Page 3 - Latest Updates on Asian Games 2026

Asian Games 2026: Wrestler Nisha puts setbacks behind, eyes glory

For years, Nisha Dahia would have this lingering thought after every injury: Why me? Why did the body give up just when everything seemed to be falling into place? Why did another promising campaign end in disappointment? She no longer asks those questions? Nisha has learnt to take setbacks in her stride, stopped cribbing about the injuries that have repeatedly interrupted her career, and, most importantly, accepted that an athlete can control the work but not always the outcome. That change in mindset could prove as important as any technical improvement when Nisha steps on the mat at the Asian Games in the women's 68kg category, carrying the hopes of finally converting her considerable potential into a major medal. "I used to feel that God was being unfair on me. I used to think, why is this happening to me again and again? But now I don't think like that," Nisha told PTI in an interview. "I will get what is written in my fate. I will do my job, work hard and wrestle well. I wi

Asian Games 2026: From cricket bat to shotgun, Mairaj's sporting journey

There was a time when Mairaj Ahmad Khan dreamed of making it big with a cricket bat. More than three decades later, the 50-year-old is still chasing sporting glory -- only now with a shotgun firmly in his grip. From Khurja in Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr district to shooting ranges around the world, Mairaj's journey has taken him places he could never have imagined when he first stepped into the world of sport. At the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, he will be the second-oldest member of the Indian contingent, behind equestrian Shruti Vora, and will compete at his fourth continental games. Yet, shooting was never supposed to be his destiny. "I was playing cricket when it all started in 1994," Mairaj recalls. A left-handed top-order batter who usually came in at No. 3, he represented Uttar Pradesh in the CK Nayudu and Vinoo Mankad Trophy competitions before joining Jamia Millia Islamia in 1996. He played inter-university cricket and also featured in the Vizzy Trophy. Among his university

Asian Games snub leaves Agarwalla 'deeply hurt' over missed opportunity

Indian dressage rider Anush Agarwalla has expressed his disappointment over missing out on the Asian Games, saying he feels "deeply hurt" at not getting an opportunity to compete in the continental showpiece. In an emotional post on Instagram, Agarwalla said the dream of competing at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games was officially over and expressed his frustration with the process that led to his exclusion. "The dream of Asian Games 2026 is officially over," he wrote in a post. "Words cannot explain the pain and emptiness I feel right now. I have always represented India with immense pride, and always will. But this time, I am deeply hurt - not because I lost, but because I was never given the chance to compete." Agarwalla, who was part of India's gold-winning dressage team at the Hangzhou Asian Games and won an individual bronze, was initially named as a reserve for the 2026 Games. His exclusion had earlier led to a selection dispute, with Agarwalla challenging the process and ...

IOC, OCA chiefs to tour Asian Games athletes' village ahead of Games

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry and Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani will visit the athletes' village of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on September 20, a day after the opening ceremony. Coventry and Sheikh Joaan will tour the Garden Pier section of the village and interact with athletes from various National Olympic Committees (NOCs), it was announced at the Chefs de Mission meeting here on Monday. The two presidents will visit Garden Pier at 11am on September 20, following the opening ceremony of the Asian Games on September 19. The Aichi-Nagoya Games do not have a traditional athletes' village, with athletes and officials from 45 NOCs being accommodated across a cruise liner, temporary Asian Games villas at Garden Pier and hotels in Nagoya city and Aichi prefecture. The cruise liner will dock at Kinjo Pier in the Port of Nagoya on Tuesday, with a welcome ceremony scheduled for 1pm. Athletes will begin boarding

Asian Games preparations hit visa hurdle as 4-5 athletes await Japan entry

A few members of the 74-strong Indian athletics team are yet to get their visa clearance though most of them have reached Japan for a short acclimatisation camp near Tokyo ahead of the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. It is learnt that around 4-5 athletes are yet to get their visas, though the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) officials are hopeful that the matter will be sorted soon. AFI is likely to approach the government to help the athletes get their visas. Athletics events at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games begin on September 23. An official source said that VFS, a leading visa and passport administration outsourcing company, has insisted that applications should be done at the places where the passports are issued. "We are hoping that it will be sorted soon," the source said. Under the circumstances, there is a possibility that the athletes, whose visas have been delayed, may have to spend less time at the acclimatisation camp or join the other team members in Nagoya ...

