lovlina, Parveen win gold The final started an hour late after the team buses were stuck in traffic caused by an unrelated accident, but the Indian team didn't let the delay affect their focus and went on to win the match. Thanks to this hockey gold, India climbed to 5th spot on the medal tally with 16 gold, 25 silver, and 35 bronze medals. Boxers and archery recurve team secure gold as well Earlier in the day, the India women's recurve archery team also won their maiden Asiad gold by defeating South Korea. Apart from them, boxers Lovlina Borgohain, Parveen Hooda, and Ankush Panghal also won gold medals in the women's 75 kg, women's 66 kg, and men's 80 kg categories, respectively.

India women's hockey team won their first Asian Games gold in 44 years with a 1-0 win over China, securing LA 2028 entry. Archery and boxing stars also won gold as India moved to 5th in medal tally.

Asian Games 2026: India women's hockey team ends 44-year wait for gold

The India women recurve archery team scripted history by winning their maiden gold medal in Asian Games history on Friday (Oct 2). Boxer Lovlina Borgohain also upgraded her silver to gold in the women's 75 kg category, becoming only the second Indian woman boxer after Mary Kom in 2014 to win an Asian Games gold medal. In recurve archery, the trio of Ankita Bhakat, Kirti, and Kumkum Anil Mohod beat traditional powerhouse South Korea for the gold, while Lovlina beat China’s Bao Ziyi - the reigning Asian Championships gold medalist - with a perfect 5-0 score.<h2>How India won recurve women's team gold in archery</h2>In the final, the Indian women's team shot 54 despite an 8 on Kirti's shot (later upgraded to a 9 after review) in the first series to stay equal with the Korean score and split the set points 1-1. In the second series, both teams shot 56 points each to again split two set points 1-1. In the third series, the Indian trio shot 55 against South Korea's 51 to gain a 4-2 lead. In the final series, the scores once again were tied at 54 each, and the Indian team took the gold by a 5-3 margin.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/odi-world-cup-2027-check-india-s-full-group-stage-schedule-1790916902835">ODI World Cup 2027: Check India's full group stage schedule</a><h2>Lovlina wins boxing gold</h2>Lovlina gave herself the best birthday present as she clinched her maiden Asiad gold with a unanimous 5-0 win over her Chinese counterpart. Before that, Lovlina had beaten South Korea's Seong Suyeon in the quarter-finals, also 5-0, and won a thrilling semi-final against Kazakhstan’s reigning World Champion Natalya Bogdanova 3-2 via split decision. The boxer has won Olympic, World Championship, Asian Games, and Asian Championship medals, and this Asiad gold cements her place as one of India's finest boxers.Apart from her, Parveen Hooda also won gold in the women's 65 kg category, beating Chen Nien-chin of Chinese Taipei 3-2 in a split decision.

India's women's recurve archery team won a historic maiden Asian Games gold vs South Korea, while boxers Lovlina Borgohain (75kg) and Parveen Hooda (65kg) both clinched gold in their categories.

The India women recurve archery team scripted history by winning their maiden gold medal in Asian Games history on Friday (Oct 2). Boxer Lovlina Borgohain also upgraded her silver to gold in the women's 75 kg category, becoming only the second Indian woman boxer after Mary Kom in 2014 to win an Asian Games gold medal. In recurve archery, the trio of Ankita Bhakat, Kirti, and Kumkum Anil Mohod beat traditional powerhouse South Korea for the gold, while Lovlina beat China’s Bao Ziyi - the reigning Asian Championships gold medalist - with a perfect 5-0 score. How India won recurve women's team gold in archery In the final, the Indian women's team shot 54 despite an 8 on Kirti's shot (later upgraded to a 9 after review) in the first series to stay equal with the Korean score and split the set points 1-1. In the second series, both teams shot 56 points each to again split two set points 1-1. In the third series, the Indian trio shot 55 against South Korea's 51 to gain a 4-2 lead. In the final series, the scores once again were tied at 54 each, and the Indian team took the gold by a 5-3 margin. Also Read - ODI World Cup 2027: Check India's full group stage schedule Lovlina wins boxing gold Lovlina gave herself the best birthday present as she clinched her maiden Asiad gold with a unanimous 5-0 win over her Chinese counterpart. Before that, Lovlina had beaten South Korea's Seong Suyeon in the quarter-finals, also 5-0, and won a thrilling semi-final against Kazakhstan’s reigning World Champion Natalya Bogdanova 3-2 via split decision. The boxer has won Olympic, World Championship, Asian Games, and Asian Championship medals, and this Asiad gold cements her place as one of India's finest boxers. Apart from her, Parveen Hooda also won gold in the women's 65 kg category, beating Chen Nien-chin of Chinese Taipei 3-2 in a split decision.

India's women's recurve archery team won a historic maiden Asian Games gold vs South Korea, while boxers Lovlina Borgohain (75kg) and Parveen Hooda (65kg) both clinched gold in their categories.

Asian Games 2026: Women's recurve archery team and boxers Lovlina, Parveen win gold

India survived a huge scare from Pakistan to enter the men's hockey final at the Asian Games 2026 on Thursday (Oct 1). India were 3-0 ahead after the first half-hour of the game before Pakistan struck back and erased the deficit completely. India, however, held their nerve to score a late winner in the 60th minute to book a berth in the gold medal match. India will now face the winner of the second semi-final between Malaysia and Korea for the hockey gold.<h2>India Survive Pak Scare to Enter Men's Hockey Final</h2>India started the match against their arch-rivals well as Harmanpreet Singh scored the first goal from a penalty corner in the 5th minute. India doubled their lead within eight minutes as Harmanpreet again scored from a penalty corner. Sukhjeet Singh then scored 10 minutes later, in the 23rd minute, to put India 3-0 ahead.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-batter-rohit-sharma-shares-immediate-goal-ahead-of-odi-world-cup-2027-chances-1790852665024">India batter Rohit Sharma shares 'immediate goal' ahead of ODI World Cup 2027 chances</a>Pakistan, who were out of the match until that point, then struck back with three goals of their own. Ammad Butt scored in the 38th minute, and Hanan Shahid in the 45th minute, before Waheed Rana scored the equaliser in the 49th minute.Abhishek then scored the winner in the 60th minute as India survived a scare and won the thriller 4-3.<h2>IND vs PAK in meen's cricket gold match</h2>India fought their way into the final of the Asian Games 2026 men's cricket event after crushing Sri Lanka. India bowled out the Islanders for a paltry score of 45 runs to win the match by 124 runs at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin on Thursday (Oct 1). In the final, defending gold medallists India will face arch-rivals Pakistan in a blockbuster contest. The gold medal match is scheduled for Saturday (Oct 3).

India edged Pakistan 4-3 to reach the Asian Games 2026 hockey final. India squandered a 3-0 lead as Pakistan leveled 3-3, before Abhishek netted a dramatic 60th-minute winner to seal the victory.

India survived a huge scare from Pakistan to enter the men's hockey final at the Asian Games 2026 on Thursday (Oct 1). India were 3-0 ahead after the first half-hour of the game before Pakistan struck back and erased the deficit completely. India, however, held their nerve to score a late winner in the 60th minute to book a berth in the gold medal match. India will now face the winner of the second semi-final between Malaysia and Korea for the hockey gold. India Survive Pak Scare to Enter Men's Hockey Final India started the match against their arch-rivals well as Harmanpreet Singh scored the first goal from a penalty corner in the 5th minute. India doubled their lead within eight minutes as Harmanpreet again scored from a penalty corner. Sukhjeet Singh then scored 10 minutes later, in the 23rd minute, to put India 3-0 ahead. Also Read - India batter Rohit Sharma shares 'immediate goal' ahead of ODI World Cup 2027 chances Pakistan, who were out of the match until that point, then struck back with three goals of their own. Ammad Butt scored in the 38th minute, and Hanan Shahid in the 45th minute, before Waheed Rana scored the equaliser in the 49th minute. Abhishek then scored the winner in the 60th minute as India survived a scare and won the thriller 4-3. IND vs PAK in meen's cricket gold match India fought their way into the final of the Asian Games 2026 men's cricket event after crushing Sri Lanka. India bowled out the Islanders for a paltry score of 45 runs to win the match by 124 runs at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin on Thursday (Oct 1). In the final, defending gold medallists India will face arch-rivals Pakistan in a blockbuster contest. The gold medal match is scheduled for Saturday (Oct 3).

India edged Pakistan 4-3 to reach the Asian Games 2026 hockey final. India squandered a 3-0 lead as Pakistan leveled 3-3, before Abhishek netted a dramatic 60th-minute winner to seal the victory.

Asian Games 2026: India survive Pakistan fightback for place in gold medal match of men's hockey

India have fought their way into the final of the Asian Games 2026 men's cricket event after crushing Sri Lanka. India bowled out the Islanders for a paltry score of 45 runs to win the match by 124 runs at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin on Thursday (Oct 1). In the final, defending gold medallists India will face arch-rivals Pakistan in a blockbuster contest. The gold medal match is scheduled for Saturday (Oct 3).<h2>Indian Bowlers Crush Sri Lanka in No Time</h2>After putting 169 runs on the board on a tricky pitch, Sri Lanka lost the plot in the first over of the chase as spearhead Jasprit Bumrah picked up two wickets in the first five balls before giving away a run. Axar Patel bowled the next over and picked up a wicket for 10 runs. In his second over, Bumrah gave away six runs. Axar then broke the backbone of the chase with a double-wicket maiden as Sri Lanka fell to 18/5. Such was the dominance of the Indian bowlers that only Nuwanidu Fernando (15) could reach double figures, while the next best was 11 extras conceded by India.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-wi-2nd-odi-gambhir-not-amused-with-india-s-record-chase-calls-it-not-fair-1790825702697">IND vs WI, 2nd ODI: Gambhir not amused with India's record chase, calls it ‘not fair’</a><h2>India Batters Overcome Early Jolts to Put Up Formidable Total</h2>Batting first, three-time T20 world champions India lost Abhishek Sharma (7) and Sanju Samson (7) in the first three overs. Teenage prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (38) showed glimpses of his skills before getting out. Skipper Shreyas Iyer (13) was next to go without troubling the scorers much. Ishan Kishan then anchored the innings with an unbeaten 80 off 46 balls as India posted 169/7 in 20 overs.All eyes will be on the final match now as India and Pakistan, two rivals with a recent history of tension, face off for the first time since the T20 World Cup 2026, where India won by 61 runs in the group stage match. &nbsp;

India crushed Sri Lanka by 124 runs to reach the Asian Games 2026 cricket final. Ishan Kishan (80*) set up 169/7 before Bumrah and Axar shot out Sri Lanka for 45 to setup a gold medal match vs Pakistan.

India have fought their way into the final of the Asian Games 2026 men's cricket event after crushing Sri Lanka. India bowled out the Islanders for a paltry score of 45 runs to win the match by 124 runs at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin on Thursday (Oct 1). In the final, defending gold medallists India will face arch-rivals Pakistan in a blockbuster contest. The gold medal match is scheduled for Saturday (Oct 3). Indian Bowlers Crush Sri Lanka in No Time After putting 169 runs on the board on a tricky pitch, Sri Lanka lost the plot in the first over of the chase as spearhead Jasprit Bumrah picked up two wickets in the first five balls before giving away a run. Axar Patel bowled the next over and picked up a wicket for 10 runs. In his second over, Bumrah gave away six runs. Axar then broke the backbone of the chase with a double-wicket maiden as Sri Lanka fell to 18/5. Such was the dominance of the Indian bowlers that only Nuwanidu Fernando (15) could reach double figures, while the next best was 11 extras conceded by India. Also Read - IND vs WI, 2nd ODI: Gambhir not amused with India's record chase, calls it ‘not fair’ India Batters Overcome Early Jolts to Put Up Formidable Total Batting first, three-time T20 world champions India lost Abhishek Sharma (7) and Sanju Samson (7) in the first three overs. Teenage prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (38) showed glimpses of his skills before getting out. Skipper Shreyas Iyer (13) was next to go without troubling the scorers much. Ishan Kishan then anchored the innings with an unbeaten 80 off 46 balls as India posted 169/7 in 20 overs. All eyes will be on the final match now as India and Pakistan, two rivals with a recent history of tension, face off for the first time since the T20 World Cup 2026, where India won by 61 runs in the group stage match.

India crushed Sri Lanka by 124 runs to reach the Asian Games 2026 cricket final. Ishan Kishan (80*) set up 169/7 before Bumrah and Axar shot out Sri Lanka for 45 to setup a gold medal match vs Pakistan.

Asian Games 2026: India demolish Sri Lanka to set up men's cricket gold medal match vs Pakistan

Pakistan beat Bangladesh by six wickets on Thursday (Oct 1) at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin to enter the Asian Games 2026 men's cricket final. Chasing a 112-run target in a rain-shortened match, Pakistan took 11.3 overs to score the runs for the loss of four wickets. They were in trouble at one point with four wickets down for 53 runs in 6.3 overs, but Hasan Nawaz (27 not out) and Abdul Samad (30 not out off 15) added the remaining 59 runs in just 32 balls to take them home. Pakistan will now face the winner of the India vs Sri Lanka semi-final in the gold medal match on Saturday (Oct 3).<h2>Pakistan Enter Asian Games 2026 Men's Cricket Final</h2>Batting first, Bangladesh had a rocky start in the match as they lost three wickets - Tanzid Hasan (7), skipper Litton Das (2), and Parvez Hossain Emon (1) - for 31 runs in 3.2 overs. Saif Hassan (19) tried to build a partnership with Towhid Hridoy for a bit before getting out with the team score at 45. Hridoy's 42, however, pushed Bangladesh to the 100-run mark as they finished at 111/7 in 13 overs.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-wi-2nd-odi-gambhir-not-amused-with-india-s-record-chase-calls-it-not-fair-1790825702697">IND vs WI, 2nd ODI: Gambhir not amused with India's record chase, calls it ‘not fair’</a>Chasing the target, Pakistan skipper Sahibzada Farhan (1) was dismissed on the last ball of the first over before his opening partner Maaz Sadaqat (15) was dismissed five balls later. Saim Ayub (21) was next to go as Pakistan fell to 38/3 in four overs, and Usman Khan's (14) wicket made it 53/4 before Nawaz and Samad won it for the Men in Green.<h2>What Was the Turning Point?</h2>Bangladesh were ahead until the ninth-over mark of the chase, with Pakistan needing 36 runs off 24 balls. Samad, however, then smashed 23 runs off Mustafizur Rahman's over - the 10th of the innings - to tilt the equation in Pakistan's favor. Needing 13 off the last 18 balls, Pakistan scored the remaining runs in nine balls to win the match.

Pakistan beat Bangladesh by six wickets in a 13-over Asian Games semi-final. Chasing 112, Pakistan recovered from 53/4 as Samad (30*) and Nawaz (27*) powered them to victory to reach the gold medal match.

Pakistan beat Bangladesh by six wickets on Thursday (Oct 1) at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin to enter the Asian Games 2026 men's cricket final. Chasing a 112-run target in a rain-shortened match, Pakistan took 11.3 overs to score the runs for the loss of four wickets. They were in trouble at one point with four wickets down for 53 runs in 6.3 overs, but Hasan Nawaz (27 not out) and Abdul Samad (30 not out off 15) added the remaining 59 runs in just 32 balls to take them home. Pakistan will now face the winner of the India vs Sri Lanka semi-final in the gold medal match on Saturday (Oct 3). Pakistan Enter Asian Games 2026 Men's Cricket Final Batting first, Bangladesh had a rocky start in the match as they lost three wickets - Tanzid Hasan (7), skipper Litton Das (2), and Parvez Hossain Emon (1) - for 31 runs in 3.2 overs. Saif Hassan (19) tried to build a partnership with Towhid Hridoy for a bit before getting out with the team score at 45. Hridoy's 42, however, pushed Bangladesh to the 100-run mark as they finished at 111/7 in 13 overs. Also Read - IND vs WI, 2nd ODI: Gambhir not amused with India's record chase, calls it ‘not fair’ Chasing the target, Pakistan skipper Sahibzada Farhan (1) was dismissed on the last ball of the first over before his opening partner Maaz Sadaqat (15) was dismissed five balls later. Saim Ayub (21) was next to go as Pakistan fell to 38/3 in four overs, and Usman Khan's (14) wicket made it 53/4 before Nawaz and Samad won it for the Men in Green. What Was the Turning Point? Bangladesh were ahead until the ninth-over mark of the chase, with Pakistan needing 36 runs off 24 balls. Samad, however, then smashed 23 runs off Mustafizur Rahman's over - the 10th of the innings - to tilt the equation in Pakistan's favor. Needing 13 off the last 18 balls, Pakistan scored the remaining runs in nine balls to win the match.

Pakistan beat Bangladesh by six wickets in a 13-over Asian Games semi-final. Chasing 112, Pakistan recovered from 53/4 as Samad (30*) and Nawaz (27*) powered them to victory to reach the gold medal match.

