Page 33 - Latest Updates on Asian Games 2026

Antim on Vinesh's exemption from trials: What is so special about her?

Reigning Under-20 World Champion Antim Panghal on Wednesday questioned the Asian Games trials exemption given to to Vinesh Phogat, asserting that not just she but many other Indian wrestlers are capable of beating the celebrated grappler in the 53kg category. Vinesh (53kg) and Bajrang Punia (65kg) were given direct entries for the Asian Games by the Indian Olympic Association's ad-hoc committee on Tuesday while other wrestlers will have to book their places in the Indian squad through selection trials on July 22 and 23. The 19-year-old Panghal, who hails from Hisar in Haryana and competes in 53kg, asked why Vinesh has been selected when she has not been practicing for long. Panghal, who is a silver medallist from the senior Asian Championship, asked the criteria for exemption through a video. "Vinesh Phogat has received direct entry for the Asian Games, when she had not done any practice in the last one year. She doesn't have any achievement in the last one year," Panghal said in t

Asian Games 2023: Why wrestlers Vinesh, Bajrang get exemption for trials?

Bajrang secured Bronze in Tokyo Olympics and Belgrade's Worlds while Vinesh had a podium finish in the same worlds

Asian Games 2023: Indian football teams may get govt clearance - Report

With Kalyan Chaubey at the helm of affairs at AIFF, he could convince the government to make an exception for the Hangzhou Asian Games in China, which begins on September 23.

Asian Games 2023: Football coach Igor Stimac's emotional appeal to PM Modi

In a heartfelt letter shared on Twitter, Stimac requested PM Modi to allow football to participate in the Asian Games, saying, 'We will fight for our nation's pride and the flag!

Win gold, stand on podium, sing national anthem: Ruturaj's ultimate dream

India's newly appointed captain for the cricket team at the Asian Games, Ruturaj Giakwad's ultimate dream is to win the gold, stand on the podium and sing the national anthem

Asian Games 2023: Gaikwad to lead India in men's cricket - full squad

In addition to IPL star Rinku Singh, Ruturaj Gaikwad was selected as captain of India's team for the Asian Games in Hangzhou on Friday.

Asian Games 2023: Kaur to lead India in women's cricket event - full squad

With India expected to win a women's cricket event medal, BCCI put forward one of the strongest squad for the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games.

Asian Games: Women wrestlers write to PM Modi, IOA, SAI for fair trials

Several women wrestlers, including medal winners from Commonwealth Games and Asian Championship, on Thursday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the ad-hoc panel running the WFI, requesting "fair trials" for Asian Games amidst reports that the six protesting grapplers may be given exemption. The 24 women wrestlers from Sir Chhotu Ram Akhada in Rohtak, who also wrote to SAI Director General Sandeep Pradhan, have conveyed that they won't accept two-stage trial or any another relaxation given to the protesting grapplers. The IOA-appointed ad-hoc panel has announced that Asian Games trials will be held on July 22-23 but did not reveal the criteria. The wrestlers are even preparing to hit the roads for a fresh protest and approach the judiciary if any discriminatory decision is taken by the IOA ad-hoc committee. Panel head Bhupender Singh Bajwa had on June 16 conveyed to the six protesting wrestlers -- Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Mali

Asian Games 2023: Gymnast Dipa Karmakar makes cut on return from doping ban

India's ace gymnast Karmakar was banned for 21 months after failing a dope Test

Asian Games: Bajrang, Vinesh, Ravi might be exempted from Wrestling trials

The IOA ad-hoc committee on Wednesday decided to hold much-awaited Asian Games wrestling trials on July 22-23 and though the panel has not revealed the format and criteria, it may exempt current Olympic and world medallists from the selection competition which will hand direct entries to Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Ravi Dahiya. After IOA's request for deadline extension beyond July 22 was shot down by the OCA, the ad-hoc panel met in New Delhi and decided that men's Greco Roman and women's trials will be held on July 22 and the selection of the men's free style team will be done the next day. Trials in 18 Olympic weight categories -- six each in three formats (free style and Greco Roman for men and free style for women) -- have to be conducted by the ad-hoc committee, which is managing the day-to-day affairs of WFI. "We have decided to conduct the trials on July 22 and 23 at the Kedar Jadhav hall in IG Stadium. First we will invite the Greco Roman and women's wrestlers and then