"I can deliver under pressure": Kamaljeet ready for maiden Asiad challenge

An injury ended Kamaljeet's athletics journey, but his passion for sport led him to shooting in 2019, setting him on a path to becoming a leading 50m pistol shooter

Bumrah declared fit for Afghanistan T20Is; Yash Thakur replaces Harshit

Jasprit Bumrah, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar have received fitness clearance, while a fresh injury has ruled Harshit Rana out of the Afghanistan series and Asian Games

Asian Games: Asmita sharpens ground game to counter formidable Japan

Inspired by the Japanese but equally wary of the challenge they will pose, India's Commonwealth Games gold-winning judoka Asmita Dey says she is trying to sharpen her holds, pins and submission techniques to present a strong challenge at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. Dey said she has spent considerable time trying to ace the three aspects of ground fighting as the Asian Games will be a significantly tougher test than the CWG in Glasgow, where she became the first Indian judoka to win a gold. "The Asian Games, as compared to the Commonwealth Games, will be very tough for me because at the Asian Games we have some of the world's best from rankings 7-14 competing there," the 23-year-old Dey told PTI Videos as she looked forward to her maiden appearance at the Asian Games beginning September 19. "Our master in Judo is Japan, so Japanese judokas are also there, so it is tough for me. I need to work on my Ne-Waza because if I am in the final, my opponent will most likely be Japanese.

From 'no career in gaming' to Asian Games: Indian esports stars eye medals

Once dismissed by many families as nothing more than a leisure activity with no viable career prospects, gaming is now taking Indian youngsters to the Asian Games, with the country's esports contingent aiming for a strong showing in Nagoya thanks to rigorous training and professional support. Indian players are putting in long hours, facing international opponents in practice matches and working with experienced coaches, seeking to establish themselves on the continental stage. The esports competition in this year's Asian Games will have 11 medal events, four more than the last edition. For Pokemon Unite player Adnan Badshah, changing the perception of esports within families remains one of the biggest challenges. "One of the major challenges is that family is not easily convinced that there can be a future in mobile or PC games. If you are a cricketer or an athlete of any traditional sport, family and relatives are more inclined to support you. "But to get support in this is very

Indian swimmer gets 18-month doping suspension, ruled out of Asian Games

An Indian swimmer, who had qualified for the Asian Games, was on Wednesday suspended for 18 months after failing a dope test and will miss the continental event in Aichi-Nagoya this month. The 17-year-old had qualified for two events at the Asian Games and was part of the short list for the continental event. However, he has been suspended for 18 months after his sample showed the presence of terbutaline, a beta-2 agonist banned under anti-doping rules. The teenager received an adverse analytical finding (AAF) in February following which his name was dropped from the list of participants for the Asian Games. His hearing was held last week and he was handed an 18-month suspension on Wednesday morning. "The swimmer had received the violation earlier this year. However, the hearing did not take place till last week and he was handed an 18-month suspension today morning," a source in the Swimming Federation of India (SFI) told PTI. The SFI had requested that the hearing be expedited

Indian women's rugby sevens team begins Asian Games prep at national camp

The Indian senior women's rugby sevens team has begun its preparation for the upcoming Asian Games here with coach Terence Joseph saying the focus of the national camp will be on execution and consistency. The camp is being held at the Sports Authority of India's Netaji Subhas Eastern Centre in Kolkata, which has been the home base for the Indian rugby team ahead of major international competitions. The Indian eves will compete in the women's rugby sevens tournament at the Paloma Mizuho Rugby Stadium in Nagoya from October 1 to 3. India has been drawn in Pool B alongside defending champions China, Hong Kong China and Malaysia. "The Asian Games is a big tournament for us. We are looking at details and consistency from the team. A lot depends on how we execute our plans in Japan," Joseph said during a press conference in SAI Kolkata. "SAI Kolkata has been the home for the Indian rugby team. We have been conducting camps here for the past three years." Captain Shikha Yadav echoed her

Can't take Neeraj's place but will try for Asian Games medal: Rohit Yadav

Rising Indian javelin thrower Rohit Yadav aspires to follow in the lofty footsteps of iconic Neeraj Chopra, who has pulled out of the upcoming Asian Games due to an injury, in the continental event beginning on September 19. Rohit, 25, from Dabhiya village in Uttar Pradesh, had a dismal Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this year with a throw of just 81.56m but he recorded his personal best on August 22 with a throw of 87.68m at the World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meet in Bhubaneswar. And he is confident of bettering that feat in Aichi-Nagoya during the Asian Games. "I am not taking any pressure although I know people are expecting a lot from me. It is not good that Neeraj is not there but we have to accept that. Neeraj's medal was 100 per cent sure but I will try fill up his place. I know I won't be able to take his place but will try and get a podium place. I will try to give my best throw to be among medal winners," Rohit told PTI in an interview "Neeraj's place is differen

Deepak tests positive for clomifene; WFI withdraws him from Asian Games

Adding to the embarrassment for Indian wrestling, Asian Games-bound Greco Roman wrestler Deepak has failed a dope test, forcing the national federation to withdraw him from the contingent, further shrinking the Indian challenge at continental showpiece. The development comes after India have already lost two wrestling places in the Asian Games squad following doping cases involving Mukul Dahiya (men's freestyle 86kg) and Deepanshu (Greco Roman, 130kg). Deepak was the first wrestler from the Indian postal service to secure a place in the Indian team for the Asian Games. The 25-year-old Delhi wrestler was a surprise winner at the selection trials held in Lucknow on May 31 after coming through a medal-winning show at the Federation Cup. According to a notification issued by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), Deepak's urine sample, collected during the selection trials, returned an atypical finding for clomifene, a prohibited substance classified under S4 (Hormone and Metabolic ..