Asian Games 2026: Pakistan beat Bangladesh to enter men's cricket final

Indian archers had a golden day at the ongoing Asian Games 2026 on Wednesday (Sept. 30) as they retained their men's, women’s and mixed team compound archery gold medals in Aichi-Nagoya. The mixed team's gold, won by Chikitha Taniparthi and Sahil Jadhav, also ensured a 2028 Olympics spot for the country in the event, which will make its debut in Los Angeles. Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Prithika Pradeep, and Chikitha Taniparthi beat China in the final 238–234 for the women's team gold, while Taniparthi and Jadhav beat Korea in the final via a thrilling shoot-off after scores were tied at 157 after four rounds.<h2>How India retained gold medals in Compound Archery</h2>In the women's compound archery event, Vennam, Pradeep, and Taniparthi scored 60, 59, 59, and 60 in four rounds to get to an Asian and World Record-equalling total of 238, while China managed scores of 58, 58, 60, and 58 in four rounds, bagging silver with 234 points.In the semifinal of the same event, India beat Korea in a thrilling match 234–233. Korea had scored 59, 56, 60, and 58, while India scored 59, 59, 58, and 58, including a nine on the last shot to enter the final.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-games-mens-cricket-final-joint-gold-medal-rain-rule-1790693421359">Men's Cricket at Asian Games: Gold medal to be shared in case of rain</a>This was India's fourth consecutive medal in the women's compound archery event at the Asian Games after a bronze in 2014 when the sport made its debut, a silver in 2018, and gold in 2023 before retaining it in 2026.In the mixed team compound archery event, Taniparthi and Jadhav shot 40, 40, 38, and 39 in the four rounds, while the Korean players shot 39, 39, 39, and 40 as the scores got to a 157-all tie. In the shoot-off, the Indian archers hit the bullseye on both attempts, while Korea faltered on the second attempt and lost 20–19 to settle for silver.<h2>Men's Compound Archery team also wins gold</h2>After the women's compound archery team's gold win, the Indian men's compound archery team also beat China to win gold. The trio of Kushal Dalal, Sahil Jadhav, and Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru beat China 238–237. The Chinese team started well with perfect scores of 60 and 60 in the first two rounds, while the Indian trio managed 58 and 60. In the final two rounds, however, the script was flipped, with China managing 59 and 58 while the Indian archers hit the bullseye for 60 and 60 to bag the gold.

India swept compound archery gold at the 2026 Asian Games, retaining the women's and mixed team titles—securing a 2028 Olympic spot—while the men’s team edged China 238–237 for gold.

Indian archers had a golden day at the ongoing Asian Games 2026 on Wednesday (Sept. 30) as they retained their men's, women’s and mixed team compound archery gold medals in Aichi-Nagoya. The mixed team's gold, won by Chikitha Taniparthi and Sahil Jadhav, also ensured a 2028 Olympics spot for the country in the event, which will make its debut in Los Angeles. Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Prithika Pradeep, and Chikitha Taniparthi beat China in the final 238–234 for the women's team gold, while Taniparthi and Jadhav beat Korea in the final via a thrilling shoot-off after scores were tied at 157 after four rounds. How India retained gold medals in Compound Archery In the women's compound archery event, Vennam, Pradeep, and Taniparthi scored 60, 59, 59, and 60 in four rounds to get to an Asian and World Record-equalling total of 238, while China managed scores of 58, 58, 60, and 58 in four rounds, bagging silver with 234 points. In the semifinal of the same event, India beat Korea in a thrilling match 234–233. Korea had scored 59, 56, 60, and 58, while India scored 59, 59, 58, and 58, including a nine on the last shot to enter the final. Also Read - Men's Cricket at Asian Games: Gold medal to be shared in case of rain This was India's fourth consecutive medal in the women's compound archery event at the Asian Games after a bronze in 2014 when the sport made its debut, a silver in 2018, and gold in 2023 before retaining it in 2026. In the mixed team compound archery event, Taniparthi and Jadhav shot 40, 40, 38, and 39 in the four rounds, while the Korean players shot 39, 39, 39, and 40 as the scores got to a 157-all tie. In the shoot-off, the Indian archers hit the bullseye on both attempts, while Korea faltered on the second attempt and lost 20–19 to settle for silver. Men's Compound Archery team also wins gold After the women's compound archery team's gold win, the Indian men's compound archery team also beat China to win gold. The trio of Kushal Dalal, Sahil Jadhav, and Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru beat China 238–237. The Chinese team started well with perfect scores of 60 and 60 in the first two rounds, while the Indian trio managed 58 and 60. In the final two rounds, however, the script was flipped, with China managing 59 and 58 while the Indian archers hit the bullseye for 60 and 60 to bag the gold.

India swept compound archery gold at the 2026 Asian Games, retaining the women's and mixed team titles—securing a 2028 Olympic spot—while the men’s team edged China 238–237 for gold.

Asian Games 2026: Indian archers hit bullseye for three gold medals and an Olympics 2028 spot

India's Neeru Dhanda shot for history on Tuesday (Sep 29) at the ongoing Asian Games 2026 in Japan, clinching the first individual gold medal for the country at this edition and India's fifth gold overall. Neeru won the women's trap individual gold and became the first Indian woman shooter ever to win a trap or skeet event gold at the Asian Games. She also created a new Asian and Asian Games record with a score of 28 in the final among the top eight players. Before winning the gold, Neeru had also won a silver in the women's trap team event, making it a double-medal day for her.<h2>How Neeru shot for gold in women's individual trap event</h2>Neeru came into the women's trap individual event on the back of the great form she showed in the team event, where she won silver alongside Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer. In the individual qualifying, Neeru shot 24, 24, 24, 23, and 23 in the five rounds for a total of 118 to finish at the top.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Neeru Dhanda scripts a monumental chapter in Indian sports, becoming the FIRST Indian woman ever to win the GOLD medal in the Women’s Trap individual event at the Asian Games! Watch the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya LIVE on Sony Sports Network TV channels &amp; Sony LIV.… <a href="https://t.co/0wCN7xHiQu">pic.twitter.com/0wCN7xHiQu</a>&mdash; Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) <a href="https://x.com/SonySportsNetwk/status/2104836305473741105?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

In the final among the top eight shooters, Neeru finished with a total score of 28 (5, 4, 5, 5, and 4) - a new Asian Record - surpassing the previous Asian record of 24. China's Yunong Sun won the silver with a total tally of 26 and Kuwait's hajar Abdulmalik took home the bronze with a totaly tally of 21.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-games-2026-how-vithya-ramraj-broke-pt-usha-s-four-decade-old-400m-hurdle-record-1790663029184">Asian Games 2026: How Vithya Ramraj broke PT Usha's four-decade-old 400m hurdle record</a><h2>How NRAI officials reacted to Neeru's win</h2>NRAI President Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo said, "What a day for Indian shooting. Neeru has been in phenomenal form all year, and to see her back up a team silver with an individual gold — and an Asian Games record — in the space of a few hours is truly special. Aashima and Manisha also played their part in getting us on the podium in the team event. This is a proud moment for the sport and for the country."NRAI Secretary General Pawan Kumar Singh said, "Neeru's performance today reflects the depth we now have in our trap shooting program. To top qualification, help India to a team medal, and then close it out with gold in the individual final shows both consistency and composure under pressure. Credit to the coaching staff and the support systems that have gone into building this squad."&nbsp;

At the 2026 Asian Games, India's Neeru Dhanda won gold in women's individual trap shooting with an Asian Record score of 28. She also claimed team silver, making it a double-medal day.

India's Neeru Dhanda shot for history on Tuesday (Sep 29) at the ongoing Asian Games 2026 in Japan, clinching the first individual gold medal for the country at this edition and India's fifth gold overall. Neeru won the women's trap individual gold and became the first Indian woman shooter ever to win a trap or skeet event gold at the Asian Games. She also created a new Asian and Asian Games record with a score of 28 in the final among the top eight players. Before winning the gold, Neeru had also won a silver in the women's trap team event, making it a double-medal day for her. How Neeru shot for gold in women's individual trap event Neeru came into the women's trap individual event on the back of the great form she showed in the team event, where she won silver alongside Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer. In the individual qualifying, Neeru shot 24, 24, 24, 23, and 23 in the five rounds for a total of 118 to finish at the top.

At the 2026 Asian Games, India's Neeru Dhanda won gold in women's individual trap shooting with an Asian Record score of 28. She also claimed team silver, making it a double-medal day.

Asian Games 2026: Shooter Neeru Dhanda sets Asian record to clinch India’s first individual gold

Indian hurdler Vithya Ramraj created history at the ongoing Asian Games 2026 on Monday (Sep 28). Although she won a bronze in the women's 400m hurdles event, she broke former sprinter PT Usha's national record in the race. Usha had run the race in 55.42 seconds at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, and Ramraj did it in 54.75 seconds in Nagoya, Japan, overtaking the former Olympian's 42-year-old record. Usha, who now heads the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), was one of the first Indian women athletes who inspired a generation to take up the sport.<h2>How Ramraj broke PT Usha's record</h2>Ramraj had won the bronze in the last edition of the games in the same event back in 2023 in Hangzhou, China. The sprinter had come very close to breaking Usha's record in Hangzhou, equalling her timing of 55.42 seconds. This time, though, Ramraj made sure she broke the record.Speaking on how she managed to break the record, Ramraj, as quoted by news agency PTI, said: "Everyone has been asking me because I had not gone under 55 seconds for three years. My coach Nehpal Singh Rathore told me to go fast, then maintain it through the sixth hurdle. From the sixth hurdle to the finish line, it was all out."Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-games-2026-sri-lanka-to-face-india-and-bangladesh-up-against-pakistan-in-semis-1790655097664">Asian Games 2026: Sri Lanka to face India and Bangladesh up against Pakistan in semis</a>"The medal is in our hands, but time is not. This race will not come again. Today was my day, so I was going for the timing, not the medal. My coach said we would go under 54 seconds. I did it, and I am so happy. The timing was so good, so I am very happy," she said on winning the medal.India had also won the bronze medal in the same event in 2018 at the Jakarta Asian Games as well, when Anu Raghavan clinched the medal.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">𝐀 𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑! 🥉 Vithya Ramraj clocks 54.75s to break PT Usha’s 40-year-old mark and take Bronze in the Women’s 400m Hurdles! ⚡ Watch the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026, LIVE on Sony Sports Network TV channels &amp; Sony LIV.<a href="https://x.com/hashtag/SonySportsNetwork?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SonySportsNetwork</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/SonyLIV?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SonyLIV</a>… <a href="https://t.co/RHsB0gL0A5">pic.twitter.com/RHsB0gL0A5</a>&mdash; Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) <a href="https://x.com/SonySportsNetwk/status/2104533439617892390?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>PT Usha reacts to Ramraj breaking her national record</h2>After Ramraj broke her record, IOA chief Usha congratulated the sprinter in a post on X, which read: "Congratulations Vithya!! Records are meant to be broken &amp; there is no greater reward for an athlete than to see the next generation go beyond the boundaries we once set. Vithya Ramraj breaking my 42-year-old national record in the 400m hurdles is an incredibly special moment."As athletes, we compete to challenge ourselves, to push limits &amp; ultimately, to leave the sport better than we found it. When a young athlete comes along &amp; surpasses a milestone that has stood for decades, it is a moment of pride not just for the athlete, but for the sport too."&nbsp;

At the 2026 Asian Games, Indian hurdler Vithya Ramraj won bronze in the women's 400m hurdles. Her time of 54.75s broke PT Usha's 42-year-old national record, drawing praise from the IOA chief.

Indian hurdler Vithya Ramraj created history at the ongoing Asian Games 2026 on Monday (Sep 28). Although she won a bronze in the women's 400m hurdles event, she broke former sprinter PT Usha's national record in the race. Usha had run the race in 55.42 seconds at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, and Ramraj did it in 54.75 seconds in Nagoya, Japan, overtaking the former Olympian's 42-year-old record. Usha, who now heads the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), was one of the first Indian women athletes who inspired a generation to take up the sport. How Ramraj broke PT Usha's record Ramraj had won the bronze in the last edition of the games in the same event back in 2023 in Hangzhou, China. The sprinter had come very close to breaking Usha's record in Hangzhou, equalling her timing of 55.42 seconds. This time, though, Ramraj made sure she broke the record. Speaking on how she managed to break the record, Ramraj, as quoted by news agency PTI, said: "Everyone has been asking me because I had not gone under 55 seconds for three years. My coach Nehpal Singh Rathore told me to go fast, then maintain it through the sixth hurdle. From the sixth hurdle to the finish line, it was all out." Also Read - Asian Games 2026: Sri Lanka to face India and Bangladesh up against Pakistan in semis "The medal is in our hands, but time is not. This race will not come again. Today was my day, so I was going for the timing, not the medal. My coach said we would go under 54 seconds. I did it, and I am so happy. The timing was so good, so I am very happy," she said on winning the medal. India had also won the bronze medal in the same event in 2018 at the Jakarta Asian Games as well, when Anu Raghavan clinched the medal.

At the 2026 Asian Games, Indian hurdler Vithya Ramraj won bronze in the women's 400m hurdles. Her time of 54.75s broke PT Usha's 42-year-old national record, drawing praise from the IOA chief.

Asian Games 2026: How Vithya Ramraj broke PT Usha's four-decade-old 400m hurdle record

The Asian Games 2026 men's cricket event continues to be marred by consistent rain, with the remaining two quarter-finals also getting washed out without a ball being bowled. On Tuesday (Sep 29), Sri Lanka were set to face Nepal in the first quarter-final of the day at Nisshin, and Bangladesh were up against Malaysia. Both matches, however, were abandoned due to persistent rain, which started well before the toss. Both Sri Lanka and Bangladesh advanced to the semis by virtue of their higher seedings in the ICC T20I rankings. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka were also among the four seeded teams, along with India and Pakistan, that were given direct entry into the quarter-finals.<h2>Asian Games 2026 men's cricket semis</h2>Bangladesh will now face Pakistan in the first semi-final on Thursday (Oct 1), while India will face Sri Lanka in the second semi-final on the same day. In the event of rain again playing spoilsport during the semis, the higher-seeded team in the ICC T20I rankings will advance to the final.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wpl-2027-mini-auction-check-full-player-retention-lists-slots-available-and-remaining-team-purses-1790649986081">WPL 2027 Mini-Auction: Franchises announce retained and released players; check purse &amp; slot available</a>Between Pakistan and Bangladesh, a washout of the match or a no-result will propel Pakistan into the final of the event. In the second semi-final, India will move on to the final over Sri Lanka by virtue of their higher ICC T20I ranking in case the match gets abandoned due to rain or any other reason.<h2>Can India and Pakistan face off in the Asian Games 2026 final?</h2>India, the defending gold medallist, can face arch-rivals Pakistan in the final of the Asian Games men's cricket event in the scenarios below:A: India beat Sri Lanka and Pakistan beat Bangladesh B: India move to the final over Sri Lanka in case of a washout and Pakistan beat Bangladesh C: India beat Sri Lanka and Pakistan move to the final over Bangladesh in case of a no-result/washout D: India and Pakistan move to the final in case of both semis getting abandoned.

Rain washed out the Asian Games 2026 men's cricket quarter-finals. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh advanced via higher rankings. India face Sri Lanka and Pakistan play Bangladesh in the semis on Oct 1.

The Asian Games 2026 men's cricket event continues to be marred by consistent rain, with the remaining two quarter-finals also getting washed out without a ball being bowled. On Tuesday (Sep 29), Sri Lanka were set to face Nepal in the first quarter-final of the day at Nisshin, and Bangladesh were up against Malaysia. Both matches, however, were abandoned due to persistent rain, which started well before the toss. Both Sri Lanka and Bangladesh advanced to the semis by virtue of their higher seedings in the ICC T20I rankings. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka were also among the four seeded teams, along with India and Pakistan, that were given direct entry into the quarter-finals. Asian Games 2026 men's cricket semis Bangladesh will now face Pakistan in the first semi-final on Thursday (Oct 1), while India will face Sri Lanka in the second semi-final on the same day. In the event of rain again playing spoilsport during the semis, the higher-seeded team in the ICC T20I rankings will advance to the final. Also Read - WPL 2027 Mini-Auction: Franchises announce retained and released players; check purse & slot available Between Pakistan and Bangladesh, a washout of the match or a no-result will propel Pakistan into the final of the event. In the second semi-final, India will move on to the final over Sri Lanka by virtue of their higher ICC T20I ranking in case the match gets abandoned due to rain or any other reason. Can India and Pakistan face off in the Asian Games 2026 final? India, the defending gold medallist, can face arch-rivals Pakistan in the final of the Asian Games men's cricket event in the scenarios below: A: India beat Sri Lanka and Pakistan beat Bangladesh B: India move to the final over Sri Lanka in case of a washout and Pakistan beat Bangladesh C: India beat Sri Lanka and Pakistan move to the final over Bangladesh in case of a no-result/washout D: India and Pakistan move to the final in case of both semis getting abandoned.

Rain washed out the Asian Games 2026 men's cricket quarter-finals. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh advanced via higher rankings. India face Sri Lanka and Pakistan play Bangladesh in the semis on Oct 1.

