The Asian Games 2026 are underway in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, and Indian athletes are producing memorable moments almost every day. The Games run from September 19 to October 4, with 469 medal events across 43 sports. India has sent a contingent of more than 500 athletes competing in 36 disciplines. Here is a clear look at how the campaign is going.
Where India Stands in the Medal Table
As of midday on September 29, India had won 48 medals: five gold, 21 silver, and 22 bronze. That placed India 11th. China leads comfortably with 135 golds, followed by hosts Japan and South Korea. The table ranks countries by gold medals first, so India’s position looks lower than its total suggests. The numbers will keep changing until the closing day. For context, India’s record haul at Hangzhou 2023 was more than 100 medals, including 28 golds, good for fourth place.
Kabaddi: Double Gold Against Iran
India’s kabaddi teams delivered two golds, and both came against Iran. The men won 40-34 to claim their ninth Asian Games title. Iran led 18-17 at half-time, but India’s second-half defending turned the match. The women also beat Iran, 37-34, to defend their crown. Together, these wins bring India’s kabaddi haul at the Asian Games to 13 titles, the most of any nation.
Shooting: Neeru Dhanda Makes History
Shooting has been a steady source of medals, with 14 so far: two gold, eight silver, and four bronze. Suruchi Singh and Kamaljeet won gold in the mixed 10m air pistol team event earlier in the Games.
On September 29, Haryana’s Neeru Dhanda had a day to remember. She first won team silver in women’s trap alongside Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer, with China taking gold and Kuwait bronze. Hours later, she won the individual women’s trap gold. It was India’s first individual gold of these Games and its fifth gold overall. She is also India’s first individual medallist in women’s trap at the Asian Games.
Athletics: The Biggest Medal Source
Athletics has contributed 19 of India’s 48 medals so far. Highlights include:
- Gulveer Singh: silver in the 10,000 m in 28:29.38, making him the first Indian to reach the podium twice in that event at the Asian Games (he won bronze in 2023). He then added a 1500 m silver with a personal best of 3:36.72.
- Sawan Barwal: silver in the marathon in 2:11:37.
- Seema Kumari: bronze in the women’s 10,000 m, ending a 16-year medal wait for India in the event.
- Ancy Sojan: long jump silver with 6.53 m.
- Tejaswin Shankar: decathlon bronze with 7934 points.
- Parul Chaudhary: bronzes in the 3000 m steeplechase and the 5000 m.
Not every result went India’s way. Avinash Sable, the steeplechase champion at Hangzhou 2023, finished fourth this time with a season-best 8:21.67.
More Podium Moments
Mirabai Chanu won silver in the women’s 49 kg weightlifting, India’s first Asian Games weightlifting medal since Bangkok 1998. In squash, Abhay Singh and Anahat Singh both took singles silver medals. In boxing, Narender secured a bronze in the men’s +90 kg category after losing his semi-final to Kazakhstan’s Aibek Oralbay.
In hockey, the Indian men beat Bangladesh 10-0 in their final Pool A match, with Harmanpreet Singh scoring a hat-trick. They now face Pakistan in the semi-finals.
What to Watch Next
September 29 is the final day of athletics. Gulveer Singh and Avinash Sable are due in the 5000m final, and national record-holder Dev Meena and Kuldeep Kumar contest the pole vault final. India also has entries in three relay finals, plus medal chances in track cycling team sprints, Kurash, and surfing.
Why This Campaign Matters
The Asian Games are the continent’s biggest multi-sport event and a key stepping stone toward the Olympics. Silver and bronze medals in marathon, weightlifting, and distance running show growing depth in areas where India has traditionally struggled. With days of competition left, more Indian success stories are likely.