Asian Games: Shiv Kapur backs Indian golfers to end 24-year gold drought

Former Asian Games gold medallist Shiv Kapur believes India's golfers have the talent to end the country's long wait for another gold at the continental showpiece, saying anything less than the top prize would be a disappointment at the upcoming Aichi-Nagoya Games. India will be represented by a six-member golf squad at the Asian Games, with Aditi Ashok, Diksha Dagar and Pranavi Urs making up the women's team and Yuvraj Sandhu, Veer Ahlawat and Saptak Talwar featuring in the men's competition. The team was selected on the basis of world rankings. Kapur, who won the individual gold at the 2002 Asian Games, said the achievement remains the biggest of his career and hoped the current generation can break India's gold-medal drought in golf. "2002 is still fresh in my mind. It has been almost 25 years, but if anyone asks me what my number one achievement in golf, or the number one achievement in my career, is, it is still winning the gold medal," Kapur said on the sidelines of the jersey

Sable, Kujur, Jyothi in Indian Athletics Series finale ahead of Asian Games

Almost all the Asian Games-bound track and field athletes, including fit-again star steeplechaser Avinash Sable, will be in action in the Indian Athletics Series Final here on Thursday as part of their tune-up to the mega event in Japan later this month. The invitational one-day event at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium is the culmination of the 15-leg Indian Athletics Series, which was introduced by Athletics Federation of India (AFI) this April. The national federation has made the finale lucrative by introducing a total prize fund of Rs 65 lakh. The winner in each of the 30 events will pocket Rs one lakh. The second place finishers will receive Rs 50,000 each while the athletes who ended at third, fourth, fifth and sixth will get Rs 25,000, Rs 20,000, Rs 15,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively. Except for a few athletes such as long jumper Murali Sreeshankar, high jumper Sarvesh Kushare and triple jumper Praveen Chithravel, all the athletes from the 77-member Indian team for the Asian Gam

Asian Games 2026 medals: All you need to know about the design and material

The medal's design extends beyond the disc itself. The ribbon incorporates the silhouette of the kakitsubata, or Japanese iris, which is the official flower of Aichi Prefecture

"One target at a time": Mairaj ready for another shot at Asian Games glory

Born on November 2, 1975, in Khurja, Uttar Pradesh, Mairaj Ahmad Khan is an Indian skeet shooter and two-time Olympian

Indian hockey teams revert to blue kits for Asiad after saffron backlash

The Indian hockey teams will revert to their traditional blue jerseys for the upcoming Asian Games following widespread backlash over a controversial shift to a saffron coloured kit. Hockey India (HI) faced intense criticism earlier after switching its long-standing colour to saffron, which the teams sported during the FIH World Cups in the Netherlands and Belgium. The decision triggered internal discord when HI president Dilip Tirkey publicly questioned the move, stating it was implemented without the knowledge or approval of the federation's elected leadership and Executive Board. "IOA asked us about our preference of colour for kit, we gave blue as primary and saffron as the second one. As I had already said before the World Cup that the colour change is not permanent," Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey said on the sidelines of the Asian Games contingent send-off here on Tuesday. Another top Hockey India official added, "The kits for Asian Games, Olympics and CWG are designed

Two stage trials open World Championships route for Asian Games wrestlers

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has decided to hold two-stage trials for the 2026 Senior World Championships, giving wrestlers selected for the Asian Games a chance to also compete for a place in the World Championships team. According to a WFI circular, wrestlers selected to represent India at the upcoming Asian Games in Japan will not be barred from participating in the Senior World Championships selection trials. Instead, they will have the opportunity to challenge for a World Championships berth through a "final trial". The move is particularly significant because the Asian Games are scheduled for later in September, while the Senior World Championships will be held soon afterwards in Astana, Kazakhstan, from October 24 to November 1. First phase on September 14 and 15 ======================== WFI's first round of Senior World Championships trials will be held in the six Olympic weight categories on September 14 at IG Stadium in New Delhi while trials for the men's ..

India's Asiad 2026 campaign gets underway with grand send-off ceremony

The send-off ceremony featured messages from Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and IOA president PT Usha, who urged athletes to embrace the challenge and focus on delivering their best