Asian Games 2026: Sri Lanka to face India and Bangladesh up against Pakistan in semis

Organisational issues at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games generated fresh headlines on Monday (Sep 28) after an official bus carrying the Pakistan volleyball team arrived at the wrong venue, delaying their group game against Uzbekistan by 45 minutes. Pakistan captain Murad Jehan slammed the Games’ organising management, saying the driver’s fault created an embarrassing situation for the Men in Green. Moreover, the players were forced to change into their kit on the moving bus to avoid wasting more time upon arrival at the right venue.&nbsp;"This is another mismanagement by Japan at the ongoing Asian Games," Pakistan captain Murad Jehan said in an Instagram video made from the bus. "We have a very important game, and the bus driver does not know in which gymnasium we are going to play," he said in the clip with a caption reading, "Embarrassing situation at Japan Asian Games 2026. Totally unfair."&nbsp;"We couldn't expect this in Japan. There is a lot of mismanagement,” he added.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-games-2026-india-pakistan-through-to-semis-without-playing-a-ball-1790569585127">Asian Games 2026: India, Pakistan through to semis without playing a ball - setup for a blockbuster final?</a>&nbsp;The official Games bus carrying Pakistan’s entourage was supposed to reach an arena in Okazaki, which is southeast of Nagoya; instead, the vehicle mistakenly took them to another Games venue staging volleyball matches about an hour’s drive away.&nbsp;"As a result, the team arrived late at the correct competition venue, and we were required to delay the match by 45 minutes," said an official Games communiqué.&nbsp;Pakistan won the match 3-0.<h3>Wider Transportation &amp; Housing Complaints</h3>Meanwhile, the latest incident put further pressure on the organising committee after hundreds of athletes complained about the smaller accommodation and transport services. Several teams have also complained about buses sometimes arriving at incorrect times or even not at all.&nbsp;In one such instance, the South Korean men’s basketball team failed to turn up for a light practice ahead of the final against Japan after a bus that was supposed to take them did not arrive at all.

Pakistan's Asian Games volleyball match against Uzbekistan was delayed by 45 minutes after their team bus was driven to the wrong venue. Read the latest.

Organisational issues at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games generated fresh headlines on Monday (Sep 28) after an official bus carrying the Pakistan volleyball team arrived at the wrong venue, delaying their group game against Uzbekistan by 45 minutes. Pakistan captain Murad Jehan slammed the Games’ organising management, saying the driver’s fault created an embarrassing situation for the Men in Green. Moreover, the players were forced to change into their kit on the moving bus to avoid wasting more time upon arrival at the right venue. "This is another mismanagement by Japan at the ongoing Asian Games," Pakistan captain Murad Jehan said in an Instagram video made from the bus. "We have a very important game, and the bus driver does not know in which gymnasium we are going to play," he said in the clip with a caption reading, "Embarrassing situation at Japan Asian Games 2026. Totally unfair." "We couldn't expect this in Japan. There is a lot of mismanagement,” he added. Also read| Asian Games 2026: India, Pakistan through to semis without playing a ball - setup for a blockbuster final? The official Games bus carrying Pakistan’s entourage was supposed to reach an arena in Okazaki, which is southeast of Nagoya; instead, the vehicle mistakenly took them to another Games venue staging volleyball matches about an hour’s drive away. "As a result, the team arrived late at the correct competition venue, and we were required to delay the match by 45 minutes," said an official Games communiqué. Pakistan won the match 3-0. Wider Transportation & Housing Complaints Meanwhile, the latest incident put further pressure on the organising committee after hundreds of athletes complained about the smaller accommodation and transport services. Several teams have also complained about buses sometimes arriving at incorrect times or even not at all. In one such instance, the South Korean men’s basketball team failed to turn up for a light practice ahead of the final against Japan after a bus that was supposed to take them did not arrive at all.

Pakistan's Asian Games volleyball match against Uzbekistan was delayed by 45 minutes after their team bus was driven to the wrong venue. Read the latest.

Asian Games: Pakistan volleyball match delayed after bus reaches wrong venue

India and Pakistan, two of the four seeded teams in Asian Games men's cricket, have made it through to the semis without having to bat or bowl a single ball. Pakistan was scheduled to play Hong Kong in the quarter-final and India was up against Afghanistan on Monday (Sep 28) at Nisshin, but the matches were abandoned without a ball being bowled. Pakistan will now play the winners of the fourth quarter-final, to be played between Bangladesh and Malaysia, on Thursday (Oct 1), and India will play the winner of Nepal vs Sri Lanka, also on Thursday (Oct 1).<h2>Why India and Pakistan advanced after rain washed out Asian Games QFs</h2>Hong Kong made it to the quarter-finals after finishing in the top two of Group B, which also had Malaysia and Oman. Pakistan, meanwhile, was given direct entry into the QFs along with India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka based on their rankings. India, meanwhile, was scheduled to play Afghanistan, who qualified through Group A along with Nepal.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-wi-1st-odi-kohli-breaks-sachin-s-most-runs-in-one-country-record-with-unbeaten-139-as-india-thump-west-indies-by-8-wickets-1790566082815">IND vs WI 1st ODI: Kohli breaks Sachin's most runs in one country record with unbeaten 139 as India thump West Indies by 8 wickets</a>As per the Asian Games 2026 playing conditions, in case of a washout, the team with the higher ICC ranking advances to the next round; hence Pakistan, which ranks higher than Hong Kong, and India, which is placed above Afghanistan, made it to the semis despite the matches being abandoned without a ball being bowled.<h2>Will Pakistan face India in the Asian Games?</h2>India vs Pakistan is always a contest for which billions wait across the world. The scheduling of the Asian Games, however, leaves fans hoping for too many things to go their way for an India vs Pakistan match. The arch-rivals were given direct entry into the quarter-finals along with Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, where Pakistan was scheduled to play Hong Kong and India was slated to play against Afghanistan.In the semis, Pakistan will play the winner of Bangladesh vs Malaysia, and India will face the winner of Sri Lanka vs Nepal. The two teams will face off in the final only if both of them manage to win their respective semis. The final is scheduled to be played on Saturday (Oct 3).

India and Pakistan reached the Asian Games cricket semis after rain abandoned their QFs against Afghanistan and Hong Kong. Higher rankings advanced both teams; they can only meet in the final.

India and Pakistan, two of the four seeded teams in Asian Games men's cricket, have made it through to the semis without having to bat or bowl a single ball. Pakistan was scheduled to play Hong Kong in the quarter-final and India was up against Afghanistan on Monday (Sep 28) at Nisshin, but the matches were abandoned without a ball being bowled. Pakistan will now play the winners of the fourth quarter-final, to be played between Bangladesh and Malaysia, on Thursday (Oct 1), and India will play the winner of Nepal vs Sri Lanka, also on Thursday (Oct 1). Why India and Pakistan advanced after rain washed out Asian Games QFs Hong Kong made it to the quarter-finals after finishing in the top two of Group B, which also had Malaysia and Oman. Pakistan, meanwhile, was given direct entry into the QFs along with India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka based on their rankings. India, meanwhile, was scheduled to play Afghanistan, who qualified through Group A along with Nepal. Also Read - IND vs WI 1st ODI: Kohli breaks Sachin's most runs in one country record with unbeaten 139 as India thump West Indies by 8 wickets As per the Asian Games 2026 playing conditions, in case of a washout, the team with the higher ICC ranking advances to the next round; hence Pakistan, which ranks higher than Hong Kong, and India, which is placed above Afghanistan, made it to the semis despite the matches being abandoned without a ball being bowled. Will Pakistan face India in the Asian Games? India vs Pakistan is always a contest for which billions wait across the world. The scheduling of the Asian Games, however, leaves fans hoping for too many things to go their way for an India vs Pakistan match. The arch-rivals were given direct entry into the quarter-finals along with Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, where Pakistan was scheduled to play Hong Kong and India was slated to play against Afghanistan. In the semis, Pakistan will play the winner of Bangladesh vs Malaysia, and India will face the winner of Sri Lanka vs Nepal. The two teams will face off in the final only if both of them manage to win their respective semis. The final is scheduled to be played on Saturday (Oct 3).

India and Pakistan reached the Asian Games cricket semis after rain abandoned their QFs against Afghanistan and Hong Kong. Higher rankings advanced both teams; they can only meet in the final.

Asian Games 2026: India, Pakistan through to semis without playing a ball - setup for a blockbuster final?

India came close to adding another gold medal to its Asian Games tally on Sunday, with Ancy Sojan and Sarvesh Kushare leading their respective finals for extended periods before finishing with silver. Parul Chaudhary and Harita Bhadra also secured bronze medals, making it a productive day for India in athletics.<h2>Ancy Sojan misses gold by two centimetres</h2>Ancy Sojan appeared to be on course for gold in the women’s long jump after producing a best effort of 6.53m on her fifth attempt. However, China’s Huang Yingying responded with a 6.55m effort to move into first place with her final attempt. The two-centimetre difference left Ancy with the silver medal. India’s Shaili Singh also came agonisingly close to the podium. Her best jump of 6.42m had placed her in medal contention, but China’s Mengyi Tan moved ahead with a 6.46m effort to claim bronze.<h2>Sarvesh Kushare takes high jump silver</h2>Sarvesh Kushare was also in gold-medal contention for much of the men’s high jump final before Chinese Taipei’s Chao Hsuan-Fu moved ahead. Both athletes cleared 2.25m, but Kushare’s first-attempt failure at the height proved decisive. Chao cleared 2.25m on his first attempt, while Kushare managed it on his second. As a result, Kushare had to settle for silver despite clearing the same height as the champion.<h2>Parul Chaudhary, Harita Bhadra add bronze medals</h2>Parul Chaudhary secured her second consecutive Asian Games bronze in the women’s 3000m steeplechase, improving on her previous performance with a personal best of 9:08.67. Bahrain’s Winfred Yavi won gold, while Kazakhstan’s Norah Jeruto Tanui took silver in 9:06.82. Harita Bhadra added another athletics medal for India by finishing third in the women’s 200m final in 23.20 seconds. Singapore’s Shanti Pereira won gold with a season-best 22.78 seconds, while China’s Chen Yujie took silver in 22.93 seconds. Harita finished just ahead of Japan’s Ido Abigeirufuka, who clocked 23.21 seconds. India’s Unnathi Aiyappa Bolland finished sixth in 23.48 seconds. With four medals from athletics, India’s overall tally moved to 37 medals, including four gold and 16 bronze.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/olympic-inclusion-is-our-major-target-wpa-president-ishaun-singh-on-pool-s-global-ambitions-1790520641487">‘Olympic inclusion is our major target’: WPA President Ishaun Singh on pool’s global ambitions</a><h2>Squash: Two silver medals, but no Olympic berth</h2>India had hoped Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh would secure Olympic berths by winning squash gold, but both players had to settle for silver after straight-game defeats in their respective finals. Abhay Singh, ranked 24th in the world, lost 11-9, 11-5, 11-5 to defending champion Ng Eain Yow in a 44-minute final. After a closely fought opening game, the Malaysian took control of the pace and length of rallies, repeatedly forcing Abhay into difficult retrievals.&nbsp;Abhay admitted that the Malaysian’s experience in major matches made a difference and said he would return to the drawing board, while also stressing that another route to Olympic qualification remains available. Anahat Singh, 18, also finished with silver after losing 4-11, 4-11, 7-11 to Malaysia’s world no. 5 and defending champion Sivasangari Subramaniam in 27 minutes.The results extended India’s wait for an individual Asian Games squash gold. Saurav Ghosal had also won silver at the 2014 and 2023 editions.<h2>Boxing assures India of three more medals</h2>Indian boxing continued its strong run, with Parveen Hooda, Ankush Panghal and Narender Berwal advancing to the semifinals and assuring India of three additional medals. Parveen defeated Uzbekistan’s world championships silver medallist Navbakhor Khamidova 5-0 in the women’s 65kg quarterfinal. It was her first bout of the Games after receiving a walkover in the previous round. Parveen has moved up from 57kg to 65kg following a 22-month suspension imposed by the International Testing Agency for a whereabouts failure. She said she was gradually rebuilding her confidence after her long absence.&nbsp;Ankush, making his Asian Games debut after winning Commonwealth Games gold last month in Glasgow, also recorded a 5-0 victory over Tajikistan’s Nekruz Salimov in the men’s 80kg quarterfinal. Narender, a bronze medallist at the previous Asian Games, needed less than two minutes to progress in the +90kg category after a referee stoppage against Thailand’s Adthapong Saengtep. The Indian heavyweight’s sustained attack resulted in three standing counts before the contest was stopped. However, Commonwealth Games champion Sachin Siwach was eliminated in the men’s 60kg quarterfinal after losing 0-5 to Japan’s Shunsuke Kitamoto.<h2>India’s individual badminton campaign ends</h2>India’s individual badminton campaign ended without a medal after PV Sindhu and Unnati Hooda were eliminated in their respective women’s singles quarterfinals. Sindhu lost to Olympic champion Chen Yu Fei 21-11, 18-21, 10-21 after playing her third match in less than 24 hours. Nineteen-year-old Unnati Hooda also put up a strong fight but lost 16-21, 21-14, 17-21 to three-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi.&nbsp;Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, along with the mixed doubles pair of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto, also suffered quarterfinal defeats. India had won three badminton medals at Hangzhou, but this time the men’s team bronze was the country’s only medal from the competition, with none of the individual players or pairs progressing to the semifinals.<h3>Indian women’s hockey team reaches semifinals</h3>The Indian women’s hockey team maintained its unbeaten record with a dominant 7-0 win over Singapore. The result helped India finish at the top of Pool B after five wins and secure a place in the semifinals, where the team will face Korea.

Asian Games: India added four athletics medals as Ancy Sojan and Sarvesh Kushare won silver, while Parul Chaudhary and Harita Bhadra claimed bronze

India came close to adding another gold medal to its Asian Games tally on Sunday, with Ancy Sojan and Sarvesh Kushare leading their respective finals for extended periods before finishing with silver. Parul Chaudhary and Harita Bhadra also secured bronze medals, making it a productive day for India in athletics. Ancy Sojan misses gold by two centimetres Ancy Sojan appeared to be on course for gold in the women’s long jump after producing a best effort of 6.53m on her fifth attempt. However, China’s Huang Yingying responded with a 6.55m effort to move into first place with her final attempt. The two-centimetre difference left Ancy with the silver medal. India’s Shaili Singh also came agonisingly close to the podium. Her best jump of 6.42m had placed her in medal contention, but China’s Mengyi Tan moved ahead with a 6.46m effort to claim bronze. Sarvesh Kushare takes high jump silver Sarvesh Kushare was also in gold-medal contention for much of the men’s high jump final before Chinese Taipei’s Chao Hsuan-Fu moved ahead. Both athletes cleared 2.25m, but Kushare’s first-attempt failure at the height proved decisive. Chao cleared 2.25m on his first attempt, while Kushare managed it on his second. As a result, Kushare had to settle for silver despite clearing the same height as the champion. Parul Chaudhary, Harita Bhadra add bronze medals Parul Chaudhary secured her second consecutive Asian Games bronze in the women’s 3000m steeplechase, improving on her previous performance with a personal best of 9:08.67. Bahrain’s Winfred Yavi won gold, while Kazakhstan’s Norah Jeruto Tanui took silver in 9:06.82. Harita Bhadra added another athletics medal for India by finishing third in the women’s 200m final in 23.20 seconds. Singapore’s Shanti Pereira won gold with a season-best 22.78 seconds, while China’s Chen Yujie took silver in 22.93 seconds. Harita finished just ahead of Japan’s Ido Abigeirufuka, who clocked 23.21 seconds. India’s Unnathi Aiyappa Bolland finished sixth in 23.48 seconds. With four medals from athletics, India’s overall tally moved to 37 medals, including four gold and 16 bronze. Also Read: ‘Olympic inclusion is our major target’: WPA President Ishaun Singh on pool’s global ambitions Squash: Two silver medals, but no Olympic berth India had hoped Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh would secure Olympic berths by winning squash gold, but both players had to settle for silver after straight-game defeats in their respective finals. Abhay Singh, ranked 24th in the world, lost 11-9, 11-5, 11-5 to defending champion Ng Eain Yow in a 44-minute final. After a closely fought opening game, the Malaysian took control of the pace and length of rallies, repeatedly forcing Abhay into difficult retrievals. Abhay admitted that the Malaysian’s experience in major matches made a difference and said he would return to the drawing board, while also stressing that another route to Olympic qualification remains available. Anahat Singh, 18, also finished with silver after losing 4-11, 4-11, 7-11 to Malaysia’s world no. 5 and defending champion Sivasangari Subramaniam in 27 minutes. The results extended India’s wait for an individual Asian Games squash gold. Saurav Ghosal had also won silver at the 2014 and 2023 editions. Boxing assures India of three more medals Indian boxing continued its strong run, with Parveen Hooda, Ankush Panghal and Narender Berwal advancing to the semifinals and assuring India of three additional medals. Parveen defeated Uzbekistan’s world championships silver medallist Navbakhor Khamidova 5-0 in the women’s 65kg quarterfinal. It was her first bout of the Games after receiving a walkover in the previous round. Parveen has moved up from 57kg to 65kg following a 22-month suspension imposed by the International Testing Agency for a whereabouts failure. She said she was gradually rebuilding her confidence after her long absence. Ankush, making his Asian Games debut after winning Commonwealth Games gold last month in Glasgow, also recorded a 5-0 victory over Tajikistan’s Nekruz Salimov in the men’s 80kg quarterfinal. Narender, a bronze medallist at the previous Asian Games, needed less than two minutes to progress in the +90kg category after a referee stoppage against Thailand’s Adthapong Saengtep. The Indian heavyweight’s sustained attack resulted in three standing counts before the contest was stopped. However, Commonwealth Games champion Sachin Siwach was eliminated in the men’s 60kg quarterfinal after losing 0-5 to Japan’s Shunsuke Kitamoto. India’s individual badminton campaign ends India’s individual badminton campaign ended without a medal after PV Sindhu and Unnati Hooda were eliminated in their respective women’s singles quarterfinals. Sindhu lost to Olympic champion Chen Yu Fei 21-11, 18-21, 10-21 after playing her third match in less than 24 hours. Nineteen-year-old Unnati Hooda also put up a strong fight but lost 16-21, 21-14, 17-21 to three-time world champion Akane Yamaguchi. Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, along with the mixed doubles pair of Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto, also suffered quarterfinal defeats. India had won three badminton medals at Hangzhou, but this time the men’s team bronze was the country’s only medal from the competition, with none of the individual players or pairs progressing to the semifinals. Indian women’s hockey team reaches semifinals The Indian women’s hockey team maintained its unbeaten record with a dominant 7-0 win over Singapore. The result helped India finish at the top of Pool B after five wins and secure a place in the semifinals, where the team will face Korea.