Germany, Spain tours part of our Asian Games preparation: Savita Punia

India captain Savita on Wednesday said the women's hockey team is looking at the tour of Germany and Spain as an opportunity to prepare for this year's Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. The Indian team departed for Europe tour from here on Wednesday. The side will be first flying to Germany for the three-match series, where it will play the hosts in two games, besides taking on China in the other match. The series will start with the match against China in Limburg on July 16, followed by games against Germany (July 18, 19) in Wiesbaden and Russelsheim respectively. The Savita-led side will then fly to Terrassa, Spain on July 20 for the 100th Anniversary Spanish Hockey Federation - International Tournament. There the Indians will open their campaign against hosts Spain on July 25, followed by games against South Africa (July27) and England (July 28). "We are really looking forward to this tour. Playing against quality sides in the lead up to the Asian Games will give us a good learni

Asian Games: Happy to overcome odds, finally appear for trials - Karmakar

Top Indian gymnast Dipa Karmakar is happy that she has overcome the hardships that have plagued her for the last few years and finally appeared for the trials of the upcoming Hangzhou Asian Games. The Tripura gymnast, who narrowly missed out on a bronze in 2016 Rio Olympics, was making a comeback after 21 months of suspension due to a doping violation. On Tuesday, the 29-year-old Dipa earned the maximum points to emerge on top in the all-around event during the trials to select the squad for the Asian Games at the Kalinga Stadium here. "I am very happy that I could give the trials after the hardships I went through in the last few years," said Dipa after successfully competing in the trials. "I think it was a big comeback for me. The performance was OK, though not 100 per cent. But moving forward, I will do my best to give more than 100 per cent," she said. Dipa was a part of the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games gymnastics contingent but despite the high expectations, she could not finish

Indian wrestlers: Asian Games organisers reject IOA request for extension

The Hangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee (HAGOC) has rejected the IOA's request for further extension of deadline for sending entries by name of the Indian wrestling team for the continental multi-sporting event. The IOA had earlier requested the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) to extend the deadline to send entries by name of the Indian wrestlers to August 5, but they were only given an extension of seven days (July 22). The HAGOC has set July 15 as the date for all competing countries to send the names of their athletes for the Asian Games (September 23 to October 8). On Monday, the IOA again requested the OCA to re-consider extending the date to sometime in August, which was finally been rejected by HAGOC. "The Hangzhou Organising Committee has rejected the IOA's request for further extension. They conveyed it to the OCA and OCA has told this to the IOA," an Indian Olympic Association source told PTI. With the July 22 deadline fast approaching for picking the Indian wrestlin

Jeremy Lalrinnunga misses World Weightlifting Championships due to injury

Commonwealth Games medalist Jeremy Lalrinnunga will miss the World Weightlifting Championships 2023 which will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from September 4 to 17, due to his injury

Asian Games: Koneru Humpy, Harika to spearhead India's challenge in chess

India will send a strong 10-member chess contingent, including double Asian Games gold medallist Koneru Humpy and bronze medallist Dronavalli Harika, for the continental games, scheduled to commence in Hangzhou on September 23. Vidit Gujrathi and young Arjun Erigaisi in men's and Humpy and Harika in women's section will compete in the individual categories. The men's team comprises Grandmasters D Gukesh, Gujrathi, Erigaisi, P Harikrishna and R Praggnanandhaa. In the women's section, Humpy, Harika, R Vaishali, Vantika Aggarwal and Savitha Shri will participate in the team event. All the players are coming off a gruelling Global Chess League (GCL), where they faced top-notch competition from some of the greatest chess players in the world, including Norway's five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen. The team announcement was made on Sunday during the General Body meeting of the All India Chess Federation (AICF) in Kanpur, which was chaired by its president Sanjay Kapoor. The 36-year