India won four athletics medals at the Asian Games as Ancy Sojan and Sarvesh Kushare claimed silver, while Parul Chaudhary and Harita Bhadra won bronze

Asian Games 2026 Day 9 wrap | From Ancy to Anahat, Sarvesh to Parul: India’s silver linings and near misses

11 days after their last T20I face-off in Delhi, India and Afghanistan meet again at the ongoing Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 in Japan. The two Asian T20 powerhouses will play in the second quarterfinal on Monday (Sep 28), with persistent rain in Japan threatening to wash out this knockout match.&nbsp;Rain has already hampered several results in the men’s competition and threatens to worsen during the four quarterfinals. Pakistan and Hong Kong will meet in the first quarterfinal before the India-Afghanistan match on Monday, and the remaining two quarterfinals will take place on Tuesday. Although the forecast remains the same for Tuesday, it is likely to change for the semifinals (Thursday) and the medal playoffs (Saturday).&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-games-2026-cricket-quarterfinal-schedule-india-afghanistan-pakistan-hong-kong-1790418018707">Asian Games 2026: India face Afghanistan in quarterfinal on Sep 28; Pakistan clash with Hong Kong</a><h2>What Happens if Rain Washes out IND-AFG Match?</h2>If rain washes out the second Asian Games quarterfinal between India and Afghanistan, India will qualify for the semifinal, as the laws suggest the higher-ranked T20I team, per the ICC rankings, will advance through to the next round in such a case.&nbsp;India is atop the T20I team rankings with 269 rating points, and Afghanistan is 10th.<h3>Stark Difference in Squads</h3>While the BCCI men’s selection committee picked the first-team squad for the Asian Games competition, including T20I captain Shreyas Iyer and premium quick Jasprit Bumrah, Afghanistan has sent their second-string side for the continental tournament. 13 of the 15 squad members were not part of the concluded T20I series against India, with only two retained: Darwish Rasooli (captain) and Abdollah Ahmadzai.&nbsp;Afghanistan squad features six uncapped players and five others with fewer than 10 international appearances. Their combined T20I experience of 262 matches is only a fraction (30%) of India’s 872 games. There is no Rashid Khan, no Rahmanullah Gurbaz and no Mohammad Nabi, but Nabi's 20-year-old son Hassan Eisakhil is part of the squad.<h3>Check out the predicted playing XIs of both teams –</h3>India - Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah&nbsp;Afghanistan - Mohammad Akram, Hassan Eisakhil, Karim Janat, Darwish Rasooli (captain), Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Ishaq (wk), Ismat Alam, Nangeyalia Khan, Abdollah Ahmadzai, Faridoon Dawoodzai and Arab Gul.

Rain threatens the India vs Afghanistan Asian Games 2026 quarterfinal in Japan. Check what happens if the match is washed out, squad details, and predicted XIs.

11 days after their last T20I face-off in Delhi, India and Afghanistan meet again at the ongoing Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 in Japan. The two Asian T20 powerhouses will play in the second quarterfinal on Monday (Sep 28), with persistent rain in Japan threatening to wash out this knockout match. Rain has already hampered several results in the men’s competition and threatens to worsen during the four quarterfinals. Pakistan and Hong Kong will meet in the first quarterfinal before the India-Afghanistan match on Monday, and the remaining two quarterfinals will take place on Tuesday. Although the forecast remains the same for Tuesday, it is likely to change for the semifinals (Thursday) and the medal playoffs (Saturday). Also read| Asian Games 2026: India face Afghanistan in quarterfinal on Sep 28; Pakistan clash with Hong Kong What Happens if Rain Washes out IND-AFG Match? If rain washes out the second Asian Games quarterfinal between India and Afghanistan, India will qualify for the semifinal, as the laws suggest the higher-ranked T20I team, per the ICC rankings, will advance through to the next round in such a case. India is atop the T20I team rankings with 269 rating points, and Afghanistan is 10th. Stark Difference in Squads While the BCCI men’s selection committee picked the first-team squad for the Asian Games competition, including T20I captain Shreyas Iyer and premium quick Jasprit Bumrah, Afghanistan has sent their second-string side for the continental tournament. 13 of the 15 squad members were not part of the concluded T20I series against India, with only two retained: Darwish Rasooli (captain) and Abdollah Ahmadzai. Afghanistan squad features six uncapped players and five others with fewer than 10 international appearances. Their combined T20I experience of 262 matches is only a fraction (30%) of India’s 872 games. There is no Rashid Khan, no Rahmanullah Gurbaz and no Mohammad Nabi, but Nabi's 20-year-old son Hassan Eisakhil is part of the squad. Check out the predicted playing XIs of both teams – India - Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah Afghanistan - Mohammad Akram, Hassan Eisakhil, Karim Janat, Darwish Rasooli (captain), Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Ishaq (wk), Ismat Alam, Nangeyalia Khan, Abdollah Ahmadzai, Faridoon Dawoodzai and Arab Gul.

Rain threatens the India vs Afghanistan Asian Games 2026 quarterfinal in Japan. Check what happens if the match is washed out, squad details, and predicted XIs.

Asian Games: Rain threat looms over India-Afghanistan QF; what happens if match is washed out?

For Tilottama Sen, the road to an Asian Games medal was never about carrying the weight of what others expected from her.Even before she stepped onto the range in Japan, the young Indian shooter was clear about the approach she wanted to take: stay in the present, trust her preparation and, above all, enjoy the competition. That mindset has now produced an Asian Games silver medal.&nbsp;Sen, along with Ashi Chouksey and Vidarsa Vinod, helped India secure silver in the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions team event in Aichi-Nagoya. The Indian trio finished behind China with a total of 1,763 points. Sen was also India's top performer in the team qualification, shooting 590. Yet when Sen spoke ahead of her Asian Games campaign, the focus was not on medals or expectations. Her immediate priority was much simpler. “My next goal is to play the Asian Games,” she said. “I would just want to take one match at a time and just focus on what's immediately right now.”&nbsp;It was a revealing insight into the mindset of a shooter who has been under the spotlight since a very young age. Sen had already competed at major stages early in her career and was once regarded as one of India's brightest young shooting prospects. But she said she had never spent much time wondering whether she had lived up to the expectations attached to that tag. “All that I feel is that just giving my best and just enjoying what I'm doing,” she said.&nbsp;That ability to separate the moment from the noise has become central to her approach. Shooting offers little room for distraction. A single poor shot can alter the complexion of an entire competition, but Sen said she does not allow disappointing performances to linger for too long. “Yes, I do feel bad that I missed the medal or the match, but I don't replay it for a very long time,” she said. “I can't hold back on things that didn't go well because then I wouldn't be able to focus on what's ahead.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-wi-1st-odi-toss-update-naman-dhir-debut-playing-xis-1790496560381">IND vs WI 1st ODI: Naman Dhir debuts as India bowl first in Trivandrum; check playing XIs</a>&nbsp;That philosophy has also shaped her transition from junior to senior competition. Rather than viewing the two levels as fundamentally different, Sen said she treats every competition simply as a competition, regardless of the age category or stage.For her, the key is not to become consumed by the significance of the event. The same principle carries into her training.&nbsp;Preparing for both 10m and 50m rifle, Sen described a routine built around warm-ups, breathing exercises and visualisation before moving into the technical demands of kneeling, prone and standing positions. Kneeling, she admitted, took the most adjustment. But perhaps the most important part of her preparation has been returning to the basics. “Whether it's a good match or a bad match, once the match is over, we always come back and work on our basics from the beginning,” she said, crediting her coach Manoj Kumar for helping reinforce that approach.&nbsp;It is a philosophy that also extends to the biggest question surrounding her future: the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. Sen knows the Olympic cycle is already on the horizon, but before the Asian Games she was determined not to let that future goal become an additional source of pressure. “LA is definitely going to be there,” she said. “But I don't want to take too much pressure about LA right now.”&nbsp;Instead, there was one thought she wanted to carry onto the range. “I've got this opportunity and I would just give my best and enjoy the whole competition.” In Japan, that mindset has already delivered a medal. And with her Asian Games campaign still having been underway at the time of the conversation, Sen's focus remained exactly where she said it would be, on the next shot, the next competition and the process in front of her.

Tilottama Sen won Asian Games 2026 silver in shooting. Before her event, she spoke about pressure, preparation, staying present and her Olympic ambitions

For Tilottama Sen, the road to an Asian Games medal was never about carrying the weight of what others expected from her. Even before she stepped onto the range in Japan, the young Indian shooter was clear about the approach she wanted to take: stay in the present, trust her preparation and, above all, enjoy the competition. That mindset has now produced an Asian Games silver medal. Sen, along with Ashi Chouksey and Vidarsa Vinod, helped India secure silver in the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions team event in Aichi-Nagoya. The Indian trio finished behind China with a total of 1,763 points. Sen was also India's top performer in the team qualification, shooting 590. Yet when Sen spoke ahead of her Asian Games campaign, the focus was not on medals or expectations. Her immediate priority was much simpler. “My next goal is to play the Asian Games,” she said. “I would just want to take one match at a time and just focus on what's immediately right now.” It was a revealing insight into the mindset of a shooter who has been under the spotlight since a very young age. Sen had already competed at major stages early in her career and was once regarded as one of India's brightest young shooting prospects. But she said she had never spent much time wondering whether she had lived up to the expectations attached to that tag. “All that I feel is that just giving my best and just enjoying what I'm doing,” she said. That ability to separate the moment from the noise has become central to her approach. Shooting offers little room for distraction. A single poor shot can alter the complexion of an entire competition, but Sen said she does not allow disappointing performances to linger for too long. “Yes, I do feel bad that I missed the medal or the match, but I don't replay it for a very long time,” she said. “I can't hold back on things that didn't go well because then I wouldn't be able to focus on what's ahead.” Also Read: IND vs WI 1st ODI: Naman Dhir debuts as India bowl first in Trivandrum; check playing XIs That philosophy has also shaped her transition from junior to senior competition. Rather than viewing the two levels as fundamentally different, Sen said she treats every competition simply as a competition, regardless of the age category or stage. For her, the key is not to become consumed by the significance of the event. The same principle carries into her training. Preparing for both 10m and 50m rifle, Sen described a routine built around warm-ups, breathing exercises and visualisation before moving into the technical demands of kneeling, prone and standing positions. Kneeling, she admitted, took the most adjustment. But perhaps the most important part of her preparation has been returning to the basics. “Whether it's a good match or a bad match, once the match is over, we always come back and work on our basics from the beginning,” she said, crediting her coach Manoj Kumar for helping reinforce that approach. It is a philosophy that also extends to the biggest question surrounding her future: the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. Sen knows the Olympic cycle is already on the horizon, but before the Asian Games she was determined not to let that future goal become an additional source of pressure. “LA is definitely going to be there,” she said. “But I don't want to take too much pressure about LA right now.” Instead, there was one thought she wanted to carry onto the range. “I've got this opportunity and I would just give my best and enjoy the whole competition.” In Japan, that mindset has already delivered a medal. And with her Asian Games campaign still having been underway at the time of the conversation, Sen's focus remained exactly where she said it would be, on the next shot, the next competition and the process in front of her.

Indian shooter Tilottama Sen opens up about pressure, preparation, staying present and why she chooses to enjoy every competition

WION Exclusive | ‘One match at a time’: How Tilottama Sen kept pressure away before her Asian Games silver

The Indian women’s kabaddi team dug in deep in the second half to edge out Iran 37-34 in the final on Saturday to win the gold medal at the Asian Games 2026. A close win at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium raises India’s gold medal tally at the competition to three. The Indian women’s kabaddi team has now won four out of the five Asian Games gold medals contested since the event debuted at the continental meet in 2010. Iran, however, won the title in 2018 in Jakarta, beating India in the final.&nbsp;For Iran, their star raider and captain Zahra Karimi started on the bench, whereas the defending champions India made a bright start with raiders Pooja, Sanju Devi and Nikita Hathwala bagging early points and racing to a 5-2 lead. Iran levelled the score with a super tackle and took a 7-5 lead. India bounced back with the first all-out of the match on Iran to open up a 13-10 advantage.&nbsp;Nikita Hathwala followed up with a two-point raid soon after to make it 15-10.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sawan-barwal-wins-historic-silver-marathon-asian-games-2026-1790397782293">Sawan Barwal smashes national record to win Asian Games silver in men's marathon</a>&nbsp;Iranian captain Karimi was back on the mat and tried to inspire a turnaround with Atena Madedi aiding the cause, only for the Indian defence to keep a lid on Iran’s star raider Saniya Naeimi, not allowing her any breathing space.&nbsp;After Sanju Devi executed another multi-point raid – a bonus and two touch points, pushing India’s lead into the double digits, the final two minutes before the halftime belonged to Iran. A super tackle followed by a bonus and a brilliant ankle hold by Madedi saw Iran cut the deficit to 22-16 at the break.&nbsp;Iran looked stronger in the second half, with the defence dictating terms. Saniya Naeimi found her groove, much to Iran’s cheering as they further reduced the deficit to 23-20. India’s Ritu Negi executed a brilliant thigh hold on Saniya for a super tackle when India was down to just two on the mat. Pooja also kept picking up decisive points, keeping India from being cleaned out.&nbsp;With just four minutes left on the clock, India worked its way to a 34-28 lead, eventually sealing the game with a 37-34 win to defend its gold medal.&nbsp;"We never thought we might lose; our plan was to fight right till the end and win," India captain Pushpa Rana said after the match. "We have played them before and knew they can pose a tough challenge," she said, applauding the Iran team for a close match.&nbsp;Meanwhile, India and Iran will face off in the men’s kabaddi final at the Asian Games later in the day.

India women’s kabaddi team edges Iran 37-34 in a thriller at Asian Games 2026 to defend their title and claim India's 3rd gold medal. Read more.

The Indian women’s kabaddi team dug in deep in the second half to edge out Iran 37-34 in the final on Saturday to win the gold medal at the Asian Games 2026. A close win at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium raises India’s gold medal tally at the competition to three. The Indian women’s kabaddi team has now won four out of the five Asian Games gold medals contested since the event debuted at the continental meet in 2010. Iran, however, won the title in 2018 in Jakarta, beating India in the final. For Iran, their star raider and captain Zahra Karimi started on the bench, whereas the defending champions India made a bright start with raiders Pooja, Sanju Devi and Nikita Hathwala bagging early points and racing to a 5-2 lead. Iran levelled the score with a super tackle and took a 7-5 lead. India bounced back with the first all-out of the match on Iran to open up a 13-10 advantage. Nikita Hathwala followed up with a two-point raid soon after to make it 15-10. Also read| Sawan Barwal smashes national record to win Asian Games silver in men's marathon Iranian captain Karimi was back on the mat and tried to inspire a turnaround with Atena Madedi aiding the cause, only for the Indian defence to keep a lid on Iran’s star raider Saniya Naeimi, not allowing her any breathing space. After Sanju Devi executed another multi-point raid – a bonus and two touch points, pushing India’s lead into the double digits, the final two minutes before the halftime belonged to Iran. A super tackle followed by a bonus and a brilliant ankle hold by Madedi saw Iran cut the deficit to 22-16 at the break. Iran looked stronger in the second half, with the defence dictating terms. Saniya Naeimi found her groove, much to Iran’s cheering as they further reduced the deficit to 23-20. India’s Ritu Negi executed a brilliant thigh hold on Saniya for a super tackle when India was down to just two on the mat. Pooja also kept picking up decisive points, keeping India from being cleaned out. With just four minutes left on the clock, India worked its way to a 34-28 lead, eventually sealing the game with a 37-34 win to defend its gold medal. "We never thought we might lose; our plan was to fight right till the end and win," India captain Pushpa Rana said after the match. "We have played them before and knew they can pose a tough challenge," she said, applauding the Iran team for a close match. Meanwhile, India and Iran will face off in the men’s kabaddi final at the Asian Games later in the day.

India women’s kabaddi team edges Iran 37-34 in a thriller at Asian Games 2026 to defend their title and claim India's 3rd gold medal. Read more.

Asian Games 2026: India women’s kabaddi team edge Iran 37-34 to clinch 3rd gold medal

Sawan Barwal creates history at the ongoing 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya by winning a historic silver medal in the men’s marathon, India’s first medal in this discipline in 44 years. Sawan smashed the national record, which was also his personal best of 2:11:37, to finish second behind Japan’s Ichitaka Yamashita, who won gold in 2:10:49. China’s Peiyou Feng took bronze with 2:12:13.&nbsp;19 runners competed in the medal event, with Barwal and Kartik Karkera among the two Indians. Barwal established himself among the leaders and was placed second at the halfway mark with a time of 1:05:54. Barwal held onto his position as the race entered its final stages. With close to seven kilometers left, Barwal continued to chase Yamashita.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-games-2026-india-win-silver-womens-50m-rifle-3p-team-1790394004829">Asian Games: Shooting spree continues as India win silver in women’s 50m rifle 3P team event</a>&nbsp;While the Japanese marathon runner eventually opened up a gap, Barwal maintained his pace and stayed firmly in the silver-medal position. He eventually finished second to secure India’s first Asian Games marathon medal since the 1982 Delhi Games, and the country’s first medal in this event on foreign soil. Kartik Karkera, however, finished 17th among 19 competitors with 2:22:41.&nbsp;Meanwhile, a silver medal win added to Barwal’s rising record tally. In April, he broke a piece of history by breaking Shivnath Singh’s 48-year-old national marathon record at the NN Marathon Rotterdam.&nbsp;Read More| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-we-always-want-to-improve-suruchi-kamaljeet-after-winning-asian-games-gold-1790347185865">Exclusive | 'We always want to improve': Suruchi, Kamaljeet after winning Asian Games gold</a>&nbsp;Barwal’s silver medal win is India’s fourth Asian Games marathon medal after Chhota Singh’s gold and Surat Singh Mathur’s bronze at the inaugural 1951 Games. 31 years later, at the 1982 Games, Hosur Kukkappa Seetharan won a bronze medal, making it three medals for India in this discipline.

Sawan Barwal wins a historic silver in the men’s marathon at Asian Games 2026, breaking the national record to end India's 44-year wait. Read more.

Sawan Barwal creates history at the ongoing 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya by winning a historic silver medal in the men’s marathon, India’s first medal in this discipline in 44 years. Sawan smashed the national record, which was also his personal best of 2:11:37, to finish second behind Japan’s Ichitaka Yamashita, who won gold in 2:10:49. China’s Peiyou Feng took bronze with 2:12:13. 19 runners competed in the medal event, with Barwal and Kartik Karkera among the two Indians. Barwal established himself among the leaders and was placed second at the halfway mark with a time of 1:05:54. Barwal held onto his position as the race entered its final stages. With close to seven kilometers left, Barwal continued to chase Yamashita. Also read| Asian Games: Shooting spree continues as India win silver in women’s 50m rifle 3P team event While the Japanese marathon runner eventually opened up a gap, Barwal maintained his pace and stayed firmly in the silver-medal position. He eventually finished second to secure India’s first Asian Games marathon medal since the 1982 Delhi Games, and the country’s first medal in this event on foreign soil. Kartik Karkera, however, finished 17th among 19 competitors with 2:22:41. Meanwhile, a silver medal win added to Barwal’s rising record tally. In April, he broke a piece of history by breaking Shivnath Singh’s 48-year-old national marathon record at the NN Marathon Rotterdam. Read More| Exclusive | 'We always want to improve': Suruchi, Kamaljeet after winning Asian Games gold Barwal’s silver medal win is India’s fourth Asian Games marathon medal after Chhota Singh’s gold and Surat Singh Mathur’s bronze at the inaugural 1951 Games. 31 years later, at the 1982 Games, Hosur Kukkappa Seetharan won a bronze medal, making it three medals for India in this discipline.

Sawan Barwal wins a historic silver in the men’s marathon at Asian Games 2026, breaking the national record to end India's 44-year wait. Read more.

Sawan Barwal smashes national record to win Asian Games silver in men's marathon

Indian shooters continue to make the country proud at the ongoing Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. The trio of Tilottama Sen, Vidarsa K. Vinod and Ashi Chouksey clinched a silver medal in the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions team event early on Sunday (Sep 26), adding to India's burgeoning shooting medal count. India registered 1,763 points to finish second, while China equalled their Games record with 1,773 points to claim the coveted gold.&nbsp;Riding on the team success, Tilottama and Vidarsa qualified for the individual final after finishing third and sixth, respectively. Ashi, however, missed out on the top-eight cut despite contributing to the team’s silver.<h2>Tilottama leads from the front</h2>Tilottama was India’s leading performer in the qualification, finishing third with 590 points. The Indian shooter claimed 197 in the kneeling position before registering 198 in prone. Tilottama held her nerve in standing next, registering a series of 97 and 98 to secure a place in the final. Two Chinese shooters attained the top two spots with 594 and 591 finishes.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-we-always-want-to-improve-suruchi-kamaljeet-after-winning-asian-games-gold-1790347185865">Exclusive | 'We always want to improve': Suruchi, Kamaljeet after winning Asian Games gold</a>&nbsp;Vidarsa produced a stunning comeback following a difficult start to her qualification campaign. After starting with a score of 193 in kneeling, Vidarsa bounced back with an excellent 199 in prone to climb the standings. In the standing position, she shot a consecutive series of 98s to accumulate 588 points, which lifted her to the sixth position and secured India’s second spot in the individual final.&nbsp;By finishing 15th with 585 points, Ashi Chouksey missed out on the individual berth despite contributing massively to the team medal. After scoring 196 in kneeling and a stunning 199 in prone, Ashi was placed well heading into the standing position. A 93 in her opening standing series proved costly. Although she did recover with a 97 in her final series, Ashi failed to break into the top eight.

Indian trio Tilottama Sen, Vidarsa Vinod, and Ashi Chouksey win silver in women's 50m rifle 3P team event at Asian Games 2026. Read details.

Indian shooters continue to make the country proud at the ongoing Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. The trio of Tilottama Sen, Vidarsa K. Vinod and Ashi Chouksey clinched a silver medal in the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions team event early on Sunday (Sep 26), adding to India's burgeoning shooting medal count. India registered 1,763 points to finish second, while China equalled their Games record with 1,773 points to claim the coveted gold. Riding on the team success, Tilottama and Vidarsa qualified for the individual final after finishing third and sixth, respectively. Ashi, however, missed out on the top-eight cut despite contributing to the team’s silver. Tilottama leads from the front Tilottama was India’s leading performer in the qualification, finishing third with 590 points. The Indian shooter claimed 197 in the kneeling position before registering 198 in prone. Tilottama held her nerve in standing next, registering a series of 97 and 98 to secure a place in the final. Two Chinese shooters attained the top two spots with 594 and 591 finishes. Also read| Exclusive | 'We always want to improve': Suruchi, Kamaljeet after winning Asian Games gold Vidarsa produced a stunning comeback following a difficult start to her qualification campaign. After starting with a score of 193 in kneeling, Vidarsa bounced back with an excellent 199 in prone to climb the standings. In the standing position, she shot a consecutive series of 98s to accumulate 588 points, which lifted her to the sixth position and secured India’s second spot in the individual final. By finishing 15th with 585 points, Ashi Chouksey missed out on the individual berth despite contributing massively to the team medal. After scoring 196 in kneeling and a stunning 199 in prone, Ashi was placed well heading into the standing position. A 93 in her opening standing series proved costly. Although she did recover with a 97 in her final series, Ashi failed to break into the top eight.

Indian trio Tilottama Sen, Vidarsa Vinod, and Ashi Chouksey win silver in women's 50m rifle 3P team event at Asian Games 2026. Read details.

Asian Games: Shooting spree continues as India win silver in women’s 50m rifle 3P team event

Indian shooters Suruchi Singh and Kamaljeet delivered a strong performance to win the gold medal in the 10m air pistol mixed team event at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya on Friday (Sep 25). The duo also bounced back after missing out on medals in their respective individual events. Speaking to WION’s Aditya Bhatia, Suruchi and Kamaljeet said they were happy with their performance in the final and felt that their preparation helped them execute their plans well.&nbsp;“We always look to improve because there are some mistakes in every match. We will continue working on those areas and keep improving as long as we compete,” the duo said.&nbsp;They also felt that their performance in the final went according to plan, with their practice routine helping them stay consistent under pressure.&nbsp;“We did not face any major problems in the final. Everything went according to plan, just like we had practised. What we did on the range during training was exactly what we tried to do in the match,” they added.&nbsp;The gold marked India’s first shooting medal at the ongoing Asian Games 2026, with Suruchi and Kamaljeet also setting a new Asian Games record in the 10m air pistol mixed team event.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/baranica-elangovan-creates-history-with-india-s-first-asian-games-pole-vault-bronze-1790344177114">Baranica Elangovan creates history with India's first Asian Games pole vault bronze</a>&nbsp;It is India’s second gold medal at the continental event, following the women’s cricket team’s title. Before this victory, Indian shooters had won five silver and three bronze medals in shooting.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-games-2026-gulveer-singh-bags-silver-in-men-s-10-000m-as-india-s-medal-tally-rises-to-22-1790340530141">Gulveer Singh bags silver in men's 10,000m as India's medal tally rises to 22</a>&nbsp;National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) President Kalikesh Singh Deo congratulated the pair for their achievement.&nbsp;“This is a remarkable achievement by Suruchi and Kamaljeet. To deliver under pressure, win gold and rewrite the Asian Games Record on the Asian Games stage speaks volumes about their talent, preparation and composure. Their performance is a proud moment for Indian shooting, and I congratulate both shooters on this outstanding achievement.”&nbsp;The result comes after a difficult individual campaign for several Indian shooters. Paris 2024 double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker was among those expected to challenge for gold but finished without a medal in her individual event.

Speaking to WION’s Aditya Bhatia, Suruchi and Kamaljeet said they were happy with their performance in the final and felt that their preparation helped them execute their plans well.

Indian shooters Suruchi Singh and Kamaljeet delivered a strong performance to win the gold medal in the 10m air pistol mixed team event at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya on Friday (Sep 25). The duo also bounced back after missing out on medals in their respective individual events. Speaking to WION’s Aditya Bhatia, Suruchi and Kamaljeet said they were happy with their performance in the final and felt that their preparation helped them execute their plans well. “We always look to improve because there are some mistakes in every match. We will continue working on those areas and keep improving as long as we compete,” the duo said. They also felt that their performance in the final went according to plan, with their practice routine helping them stay consistent under pressure. “We did not face any major problems in the final. Everything went according to plan, just like we had practised. What we did on the range during training was exactly what we tried to do in the match,” they added. The gold marked India’s first shooting medal at the ongoing Asian Games 2026, with Suruchi and Kamaljeet also setting a new Asian Games record in the 10m air pistol mixed team event. Also Read - Baranica Elangovan creates history with India's first Asian Games pole vault bronze It is India’s second gold medal at the continental event, following the women’s cricket team’s title. Before this victory, Indian shooters had won five silver and three bronze medals in shooting. Also Read - Gulveer Singh bags silver in men's 10,000m as India's medal tally rises to 22 National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) President Kalikesh Singh Deo congratulated the pair for their achievement. “This is a remarkable achievement by Suruchi and Kamaljeet. To deliver under pressure, win gold and rewrite the Asian Games Record on the Asian Games stage speaks volumes about their talent, preparation and composure. Their performance is a proud moment for Indian shooting, and I congratulate both shooters on this outstanding achievement.” The result comes after a difficult individual campaign for several Indian shooters. Paris 2024 double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker was among those expected to challenge for gold but finished without a medal in her individual event.

Speaking to WION’s Aditya Bhatia, Suruchi and Kamaljeet said they were happy with their performance in the final and felt that their preparation helped them execute their plans well.

Exclusive | 'We always want to improve': Suruchi, Kamaljeet after winning Asian Games gold

India’s Baranica Elangovan made history at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya on Friday (Sep 25), winning bronze in the women’s pole vault to become the first Indian athlete to win an Asian Games medal in the event. Baranica cleared 4.15m to finish joint third with Kazakhstan’s Polina Ivanova, as both athletes cleared the same height and had identical attempts before failing to clear 4.25m. As a result, they shared the bronze medal.&nbsp;The medal is a landmark moment for Indian athletics, as Baranica became the country’s first-ever Asian Games medallist in pole vault across both the men’s and women’s events.Her bronze took India’s medal tally to 23, including two gold, nine silver and 12 bronze medals.&nbsp;Earlier, Gulveer Singh won silver in the men’s 10,000m after clocking 28:29.38 to finish second. Manpreet Kaur also secured bronze in the women’s shot put with a best throw of 17.17m on her fourth attempt.&nbsp;In shooting, Kamaljeet and Suruchi Inder Singh won gold in the 10m air pistol mixed team event. Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Rudrankksh Patil and Niraj Kumar claimed silver in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions team event.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-games-2026-gulveer-singh-bags-silver-in-men-s-10-000m-as-india-s-medal-tally-rises-to-22-1790340530141">Asian Games 2026: Gulveer Singh bags silver in men's 10,000m as India's medal tally rises to 22</a>&nbsp;Manush Shah and Diya Chitale added a bronze in table tennis mixed doubles after losing their semi-final to China’s Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha.&nbsp;In squash, Joshana Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar secured a medal by reaching the mixed doubles semi-finals. Abhay Singh and Anahat Singh also progressed to their respective singles semi-finals.&nbsp;India’s men’s and women’s kabaddi teams reached the finals after defeating Thailand and Nepal respectively in their semi-final matches.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-could-not-sleep-gautam-gambhir-reveals-toughest-decision-to-pick-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-over-sanju-samson-1790335656692">'I could not..': Gambhir on 'toughest decision' to pick Sooryavanshi over Samson</a>&nbsp;The Indian women’s hockey team continued its winning run with a 3-1 victory over Japan in Pool B.&nbsp;Meanwhile, swimmer Rishabh Das finished sixth in the men’s 200m backstroke final, while weightlifter Seram Nirupama Devi came seventh in the women’s 61kg category. Boxer Preeti was knocked out in the round of 16 after a 0-5 defeat to North Korea’s Pang Chol Mi.&nbsp;&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

Baranica Elangovan made history at the Asian Games in Nagoya on Friday, winning India’s first-ever pole vault medal with a 4.15m clearance for bronze in the women’s event.

India’s Baranica Elangovan made history at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya on Friday (Sep 25), winning bronze in the women’s pole vault to become the first Indian athlete to win an Asian Games medal in the event. Baranica cleared 4.15m to finish joint third with Kazakhstan’s Polina Ivanova, as both athletes cleared the same height and had identical attempts before failing to clear 4.25m. As a result, they shared the bronze medal. The medal is a landmark moment for Indian athletics, as Baranica became the country’s first-ever Asian Games medallist in pole vault across both the men’s and women’s events. Her bronze took India’s medal tally to 23, including two gold, nine silver and 12 bronze medals. Earlier, Gulveer Singh won silver in the men’s 10,000m after clocking 28:29.38 to finish second. Manpreet Kaur also secured bronze in the women’s shot put with a best throw of 17.17m on her fourth attempt. In shooting, Kamaljeet and Suruchi Inder Singh won gold in the 10m air pistol mixed team event. Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Rudrankksh Patil and Niraj Kumar claimed silver in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions team event. Also Read - Asian Games 2026: Gulveer Singh bags silver in men's 10,000m as India's medal tally rises to 22 Manush Shah and Diya Chitale added a bronze in table tennis mixed doubles after losing their semi-final to China’s Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha. In squash, Joshana Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar secured a medal by reaching the mixed doubles semi-finals. Abhay Singh and Anahat Singh also progressed to their respective singles semi-finals. India’s men’s and women’s kabaddi teams reached the finals after defeating Thailand and Nepal respectively in their semi-final matches. Also Read - 'I could not..': Gambhir on 'toughest decision' to pick Sooryavanshi over Samson The Indian women’s hockey team continued its winning run with a 3-1 victory over Japan in Pool B. Meanwhile, swimmer Rishabh Das finished sixth in the men’s 200m backstroke final, while weightlifter Seram Nirupama Devi came seventh in the women’s 61kg category. Boxer Preeti was knocked out in the round of 16 after a 0-5 defeat to North Korea’s Pang Chol Mi. With inputs from agencies

Baranica Elangovan made history at the Asian Games in Nagoya on Friday, winning India’s first-ever pole vault medal with a 4.15m clearance for bronze in the women’s event.