36-member aquatics squad to represent India in Asian Games announced

A 36-member aquatics squad including former bronze medallist Virdhawal Khade will represent India at the upcoming Asian Games in Hangzhou in September-October. The Swimming Federation of India (SFI) on Saturday announced the squad which includes 21 in swimming, three in diving and 13 members in waterpolo. The 12-member men's swimming squad includes the star duo of Sajan Prakash and Srihari Nataraj along with veteran Khade, who won a 50m butterfly bronze at the Guangzhou 2010 edition. Teenagers Aneesh Gowda and Aryan Nehra who broke four records and were adjudged the best swimmers in the Senior Nationals this year were also picked in the squad. India squad: Swimming, Men: Aneesh Gowda, Advait Page, Aryan Nehra, Anand A S, Kushagra Rawat, Likith S P, Sajan Prakash, Srihari Nataraj, Tanish George Mathew, Utkarsh Patil, Vishal Grewal and Virdhawal Khade. Women: Anannya Nayak, Dinidhi Desinghu, Hashika Ramchandran, Linyesh A K, Maana Patel, Nina Venkatesh, Palak Joshi, Shivangi Sarma

IPL' s Impact Player rule in SMAT, Asian Games participation approved

The Impact Player was introduced in SMAT last season but it had to be brought before the end of the 14th over and had to be named before the toss

Wrestling trials to take place from July 20 after assurance from OCA

The trials to short-list the wrestlers for the Asian Games will likely take place around July 20 after an "unofficial" assurance was given by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) with regard to extending the deadline for sending entries by names to the organisers of the quadrennial extravaganza. The OCA has set July 15 as deadline for sending entries by name to the Asian Games organisers but following efforts made by the Indian Olympic Association's ad-hoc committee for wrestling, the OCA is reportedly contemplating extending the deadline. But assurances apart, the duration of relaxation has so far not been shared with the ad-hoc panel. Gian Singh, a member of the ad-hoc panel, told PTI that, "There is so far no mail from the OCA (regarding granting extension) but unofficially they have said that they are willing to relax the dates for sending entries by name. But they have not confirmed the duration of the relaxation. Until we get a confirmation, we cannot say whether they will extend

Our defence requires improvement before Asian Games 2023: Pawan Sehrawat

Without devaluing their recent triumph, Indian kabaddi team captain Pawan Sehrawat said their defence requires a lot of improvement heading into the Asian Games. Pawan has recently led the team to the title win at the Asian Kabaddi Championships, a much-needed boost ahead of the Hangzhou Asian Games in September-October this year. "I still believe we have to work a lot on improving our defence as a team because I was not completely satisfied with some of our performance at the Asian Championships," he said. "The Asian Games are going to be more challenging so we need to refocus and put in maximum effort during the upcoming camp so that we can dominate our opponents at the competition. "Nonetheless, we will make sure we devise a game plan for each team at the tournament, we will approach each game after a lot of preparation and complete concentration." The Asian Kabaddi Championships which was held in Busan, South Korea, saw Pawan return to competitive action for the first time sin

Indian women's hockey captain Savita up for challenge from top teams

Indian women's hockey team skipper Savita Punia on Tuesday said they are no more intimidated by top-ranked opponents and playing stronger sides instead brings out "a different kind of energy" in her teammates. After finishing a creditable fourth at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and a lowly ninth at the World Cup the following year, the Indian team has scripted some new highs under coach Janneke Schopman and Punia. They won the Commonwealth Games bronze and the Nations Cup in 2022 and are now gearing for the Asian Games in Hangzhou, in September-October. "For last two-three years after the Olympics, whenever we played against any top team be it in the Pro League, World Cup, or the Commonwealth Games, never have we lost by a big margin," Savita told reporters during a virtual media conference from their SAI Camp here. "This is the big improvement. The new-found confidence in the team, the mindset that we have now for our opponents is different. "Maybe it was not the same five-six years ag