Baranica Elangovan creates history with India's first Asian Games pole vault bronze

India’s Gulveer Singh won the silver medal in the men’s 10,000m event at the Asian Games 2026 at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium on Friday (Sep 25). The 28-year-old clocked 28:29.38 to finish second behind Bahrain’s Birhanu Balew, who claimed gold with a late push and a time of 28:27.51. Balew’s compatriot Albert Kiptoo took bronze after finishing in 28:34.38.&nbsp;Gulveer, a Naib Subedar in the Indian Army, stayed among the leading runners for most of the race and remained in medal contention until the final stages. Balew managed to pull away towards the finish, while Gulveer comfortably secured second place.&nbsp;The silver is an improvement on Gulveer’s performance at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, where he won bronze in the same event.&nbsp;Gulveer has been in strong form in recent years, as he won gold in both the 5,000m and 10,000m at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea.&nbsp;At the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, he became the first Indian to win two track medals at a single edition of the Games, claiming silver in the 10,000m and bronze in the 5,000m.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-could-not-sleep-gautam-gambhir-reveals-toughest-decision-to-pick-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-over-sanju-samson-1790335656692">'I could not sleep': Gautam Gambhir reveals 'toughest decision' to pick Vaibhav Sooryavanshi over Sanju Samson</a>&nbsp;He had earlier won bronze in the men’s 5,000m at the 2023 Asian Athletics Championships in Bangkok.&nbsp;Meanwhile, India’s Pooja finished sixth in the women’s heptathlon 800m with a time of 2:16.43, while Anamika Aneesh finished eighth.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-games-hockey-india-women-strengthen-semifinal-hopes-with-3-1-win-over-japan-1790332244850">Asian Games Hockey: India women beat Japan 3-1, boost semifinal hopes</a> &nbsp;India also added another athletics medal on Friday, with Manpreet Kaur winning bronze in the women’s shot put. She recorded a best throw of 17.17m, while Krishna Jayasankar Menon finished fifth with 16.57m.&nbsp;At the time of writing, India had won 22 medals at the Asian Games, including two gold, nine silver and 11 bronze and were 12th in the standings.

The silver marks another major medal for Gulveer Singh this year, following his second-place finish at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

India’s Gulveer Singh won the silver medal in the men’s 10,000m event at the Asian Games 2026 at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium on Friday (Sep 25). The 28-year-old clocked 28:29.38 to finish second behind Bahrain’s Birhanu Balew, who claimed gold with a late push and a time of 28:27.51. Balew’s compatriot Albert Kiptoo took bronze after finishing in 28:34.38. Gulveer, a Naib Subedar in the Indian Army, stayed among the leading runners for most of the race and remained in medal contention until the final stages. Balew managed to pull away towards the finish, while Gulveer comfortably secured second place. The silver is an improvement on Gulveer’s performance at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, where he won bronze in the same event. Gulveer has been in strong form in recent years, as he won gold in both the 5,000m and 10,000m at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea. At the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, he became the first Indian to win two track medals at a single edition of the Games, claiming silver in the 10,000m and bronze in the 5,000m. Also Read - 'I could not sleep': Gautam Gambhir reveals 'toughest decision' to pick Vaibhav Sooryavanshi over Sanju Samson He had earlier won bronze in the men’s 5,000m at the 2023 Asian Athletics Championships in Bangkok. Meanwhile, India’s Pooja finished sixth in the women’s heptathlon 800m with a time of 2:16.43, while Anamika Aneesh finished eighth. Also Read - Asian Games Hockey: India women beat Japan 3-1, boost semifinal hopes India also added another athletics medal on Friday, with Manpreet Kaur winning bronze in the women’s shot put. She recorded a best throw of 17.17m, while Krishna Jayasankar Menon finished fifth with 16.57m. At the time of writing, India had won 22 medals at the Asian Games, including two gold, nine silver and 11 bronze and were 12th in the standings.

The silver marks another major medal for Gulveer Singh this year, following his second-place finish at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Asian Games 2026: Gulveer Singh bags silver in men's 10,000m as India's medal tally rises to 22

The Indian women’s hockey team continued its unbeaten run at the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya, Japan, with a 3-1 win over the hosts on Friday (Sep 25). The victory was India’s fourth in a row and put them in a strong position to reach the semifinals. Lalremsiami opened the scoring in the fifth minute before Ishika Chaudhary doubled India’s lead in the 30th minute.&nbsp;&nbsp;Navneet Kaur then made it 3-0 in the 36th minute. Japan pulled one back through Shiho Kobayakawa in the 46th minute, but India held on for a comfortable win.&nbsp;India will play Singapore in their final Pool B match on Sunday.&nbsp;The Indian team had started the tournament with a 19-0 win over Uzbekistan and followed it with a 17-1 victory against Indonesia before thrashing Thailand 20-1 to move to the top of Pool B.&nbsp;India started strongly against Japan and took the lead through Lalremsiami’s field goal. They continued to put pressure on the hosts, although Japan defended well and created a few chances of their own.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ex-liverpool-forward-mohamed-salah-banned-from-driving-in-united-kingdom-for-six-months-1790323354898">Ex-Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah banned from driving in United Kingdom for six months</a>&nbsp;India earned five penalty corners in the first half but converted only one, with Ishika scoring from a rebound after Navneet’s initial effort was saved.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-games-2026-how-suruchi-and-kamaljeet-ended-india-s-wait-for-shooting-gold-1790317558360">Asian Games 2026: How Suruchi and Kamaljeet ended India's wait for shooting gold</a>&nbsp;India extended their lead six minutes into the third quarter when Navneet produced a fine scoop after some excellent stickwork. The visitors dominated the period with sharp interceptions and a well-organised defence.&nbsp;Japan improved in the final quarter and reduced the deficit through Kobayakawa’s powerful tomahawk, however, India stayed composed and defended strongly, including against a late Japanese penalty corner, to secure another win.

India secured a 3-1 win over hosts Japan to make it four consecutive victories in the women’s hockey competition, strengthening their position in the race for the semi-finals after another impressive Pool B performance.

The Indian women’s hockey team continued its unbeaten run at the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya, Japan, with a 3-1 win over the hosts on Friday (Sep 25). The victory was India’s fourth in a row and put them in a strong position to reach the semifinals. Lalremsiami opened the scoring in the fifth minute before Ishika Chaudhary doubled India’s lead in the 30th minute. Navneet Kaur then made it 3-0 in the 36th minute. Japan pulled one back through Shiho Kobayakawa in the 46th minute, but India held on for a comfortable win. India will play Singapore in their final Pool B match on Sunday. The Indian team had started the tournament with a 19-0 win over Uzbekistan and followed it with a 17-1 victory against Indonesia before thrashing Thailand 20-1 to move to the top of Pool B. India started strongly against Japan and took the lead through Lalremsiami’s field goal. They continued to put pressure on the hosts, although Japan defended well and created a few chances of their own. Also Read - Ex-Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah banned from driving in United Kingdom for six months India earned five penalty corners in the first half but converted only one, with Ishika scoring from a rebound after Navneet’s initial effort was saved. Also Read - Asian Games 2026: How Suruchi and Kamaljeet ended India's wait for shooting gold India extended their lead six minutes into the third quarter when Navneet produced a fine scoop after some excellent stickwork. The visitors dominated the period with sharp interceptions and a well-organised defence. Japan improved in the final quarter and reduced the deficit through Kobayakawa’s powerful tomahawk, however, India stayed composed and defended strongly, including against a late Japanese penalty corner, to secure another win.

India secured a 3-1 win over hosts Japan to make it four consecutive victories in the women’s hockey competition, strengthening their position in the race for the semi-finals after another impressive Pool B performance.

Asian Games, Hockey: India women strengthen semifinal hopes with 3-1 win over Japan

India finally has a gold medal in the Asian Games 2026 shooting events, and that too in some style. The Haryana-based duo of Suruchi Singh and Kamaljeet, on Friday (Sept. 25), won the gold medal in the 10m air pistol mixed-team event and set a new Asian Games record in the process. This is also India's second gold in the continental games, following the Indian women's cricket team's gold. Before this maiden gold, Indian shooters had won five silver and three bronze medals across events. Manu Bhaker, the double Olympic medallist from Paris 2024, was expected to win gold but failed to clinch any medal in a disappointing campaign.<h2>How Suruchi and Kamaljeet won India's first shooting gold at the Asian Games</h2>First, Suruchi and Kamaljeet equalled the Asian Record in qualification by shooting a total of 587, matching the milestone set by Indian pair Manu Bhaker and Saurabh Chaudhary at the ISSF World Cup in 2021. They fell short of the Qualification World Record of 591, held by China, by just four points. The Indian pair shot 196, 195, and 196 across the three series to equal the record.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-games-2026-seema-breaks-16-year-drought-for-india-in-women-s-10-000m-with-historic-bronze-1790260746130">Seema breaks 16-year drought for India in women’s 10,000m with historic bronze</a>In the final event, which saw competition between the top four pairs, the Haryana duo shot 103.0, 99.4, 101.1, 61.2, 60.2, and 59.7 to win the gold with a total of 484.6 — setting an Asian Games Record. South Korea won the silver in the event with a total of 478.0, while the bronze went to Iran with a total of 415.8.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">GOLD, WITH A RECORD TO MATCH! 🥇 Suruchi Singh and Kamaljeet seal the gold for India with a new Asian Record of 484.6! 🤩 Watch the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 on Sony Sports Network TV channels &amp; Sony LIV.<a href="https://x.com/hashtag/SonySportsNetwork?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SonySportsNetwork</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/SonyLIV?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SonyLIV</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/AsianGames?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AsianGames</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/AichiNagoya2026?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AichiNagoya2026</a>… <a href="https://t.co/lvEtHemMAO">pic.twitter.com/lvEtHemMAO</a>&mdash; Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) <a href="https://x.com/SonySportsNetwk/status/2103343609173213537?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Speaking on the achievement, National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) President Shri Kalikesh Singh Deo said, “This is a remarkable achievement by Suruchi and Kamaljeet. To deliver under pressure, win gold and rewrite the Asian Games Record on the Asian Games stage speaks volumes about their talent, preparation and composure. Their performance is a proud moment for Indian shooting, and I congratulate both shooters on this outstanding achievement.”

Haryana duo Suruchi Singh and Kamaljeet won India's second Asian Games 2026 gold in the 10m air pistol mixed-team event with an Asian-record score of 484.6, following the women's cricket team's gold.

India finally has a gold medal in the Asian Games 2026 shooting events, and that too in some style. The Haryana-based duo of Suruchi Singh and Kamaljeet, on Friday (Sept. 25), won the gold medal in the 10m air pistol mixed-team event and set a new Asian Games record in the process. This is also India's second gold in the continental games, following the Indian women's cricket team's gold. Before this maiden gold, Indian shooters had won five silver and three bronze medals across events. Manu Bhaker, the double Olympic medallist from Paris 2024, was expected to win gold but failed to clinch any medal in a disappointing campaign. How Suruchi and Kamaljeet won India's first shooting gold at the Asian Games First, Suruchi and Kamaljeet equalled the Asian Record in qualification by shooting a total of 587, matching the milestone set by Indian pair Manu Bhaker and Saurabh Chaudhary at the ISSF World Cup in 2021. They fell short of the Qualification World Record of 591, held by China, by just four points. The Indian pair shot 196, 195, and 196 across the three series to equal the record. Also Read - Seema breaks 16-year drought for India in women’s 10,000m with historic bronze In the final event, which saw competition between the top four pairs, the Haryana duo shot 103.0, 99.4, 101.1, 61.2, 60.2, and 59.7 to win the gold with a total of 484.6 — setting an Asian Games Record. South Korea won the silver in the event with a total of 478.0, while the bronze went to Iran with a total of 415.8.

Haryana duo Suruchi Singh and Kamaljeet won India's second Asian Games 2026 gold in the 10m air pistol mixed-team event with an Asian-record score of 484.6, following the women's cricket team's gold.

Asian Games 2026: How Suruchi and Kamaljeet ended India's wait for shooting gold

Pakistan batter Sahibzada Farhan, who went viral for his AK-47 gun celebration in the Asia Cup against India, hopes to lead his team beyond the Asian Games. Farhan has been named captain of the Pakistan cricket team for the ongoing Asian Games in Japan, in which the Men in Green start their campaign on September 28 as one of the seeded teams. Apart from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka will also start their campaigns directly from the quarter-finals. Pakistan has fielded a rather inexperienced side for the continental games, but Farhan isn't fazed by that and looks to lead by example.<h2>Farhan, who went viral for AK-47 celebration, speaks on leading Pakistan in Asian Games</h2>"It is quite a proud moment to be leading Pakistan," said Farhan while talking to reporters on the sidelines of Pakistan's preparatory camp in Karachi. "There is no pressure on me whether I play as a captain or a player and I will continue to bat how I usually do [in an aggressive manner] … The players observe what their captain does, so as a captain you have to lead by example, which I intend to do."Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/west-indies-coach-sammy-looking-at-india-series-as-opportunity-to-finetune-ahead-of-odi-world-cup-2027-qualifiers-1790305816922">West Indies coach Sammy looking at India series as opportunity to finetune ahead of ODI World Cup 2027 qualifiers</a>As for Pakistan's inexperienced side for the Asian Games, Farhan added: "It is not like the players who have been selected for the Asian Games are inexperienced. They have all played international cricket [or] came into the team after proving themselves in domestic cricket and the PSL. I have a lot of confidence in these players."<h2>Pakistan squad for Asian Games men's cricket</h2>Sahibzada Farhan (capt), Abdul Samad (vice-capt), Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Akif Javed, Ali Raza, Arafat Minhas, Haider Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Saad Masood, Saim Ayub, Sufyan Muqeem, and Usman Khan (wicket-keeper).

Pakistan captain Sahibzada Farhan, known for his AK-47 celebration in the Asia Cup, aims to lead his team at the Asian Games in Japan, starting September 28, despite an inexperienced squad.

Pakistan batter Sahibzada Farhan, who went viral for his AK-47 gun celebration in the Asia Cup against India, hopes to lead his team beyond the Asian Games. Farhan has been named captain of the Pakistan cricket team for the ongoing Asian Games in Japan, in which the Men in Green start their campaign on September 28 as one of the seeded teams. Apart from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka will also start their campaigns directly from the quarter-finals. Pakistan has fielded a rather inexperienced side for the continental games, but Farhan isn't fazed by that and looks to lead by example. Farhan, who went viral for AK-47 celebration, speaks on leading Pakistan in Asian Games "It is quite a proud moment to be leading Pakistan," said Farhan while talking to reporters on the sidelines of Pakistan's preparatory camp in Karachi. "There is no pressure on me whether I play as a captain or a player and I will continue to bat how I usually do [in an aggressive manner] … The players observe what their captain does, so as a captain you have to lead by example, which I intend to do." Also Read - West Indies coach Sammy looking at India series as opportunity to finetune ahead of ODI World Cup 2027 qualifiers As for Pakistan's inexperienced side for the Asian Games, Farhan added: "It is not like the players who have been selected for the Asian Games are inexperienced. They have all played international cricket [or] came into the team after proving themselves in domestic cricket and the PSL. I have a lot of confidence in these players." Pakistan squad for Asian Games men's cricket Sahibzada Farhan (capt), Abdul Samad (vice-capt), Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Akif Javed, Ali Raza, Arafat Minhas, Haider Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Saad Masood, Saim Ayub, Sufyan Muqeem, and Usman Khan (wicket-keeper).

Pakistan captain Sahibzada Farhan, known for his AK-47 celebration in the Asia Cup, aims to lead his team at the Asian Games in Japan, starting September 28, despite an inexperienced squad.

Farhan, who went viral for AK47 celebration vs India in Asia Cup, hopes to lead Pakistan beyond Asian Games

India had a strong Day 5 at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya on Thursday (Sep 24), winning five medals across shooting, rowing, wushu and athletics. The day began with Parinaaz Dhaliwal and Anantjeet Singh Naruka winning bronze in the mixed team skeet event. Both shooters had earlier won bronze in their respective women’s and men’s team events.&nbsp;India’s second medal came in rowing, where Satnam Singh and Salman Khan finished third in the men’s double sculls. The Indian pair were second at the 1,500m mark but dropped to third in the final 500m. They clocked 6:13.25 at the Nagaragawa International Regatta Course, finishing 3.88 seconds behind gold medallists China.&nbsp;Roshibina Devi then won silver in wushu and created history for India, as she became the country’s most successful wushu player at the Asian Games after securing her third consecutive medal at the continental event.&nbsp;Athlete Seema Kumari added another bronze to India’s tally in the women’s 10,000m final. She clocked 32:50.05 to become India’s first medallist in the event at the Asian Games in 16 years.&nbsp;&nbsp;India’s fifth medal of the day came in the mixed 4x400m relay, with Poovamma Raju, Vishal Thennarasu, Vithya Ramraj and Manu TS won silver with a time of 3:14.46. The quartet successfully defended the silver medal India won in the event at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games. Bahrain took gold in a Games-record time of 3:12.87.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-games-2026-seema-breaks-16-year-drought-for-india-in-women-s-10-000m-with-historic-bronze-1790260746130">Asian Games 2026: Seema breaks 16-year drought for India in women’s 10,000m with historic bronze</a><h3>India remain unbeaten in kabaddi</h3>India’s men’s and women’s kabaddi teams continued their unbeaten runs and stayed on course to defend their Asian Games gold medals.&nbsp;The men’s team defeated Chinese Taipei 37-21, while the women’s team registered a convincing 50-25 win over Japan. The victory also helped the women’s team reach the semifinals and secure at least a bronze medal.<h3>Anahat, Tanvi set up all-Indian squash quarterfinal</h3>India made good progress in squash as Anahat Singh and Tanvi Khanna advanced to the women’s singles quarterfinals after winning their respective matches, setting up an all-Indian last-eight clash.&nbsp;In the men’s singles, Abhay Singh beat Sri Lanka’s Ravindu Laksiri 3-0 in 25 minutes and won 11-5, 11-6, 11-0. Veer Chotrani also advanced after a tough 3-2 win over Malaysia’s Sanjay Jeeva in a match that lasted one hour and nine minutes.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tyson-fury-vs-anthony-joshua-british-heavyweight-showdown-set-for-dec-11-in-cardiff-1790255128282">Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua: British heavyweight showdown set for Dec 11</a>&nbsp;Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar also moved into the mixed doubles quarterfinals after defeating fellow Indians Suraj Chand and Shameena Riaz in straight games.<h3>Dilpreet hat-trick powers India past Korea</h3>The Indian men’s hockey team strengthened its position at the top of Pool A with an 8-2 win over Korea.&nbsp;Forward Dilpreet Singh was the star performer, scoring a hat-trick as India registered its third straight victory and strengthened its position in the race for a semifinal spot.<h3>Bhavani Devi exits after Round of 16</h3>India’s fencing campaign ended without a medal after C A Bhavani Devi and Shreya Gupta were eliminated from the women’s individual sabre event.&nbsp;Bhavani, India’s first fencer to compete at the Olympics, defeated Mongolia’s Oulen Tugsjargan 15-8 in the round of 32 to reach the last 16. However, she lost 5-15 to China’s Rao Xueyi in the pre-quarterfinals.

India added five medals on Day 5 as Seema Kumari and the mixed 4x400m relay secured athletics medals, while shooting, wushu and rowing also contributed to the haul.

India had a strong Day 5 at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya on Thursday (Sep 24), winning five medals across shooting, rowing, wushu and athletics. The day began with Parinaaz Dhaliwal and Anantjeet Singh Naruka winning bronze in the mixed team skeet event. Both shooters had earlier won bronze in their respective women’s and men’s team events. India’s second medal came in rowing, where Satnam Singh and Salman Khan finished third in the men’s double sculls. The Indian pair were second at the 1,500m mark but dropped to third in the final 500m. They clocked 6:13.25 at the Nagaragawa International Regatta Course, finishing 3.88 seconds behind gold medallists China. Roshibina Devi then won silver in wushu and created history for India, as she became the country’s most successful wushu player at the Asian Games after securing her third consecutive medal at the continental event. Athlete Seema Kumari added another bronze to India’s tally in the women’s 10,000m final. She clocked 32:50.05 to become India’s first medallist in the event at the Asian Games in 16 years. India’s fifth medal of the day came in the mixed 4x400m relay, with Poovamma Raju, Vishal Thennarasu, Vithya Ramraj and Manu TS won silver with a time of 3:14.46. The quartet successfully defended the silver medal India won in the event at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games. Bahrain took gold in a Games-record time of 3:12.87. Also Read - Asian Games 2026: Seema breaks 16-year drought for India in women’s 10,000m with historic bronze India remain unbeaten in kabaddi India’s men’s and women’s kabaddi teams continued their unbeaten runs and stayed on course to defend their Asian Games gold medals. The men’s team defeated Chinese Taipei 37-21, while the women’s team registered a convincing 50-25 win over Japan. The victory also helped the women’s team reach the semifinals and secure at least a bronze medal. Anahat, Tanvi set up all-Indian squash quarterfinal India made good progress in squash as Anahat Singh and Tanvi Khanna advanced to the women’s singles quarterfinals after winning their respective matches, setting up an all-Indian last-eight clash. In the men’s singles, Abhay Singh beat Sri Lanka’s Ravindu Laksiri 3-0 in 25 minutes and won 11-5, 11-6, 11-0. Veer Chotrani also advanced after a tough 3-2 win over Malaysia’s Sanjay Jeeva in a match that lasted one hour and nine minutes. Also Read - Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua: British heavyweight showdown set for Dec 11 Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar also moved into the mixed doubles quarterfinals after defeating fellow Indians Suraj Chand and Shameena Riaz in straight games. Dilpreet hat-trick powers India past Korea The Indian men’s hockey team strengthened its position at the top of Pool A with an 8-2 win over Korea. Forward Dilpreet Singh was the star performer, scoring a hat-trick as India registered its third straight victory and strengthened its position in the race for a semifinal spot. Bhavani Devi exits after Round of 16 India’s fencing campaign ended without a medal after C A Bhavani Devi and Shreya Gupta were eliminated from the women’s individual sabre event. Bhavani, India’s first fencer to compete at the Olympics, defeated Mongolia’s Oulen Tugsjargan 15-8 in the round of 32 to reach the last 16. However, she lost 5-15 to China’s Rao Xueyi in the pre-quarterfinals.

India added five medals on Day 5 as Seema Kumari and the mixed 4x400m relay secured athletics medals, while shooting, wushu and rowing also contributed to the haul.

Asian Games 2026 Day 5: Seema, mixed relay shine with athletics medals, Roshibina takes Wushu silver

India’s long wait for a medal in the women’s 10,000m at the Asian Games has ended, as Seema Kumari produced a strong performance in the final on Thursday to win the bronze medal and end a 16-year wait for India in the event. Seema clocked 32:50.05 to finish third in a closely fought race, winning India’s third-ever Asian Games medal in the women’s 10,000m. Bahrain’s Winfred Yavi won the gold in 32:39.18, while Japan’s Nozomi Tanaka claimed silver with a time of 32:41.54.&nbsp;Yavi and Tanaka battled closely for the gold medal in the final stages, with the Bahraini athlete eventually pulling ahead. Seema, meanwhile, maintained her position and kept the chasing runners behind her to secure the bronze.&nbsp;Her medal is India’s first in the women’s 10,000m at the Asian Games since 2010. It is also Indian athletics’ first podium finish at the ongoing Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tyson-fury-vs-anthony-joshua-british-heavyweight-showdown-set-for-dec-11-in-cardiff-1790255128282">Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua: British heavyweight showdown set for Dec 11 in Cardiff</a>&nbsp;The race demanded patience and endurance, with the leading runners gradually breaking away from the rest of the field.&nbsp;Yavi and Tanaka eventually moved clear and turned the closing stages into a battle for gold. While Seema could not match their pace, she had done enough earlier in the race to stay in medal contention.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-pan-international-friendly-when-and-where-to-watch-live-streaming-in-india-1790250626472">IND vs PAN, international friendly: Where to watch live streaming in India?</a>&nbsp;She kept pushing until the finish and crossed the line in 32:50.05 to secure a memorable bronze for India.<h3>Women’s 10,000m final results</h3><ul><li>Winfred Yavi (Bahrain) - 32:39.18</li><li>Nozomi Tanaka (Japan) - 32:41.54</li><li>Seema Kumari (India) - 32:50.05</li></ul>

Indian track and field athlete Seema Kumari clinched a landmark bronze medal in the women’s 10,000m final at the Asian Games on Thursday, clocking 32:50.05.

India’s long wait for a medal in the women’s 10,000m at the Asian Games has ended, as Seema Kumari produced a strong performance in the final on Thursday to win the bronze medal and end a 16-year wait for India in the event. Seema clocked 32:50.05 to finish third in a closely fought race, winning India’s third-ever Asian Games medal in the women’s 10,000m. Bahrain’s Winfred Yavi won the gold in 32:39.18, while Japan’s Nozomi Tanaka claimed silver with a time of 32:41.54. Yavi and Tanaka battled closely for the gold medal in the final stages, with the Bahraini athlete eventually pulling ahead. Seema, meanwhile, maintained her position and kept the chasing runners behind her to secure the bronze. Her medal is India’s first in the women’s 10,000m at the Asian Games since 2010. It is also Indian athletics’ first podium finish at the ongoing Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Also Read - Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua: British heavyweight showdown set for Dec 11 in Cardiff The race demanded patience and endurance, with the leading runners gradually breaking away from the rest of the field. Yavi and Tanaka eventually moved clear and turned the closing stages into a battle for gold. While Seema could not match their pace, she had done enough earlier in the race to stay in medal contention. Also Read - IND vs PAN, international friendly: Where to watch live streaming in India? She kept pushing until the finish and crossed the line in 32:50.05 to secure a memorable bronze for India. Women’s 10,000m final results Winfred Yavi (Bahrain) - 32:39.18 Nozomi Tanaka (Japan) - 32:41.54 Seema Kumari (India) - 32:50.05

Indian track and field athlete Seema Kumari clinched a landmark bronze medal in the women’s 10,000m final at the Asian Games on Thursday, clocking 32:50.05.

Asian Games 2026: Seema breaks 16-year drought for India in women’s 10,000m with historic bronze

Pakistan coach Mike Hesson has said that "India are the benchmark" when it comes to white-ball cricket. The statement came during a pre-departure camp for the Asian Games, where Pakistan is one of the four seeded teams along with India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. All four seeded teams will start their campaign in the quarter-finals. Pakistan is coming off a Test series whitewash against England in England, along with tour drama that involved seven players being dropped after the second Test and red-ball head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul being sacked.<h2>Pak coach Hesson sets India as benchmark in white-ball cricket</h2>"India are the benchmark in terms of white-ball cricket at the moment, and our challenge is to catch up to that," Hesson said at the training camp while talking to reporters.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2027-mini-auction-to-be-held-in-goa-in-december-confirms-bcci-secretary-saikia-1790220012165">IPL 2027 mini-auction to be held in Goa in December, confirms BCCI secretary Saikia</a>"We are preparing as best as we can and if we get an opportunity to play [India], we will certainly put them under pressure as we were able to do in the final of the Asia Cup. There is a lot of cricket to be played between now and the final for both sides, so we are not getting too far ahead of ourselves."In the Asia Cup last year, Pakistan won matches against all teams but lost to India three times, including in the final."We have lost to India on multiple occasions, and that is the benchmark for all the Pakistani teams, we understand that," acknowledged Hesson.<h2>Asian Games men's cricket schedule</h2>The four seeded teams—India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka—will start their campaign on September 28 in the quarter-finals. Pakistan will face the runners-up of Group B, which consists of Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Japan, on September 28 in the first quarter-final. &nbsp;Pakistan squad for Asian Games men's cricketSahibzada Farhan (capt), Abdul Samad (vice-capt), Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Akif Javed, Ali Raza, Arafat Minhas, Haider Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Saad Masood, Saim Ayub, Sufyan Moqim, and Usman Khan (wicket-keeper)

Pakistan white-ball coach Mike Hesson called India the benchmark ahead of the Asian Games quarter-finals on Sep 28. Pakistan enter the tournament following a 3-0 Test series defeat to England.

Pakistan coach Mike Hesson has said that "India are the benchmark" when it comes to white-ball cricket. The statement came during a pre-departure camp for the Asian Games, where Pakistan is one of the four seeded teams along with India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. All four seeded teams will start their campaign in the quarter-finals. Pakistan is coming off a Test series whitewash against England in England, along with tour drama that involved seven players being dropped after the second Test and red-ball head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul being sacked. Pak coach Hesson sets India as benchmark in white-ball cricket "India are the benchmark in terms of white-ball cricket at the moment, and our challenge is to catch up to that," Hesson said at the training camp while talking to reporters. Also Read - IPL 2027 mini-auction to be held in Goa in December, confirms BCCI secretary Saikia "We are preparing as best as we can and if we get an opportunity to play [India], we will certainly put them under pressure as we were able to do in the final of the Asia Cup. There is a lot of cricket to be played between now and the final for both sides, so we are not getting too far ahead of ourselves." In the Asia Cup last year, Pakistan won matches against all teams but lost to India three times, including in the final. "We have lost to India on multiple occasions, and that is the benchmark for all the Pakistani teams, we understand that," acknowledged Hesson. Asian Games men's cricket schedule The four seeded teams—India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka—will start their campaign on September 28 in the quarter-finals. Pakistan will face the runners-up of Group B, which consists of Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Japan, on September 28 in the first quarter-final. Pakistan squad for Asian Games men's cricket Sahibzada Farhan (capt), Abdul Samad (vice-capt), Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Akif Javed, Ali Raza, Arafat Minhas, Haider Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Saad Masood, Saim Ayub, Sufyan Moqim, and Usman Khan (wicket-keeper)

Pakistan white-ball coach Mike Hesson called India the benchmark ahead of the Asian Games quarter-finals on Sep 28. Pakistan enter the tournament following a 3-0 Test series defeat to England.

'India benchmark for all Pakistani teams,' says head coach Mike Hesson ahead of Asian Games

India's star weightlifter Mirabai Chanu has finally gotten her elusive Asiad medal, winning a silver in women's 49kg weightlifting at the ongoing 2026 Asian Games on Wednesday (Sep 23). Chanu's medal is the first for India in weightlifting since Karnam Malleswari's silver in 1998. This is also Mirabai's first Asian Games medal, adding to her Olympic silver (Tokyo 2020), and titles at the World Championships, Asian Championships, and Commonwealth Games. Chanu had heartbreakingly missed winning a medal in the last edition of the Asian Games in Hangzhou (2023), China, where she finished fourth after injuring herself on her final clean and jerk attempt.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-games-2026-afghan-cyclist-who-fled-after-taliban-came-to-power-defies-all-odds-to-win-women-s-silver-1790137828980">Asian Games 2026: Afghan cyclist, who fled after Taliban came to power, defies all odds to win women's silver</a><h2>How Mirabai Chanu won the elusive Asian Games medal</h2>Mirabai was impressive during the snatch part of the event, lifting progressively 83 kg, 85 kg, and 87 kg in her three attempts. In the clean and jerk, she lifted 107 kg in her first attempt and 111 kg in her second attempt to take her total to 198 kg, which proved good enough for the silver medal. Watch her win the silver below:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Mirabai Chanu nails all her three Snatch attempts, successfully lifting 83kg, 85kg and 87kg in a perfect start to her Asian Games campaign! 🔥 Watch the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya LIVE on Sony Sports Network TV channels &amp; Sony LIV.<a href="https://x.com/hashtag/SonySportsNetwork?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SonySportsNetwork</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/SonyLIV?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SonyLIV</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/AsianGames?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AsianGames</a>… <a href="https://t.co/E1DnrjOhuB">pic.twitter.com/E1DnrjOhuB</a>&mdash; Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) <a href="https://x.com/SonySportsNetwk/status/2102640716120002640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 23, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The gold was won by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s Ri Song Gum with a total weight of 215 kg (94 kg + 121 kg). The bronze medal went to Indonesia’s Luluk Diana Tri Wijayana with a total weight of 191 kg (88 kg + 103 kg).<h2>How other Indian athletes performed</h2>In other results, shooter Manu Bhaker, who had won two medals at the Paris Olympics 2024, finished fifth in the 10m air pistol final. The Indian men's and women's teams, however, won bronze in their respective skeet events.Jay Meena, meanwhile, won India's maiden soft tennis medal, clinching a bronze after losing to Japan’s Takuya Kurosaka in the men's singles semifinal.Boxer Ankush Panghal moved into the quarterfinals of the men's 80kg event with a 5-0 win over Bahrain’s Hamza Vogel.

Mirabai Chanu won silver in the women’s 49kg weightlifting at the 2026 Asian Games with a 198kg lift. It is her maiden Asiad medal and India's first weightlifting medal since 1998.

India's star weightlifter Mirabai Chanu has finally gotten her elusive Asiad medal, winning a silver in women's 49kg weightlifting at the ongoing 2026 Asian Games on Wednesday (Sep 23). Chanu's medal is the first for India in weightlifting since Karnam Malleswari's silver in 1998. This is also Mirabai's first Asian Games medal, adding to her Olympic silver (Tokyo 2020), and titles at the World Championships, Asian Championships, and Commonwealth Games. Chanu had heartbreakingly missed winning a medal in the last edition of the Asian Games in Hangzhou (2023), China, where she finished fourth after injuring herself on her final clean and jerk attempt. Also Read - Asian Games 2026: Afghan cyclist, who fled after Taliban came to power, defies all odds to win women's silver How Mirabai Chanu won the elusive Asian Games medal Mirabai was impressive during the snatch part of the event, lifting progressively 83 kg, 85 kg, and 87 kg in her three attempts. In the clean and jerk, she lifted 107 kg in her first attempt and 111 kg in her second attempt to take her total to 198 kg, which proved good enough for the silver medal. Watch her win the silver below:

Mirabai Chanu won silver in the women’s 49kg weightlifting at the 2026 Asian Games with a 198kg lift. It is her maiden Asiad medal and India's first weightlifting medal since 1998.

Asian Games 2026: Mirabai Chanu ends India's weightlifting medal drought with silver in 49kg category

Fariba Hashimi, an Afghan cyclist, defied all odds to win a silver medal on Tuesday (Sep 22) at the 2026 Asian Games, currently underway in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Hashimi, who fled her country after the Taliban returned to power in 2021, now lives in Italy and hopes that her win inspires women in her homeland, where they are subjected to various restrictions. The 23-year-old came second behind China’s Guo Li in the women’s road race after overcoming many obstacles, including not having a proper team.<h2>How Hashimi defied odds to win cycling silver at Asian Games 2026</h2>Hashimi hails from Faryab province in northern Afghanistan. She was attacked with stones when she started out and disguised herself as a man to practice, reports news agency AFP.“I was born inside a country where women who dream are getting attacked, and I’m really happy that I have fought against that,” she said. “I hope that the next generation will come here and represent their country without any fear.”Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/harmanpreet-kaur-asian-games-2026-gold-medal-reaction-1790097981833">'Opened gate of gold medals': Harmanpreet Kaur on India’s Asian Games final win</a>“They took away our freedom, they took away everything from us. This silver medal can show a lot of resilience from Afghan women, and I’m really happy. I’m not alone; I know that behind me, millions of women from many countries have the same dream, and they are standing with me.”After fleeing Afghanistan, Fariba and her sister Yulduz, who is also a cyclist, settled in Italy with the help of former world champion Alessandra Cappellotto. The sisters also competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics and now look forward to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.Fariba also had a word of praise for host nation Japan, revealing: “I’m here without a mechanic, without any preparation. We brought one guy with us from the national federation, and he just drove the car. We were fixing the bike ourselves. I was the mechanic for myself. I was washing the bike myself. Thank you to the Japanese team. They were really, really nice to me and fixed my bike.”&nbsp;

Afghan cyclist Fariba Hashimi won silver in the women’s road race at the 2026 Asian Games. Living in Italy after fleeing the Taliban, she overcame a lack of support to inspire Afghan women.

Fariba Hashimi, an Afghan cyclist, defied all odds to win a silver medal on Tuesday (Sep 22) at the 2026 Asian Games, currently underway in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Hashimi, who fled her country after the Taliban returned to power in 2021, now lives in Italy and hopes that her win inspires women in her homeland, where they are subjected to various restrictions. The 23-year-old came second behind China’s Guo Li in the women’s road race after overcoming many obstacles, including not having a proper team. How Hashimi defied odds to win cycling silver at Asian Games 2026 Hashimi hails from Faryab province in northern Afghanistan. She was attacked with stones when she started out and disguised herself as a man to practice, reports news agency AFP. “I was born inside a country where women who dream are getting attacked, and I’m really happy that I have fought against that,” she said. “I hope that the next generation will come here and represent their country without any fear.” Also Read - 'Opened gate of gold medals': Harmanpreet Kaur on India’s Asian Games final win “They took away our freedom, they took away everything from us. This silver medal can show a lot of resilience from Afghan women, and I’m really happy. I’m not alone; I know that behind me, millions of women from many countries have the same dream, and they are standing with me.” After fleeing Afghanistan, Fariba and her sister Yulduz, who is also a cyclist, settled in Italy with the help of former world champion Alessandra Cappellotto. The sisters also competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics and now look forward to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Fariba also had a word of praise for host nation Japan, revealing: “I’m here without a mechanic, without any preparation. We brought one guy with us from the national federation, and he just drove the car. We were fixing the bike ourselves. I was the mechanic for myself. I was washing the bike myself. Thank you to the Japanese team. They were really, really nice to me and fixed my bike.”

Afghan cyclist Fariba Hashimi won silver in the women’s road race at the 2026 Asian Games. Living in Italy after fleeing the Taliban, she overcame a lack of support to inspire Afghan women.

Asian Games 2026: Afghan cyclist, who fled after Taliban came to power,  defies all odds to win women's silver

India defended its women's cricket gold medal with a dominating 147-run win over Sri Lanka Women at the Asian Games 2026 on Tuesday (Sep 22) at Nisshin. This is India's first gold medal at the Asian Games 2026. The win came after India posted a mammoth 216/3 in its 20 overs. In reply, Sri Lanka was bowled out for a paltry 69 runs in 15.4 overs. India, which recently won the women's T20 Asia Cup by beating Sri Lanka in the final, had also won the 2023 Asian Games gold medal in the event.<h2>India batters dismantle Sri Lanka bowlers</h2>Batting first, India openers Smriti Mandhana (79 off 45) and Shafali Verma (48 off 29) added 99 runs for the opening wicket before Verma was dismissed at the 10-over mark. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (19 off 17) then joined Mandhana at the crease, and the duo added 42 runs for the second wicket. In the last four overs, India lost Mandhana, but Richa Ghosh smashed an unbeaten 49 off 22 balls to take India to a formidable total.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-jpn-one-off-t20i-india-survive-scare-from-japan-to-win-five-over-a-side-match-by-2-runs-1790064919299">IND vs JPN one-off T20I: India survive scare from Japan to win five-over a side match by 2 runs</a>During the chase, the Sri Lankan innings could never get going, and they were 49/5 inside nine overs. The Indian bowlers didn't take much time to dismiss the rest of the Sri Lankan batting line-up, taking the remaining five wickets for just 20 runs. Deepti Sharma picked up 3/6, while Shafali, Shreyanka Patil, and Shree Charani picked up two wickets each.<h2>Pakistan beat Bangladesh to win bronze medal</h2>In the bronze medal match, Pakistan Women beat Bangladesh Women to clinch the bronze medal. Batting first, the Pak women scored 145/8 and stopped Bangladesh Women at 114/7 in 20 overs to clinch third place in the event.

India defended their women's cricket gold medal with a dominating 147-run win over Sri Lanka women at the Asian Games 2026 on Tuesday (Sep 22) at Nisshin.

India defended its women's cricket gold medal with a dominating 147-run win over Sri Lanka Women at the Asian Games 2026 on Tuesday (Sep 22) at Nisshin. This is India's first gold medal at the Asian Games 2026. The win came after India posted a mammoth 216/3 in its 20 overs. In reply, Sri Lanka was bowled out for a paltry 69 runs in 15.4 overs. India, which recently won the women's T20 Asia Cup by beating Sri Lanka in the final, had also won the 2023 Asian Games gold medal in the event. India batters dismantle Sri Lanka bowlers Batting first, India openers Smriti Mandhana (79 off 45) and Shafali Verma (48 off 29) added 99 runs for the opening wicket before Verma was dismissed at the 10-over mark. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (19 off 17) then joined Mandhana at the crease, and the duo added 42 runs for the second wicket. In the last four overs, India lost Mandhana, but Richa Ghosh smashed an unbeaten 49 off 22 balls to take India to a formidable total. Also Read - IND vs JPN one-off T20I: India survive scare from Japan to win five-over a side match by 2 runs During the chase, the Sri Lankan innings could never get going, and they were 49/5 inside nine overs. The Indian bowlers didn't take much time to dismiss the rest of the Sri Lankan batting line-up, taking the remaining five wickets for just 20 runs. Deepti Sharma picked up 3/6, while Shafali, Shreyanka Patil, and Shree Charani picked up two wickets each. Pakistan beat Bangladesh to win bronze medal In the bronze medal match, Pakistan Women beat Bangladesh Women to clinch the bronze medal. Batting first, the Pak women scored 145/8 and stopped Bangladesh Women at 114/7 in 20 overs to clinch third place in the event.

India defended their women's cricket gold medal with a dominating 147-run win over Sri Lanka women at the Asian Games 2026 on Tuesday (Sep 22) at Nisshin.

Asian Games 2026: India beat Sri Lanka in final to defend women's cricket gold

India's Suchika Tariyal, who won a bronze medal in women's 60kg Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) on Monday (Sep 21) at the Asian Games 2026, broke down in tears after missing the gold medal match by just 700 grams. Tariyal fought against Singapore's Hui Hoon Teo in the semifinal of the event. The match initially resulted in favor of Teo but was declared a draw after an Indian challenge. Post the draw, the morning weigh-in weight of both fighters was checked as per the Asian Games rules, which ended in Teo's favor, and Tariyal was left with a bronze medal.<h2>How Tariyal lost the gold medal match because of weight?</h2>The event saw two fighters going against each other in two rounds. Once the rounds were over, the judges ruled the bout in favor of Teo. The Indian camp promptly challenged the decision, after which the bout result was reviewed by independent judges, who turned it into a 1-1 draw. The fighters then fought in a 1-minute extra round, but a result could not be determined.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Suchika Tariyal leaves the MMA arena with a historic Bronze for India at the Asian Games after a strong fightback 🥉 Watch the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya LIVE on Sony Sports Network TV channels &amp; Sony LIV.<a href="https://x.com/hashtag/SonySportsNetwork?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SonySportsNetwork</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/SonyLIV?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SonyLIV</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/AsianGames?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AsianGames</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/BaarBaarBharatHarBaarBharat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BaarBaarBharatHarBaarBharat</a> <a href="https://t.co/nzTmxBww43">pic.twitter.com/nzTmxBww43</a>&mdash; Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) <a href="https://x.com/SonySportsNetwk/status/2101921196350804390?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

As per the Asian Games rulebook, the morning weigh-in weight of both fighters was then considered to settle the winner. Teo, who weighed 700 grams lighter than Tariyal, was eventually declared the winner.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/had-to-cut-weight-alone-mma-fighter-varun-sanyal-opens-up-on-withdrawal-1789997871159">'Had to cut weight alone….': MMA fighter Varun Sanyal opens up on withdrawal</a>"After the Indian challenge, the result of the bout was declared drawn. The winner was then decided on the basis of the weights of competing athletes according to morning weigh-in," MMA Sports Federation president Nikhil Kunder told PTI."Since the Singaporean was lighter than Suchika by around 700 grams, she moved to the final. Suchika settled for bronze," he added.<h2>What Tariyal said after the bronze medal win?</h2>Tariyal was not pleased with the result and said, as quoted by PTI: "I am a little disappointed with the result of today's bout because I thought I won the fight. I am not able to agree with the result. I was saying that this is not fair.""This is not fair. Because if you look at a player, he or she gives 100 per cent everywhere. And if you feel that the decision is unfair, then it is my right (to express myself)."The fighter, however, was happy to win a medal nonetheless, and added: "I have given my 100 per cent and worked hard to reach here. I am happy I have won a bronze medal for the country."

India's Suchika Tariyal won 60kg MMA bronze at the 2026 Asian Games after a tied semifinal against Singapore's Hui Hoon Teo was decided by morning weigh-ins, with Teo 700g lighter.

India's Suchika Tariyal, who won a bronze medal in women's 60kg Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) on Monday (Sep 21) at the Asian Games 2026, broke down in tears after missing the gold medal match by just 700 grams. Tariyal fought against Singapore's Hui Hoon Teo in the semifinal of the event. The match initially resulted in favor of Teo but was declared a draw after an Indian challenge. Post the draw, the morning weigh-in weight of both fighters was checked as per the Asian Games rules, which ended in Teo's favor, and Tariyal was left with a bronze medal. How Tariyal lost the gold medal match because of weight? The event saw two fighters going against each other in two rounds. Once the rounds were over, the judges ruled the bout in favor of Teo. The Indian camp promptly challenged the decision, after which the bout result was reviewed by independent judges, who turned it into a 1-1 draw. The fighters then fought in a 1-minute extra round, but a result could not be determined.

India's Suchika Tariyal won 60kg MMA bronze at the 2026 Asian Games after a tied semifinal against Singapore's Hui Hoon Teo was decided by morning weigh-ins, with Teo 700g lighter.

Asian Games 2026: Indian MMA fighter Suchika Tariyal scripts history despite missing out on gold bout because of 700 grams

Indian MMA fighter Varun Sanyal, who withdrew from the Asian Games due to medical reasons, has opened up about his weight-cutting efforts and said he does not want to feel sorry for himself. Sanyal was set to compete in the men’s 77kg category but had to cut weight on his own at short notice.&nbsp;“I don’t want to go too much into it and kind of yap on about it. But long story short is, I didn’t have any officials with me. I had to cut weight alone. It was on short notice. So, it is what it is. I wouldn’t recommend that anyone just randomly cuts weight, let alone do it by themselves,” Varun told ANI.&nbsp;“But what choice did I have? So, I just did it—or attempted, rather. I don’t want to sit here and feel sorry for myself. We move on, and I’ve got a long career ahead of me,” he added.&nbsp;MMA is making its Asian Games debut in Aichi-Nagoya, with Indian fighter Suchika Tariyal becoming the country’s first medallist in the sport. Varun praised her achievement.&nbsp;“It’s historic, right? It’s a huge deal. I’m really happy for her because I’ve seen the work she’s put in behind the scenes, and obviously on the mat. So, super proud of her, and I’m sure all of India and all of the MMA fraternity are proud of her as well,” he said.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/csk-appoint-zaheer-khan-head-coach-ipl-2027-1789997771342">CSK rope in India bowling great Zaheer Khan as new head coach ahead of IPL 2027</a>&nbsp;Varun also spoke about accommodation issues during the Games and said that it took around eight hours to complete his check-in, while his coaches were not allowed to stay on the cruise due to pass-related issues.&nbsp;“I faced the accommodation problem in the sense that when I got here, at the registration desk there was an issue. Then they sent me to various venues trying to find my name, which was bizarre to me because I had the athlete ID, and that’s what allowed me into Japan,” he said.&nbsp;“Anyways, it took me about eight hours before I could actually check into the cruise. But once you’re in, it was actually nice. The only real issue was that our coaches… or there was no team manager, and our coaches weren’t allowed onto the cruise. They needed a specific pass, which they were not given. So it is what it is. The two of us were in there alone, so we just had to stick with each other,” Varun added.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-w-vs-sl-w-asian-games-final-when-and-where-to-watch-live-streaming-in-india-1789993285262">IND-W vs SL-W Asian Games Final: Where to watch live streaming in India?</a>&nbsp;On concerns over MMA’s injury risks, Varun said the sport has rules and safety measures.&nbsp;“Look, I’m not going to deny that there are dangers to the sport, about injury, right? But then there are dangers in boxing, there are dangers in wrestling, there are dangers in judo, taekwondo, karate. But no one seems to have an issue with that,” he said.&nbsp;“And there are rules. There are rules, and the referee is there to protect the fighters if he feels that it’s too one-sided, or if he feels that the fighter cannot protect themselves intelligently anymore,” he added.&nbsp;Sanyal withdrew after suffering cramps and body aches while using the sauna at his accommodation. His medical examination and precautionary blood tests were normal, but he still felt unfit the following morning.&nbsp;“Varun Sanyal suffered from generalised cramps and body ache while in the sauna last evening in his cruise accommodation. He underwent a medical examination and precautionary blood tests, which were normal. Despite rest, the following morning, he felt not fully fit to participate in a combat sport. After consultation with his coach, he withdrew on medical grounds,” the Indian Olympic Association said.&nbsp;Sanyal, a bronze medallist at the 2026 Asian Championships in China, was one of two Indian MMA fighters selected for the Games.&nbsp;&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

Varun Sanyal withdrew from the Asian Games MMA event after blacking out during a solo sauna session while cutting weight.

Indian MMA fighter Varun Sanyal, who withdrew from the Asian Games due to medical reasons, has opened up about his weight-cutting efforts and said he does not want to feel sorry for himself. Sanyal was set to compete in the men’s 77kg category but had to cut weight on his own at short notice. “I don’t want to go too much into it and kind of yap on about it. But long story short is, I didn’t have any officials with me. I had to cut weight alone. It was on short notice. So, it is what it is. I wouldn’t recommend that anyone just randomly cuts weight, let alone do it by themselves,” Varun told ANI. “But what choice did I have? So, I just did it—or attempted, rather. I don’t want to sit here and feel sorry for myself. We move on, and I’ve got a long career ahead of me,” he added. MMA is making its Asian Games debut in Aichi-Nagoya, with Indian fighter Suchika Tariyal becoming the country’s first medallist in the sport. Varun praised her achievement. “It’s historic, right? It’s a huge deal. I’m really happy for her because I’ve seen the work she’s put in behind the scenes, and obviously on the mat. So, super proud of her, and I’m sure all of India and all of the MMA fraternity are proud of her as well,” he said. Also Read - CSK rope in India bowling great Zaheer Khan as new head coach ahead of IPL 2027 Varun also spoke about accommodation issues during the Games and said that it took around eight hours to complete his check-in, while his coaches were not allowed to stay on the cruise due to pass-related issues. “I faced the accommodation problem in the sense that when I got here, at the registration desk there was an issue. Then they sent me to various venues trying to find my name, which was bizarre to me because I had the athlete ID, and that’s what allowed me into Japan,” he said. “Anyways, it took me about eight hours before I could actually check into the cruise. But once you’re in, it was actually nice. The only real issue was that our coaches… or there was no team manager, and our coaches weren’t allowed onto the cruise. They needed a specific pass, which they were not given. So it is what it is. The two of us were in there alone, so we just had to stick with each other,” Varun added. Also Read - IND-W vs SL-W Asian Games Final: Where to watch live streaming in India? On concerns over MMA’s injury risks, Varun said the sport has rules and safety measures. “Look, I’m not going to deny that there are dangers to the sport, about injury, right? But then there are dangers in boxing, there are dangers in wrestling, there are dangers in judo, taekwondo, karate. But no one seems to have an issue with that,” he said. “And there are rules. There are rules, and the referee is there to protect the fighters if he feels that it’s too one-sided, or if he feels that the fighter cannot protect themselves intelligently anymore,” he added. Sanyal withdrew after suffering cramps and body aches while using the sauna at his accommodation. His medical examination and precautionary blood tests were normal, but he still felt unfit the following morning. “Varun Sanyal suffered from generalised cramps and body ache while in the sauna last evening in his cruise accommodation. He underwent a medical examination and precautionary blood tests, which were normal. Despite rest, the following morning, he felt not fully fit to participate in a combat sport. After consultation with his coach, he withdrew on medical grounds,” the Indian Olympic Association said. Sanyal, a bronze medallist at the 2026 Asian Championships in China, was one of two Indian MMA fighters selected for the Games. With inputs from agencies

Varun Sanyal withdrew from the Asian Games MMA event after blacking out during a solo sauna session while cutting weight.

'Had to cut weight alone….': MMA fighter Varun Sanyal opens up on withdrawal

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