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The Asian Games 2026 officially began in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on September 19, bringing together athletes from 45 National Olympic Committees for the 20th edition of the continental sporting event. The Games will run until October 4, with competitions taking place across 43 sports.
Japan’s Emperor Naruhito formally declared the Games open during the ceremony at Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium in Nagoya. The event combined Japanese cultural performances with technology and fireworks under the theme “Harmonic Heart Beat.”
Manu Bhaker and Pawan Sehrawat Lead India
India entered the opening ceremony with Manu Bhaker and Pawan Sehrawat as its flag-bearers. Bhaker, a double Olympic bronze medallist from Paris 2024, represented India alongside kabaddi player Sehrawat during the Parade of Nations.
India’s official contingent announcement lists 503 members, including more than 300 athletes making their Asian Games debut. The contingent is competing across multiple sporting disciplines in Aichi-Nagoya.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended his wishes to the Indian contingent on September 19, saying the athletes had worked hard and wishing them success at the Games.
The change in India’s male flag-bearer also attracted attention before the ceremony. Shot putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor was originally scheduled to carry the flag but was replaced by Sehrawat after his ceremonial kit did not arrive in time, according to Reuters.
Elavenil Valarivan Wins Two Shooting Silvers
India opened its medal account on September 20 through shooting.
Elavenil Valarivan won silver in the women’s 10m air rifle team event alongside Sonam Maskar and Vidarsa Vinod. She later added another silver in the individual 10m air rifle final.
Valarivan’s individual silver came after she qualified seventh for the final with a score of 633.5. Her two medals accounted for India’s first two podium finishes of the Games.
Suchika Tariyal Wins Historic MMA Bronze
India also secured its first Asian Games medal in mixed martial arts.
Suchika Tariyal reached the women’s Traditional 60kg semifinals, guaranteeing a medal in MMA, which is making its Asian Games debut at Aichi-Nagoya. On September 21, Tariyal’s semifinal against Singapore’s Hui Hoon Teo ended in a draw after regulation time. Teo was awarded the bout based on the competition’s weight-based tiebreak rule, leaving Tariyal with the bronze medal.
The bronze became India’s maiden Asian Games medal in MMA.
More Shooting Medals for India
India added further shooting medals on September 21. Himanshu Dhillon won silver and Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil won bronze in the men’s 10m air rifle individual event after both had also contributed to India’s silver in the team competition.
This increased India’s shooting medal collection to five by September 21, according to contemporary coverage.
Indian Hockey Teams Make Winning Starts
India’s men’s and women’s hockey teams also began their campaigns with wins on September 20.
The men’s team defeated Indonesia 13-1, with Dilpreet Singh scoring four goals. The women’s team beat Uzbekistan 19-0, with Deepika scoring eight goals.
The women’s team followed that result with another victory on September 21, defeating Indonesia 17-1. Deepika Sehrawat, Rutuja Dadaso Pisal and Navneet Kaur each scored hat-tricks.
The match was also significant for goalkeeper Savita Punia, who surpassed Vandana Katariya’s record of 320 senior international appearances to become India’s most-capped women’s hockey player.
India Reaches Women’s Cricket Final
India’s women’s cricket team reached the gold-medal match after defeating Bangladesh by 114 runs in the semifinal.
India scored 195 for four, with Shafali Verma making an unbeaten 100, her first T20I century. Bangladesh was subsequently bowled out for 81. India will face Sri Lanka in the women’s cricket final on September 22.
India’s Key Results at Aichi-Nagoya
| Sport | Event | India’s result |
| Shooting | Women’s 10m air rifle team | Silver |
| Shooting | Women’s 10m air rifle individual | Silver |
| Shooting | Men’s 10m air rifle team | Silver |
| Shooting | Men’s 10m air rifle individual | Silver and Bronze |
| MMA | Women’s Traditional 60kg | Bronze |
| Men’s Hockey | India vs Indonesia | India won 13-1 |
| Women’s Hockey | India vs Uzbekistan | India won 19-0 |
| Women’s Hockey | India vs Indonesia | India won 17-1 |
| Women’s Cricket | Semifinal vs Bangladesh | India won by 114 runs |
India’s Previous Asian Games Record
India’s previous Asian Games campaign in Hangzhou 2023 produced a record 107 medals: 28 gold, 38 silver and 41 bronze. The Olympic Council of Asia lists India fourth in the final medal table.
The Hangzhou event was originally scheduled for 2022 but was held in 2023, which is why the previous edition is correctly referred to as the 2023 Asian Games.
Conclusion
The Asian Games 2026 have produced several notable results for India during the opening days of competition. Elavenil Valarivan opened India’s medal account with two shooting silvers, while Suchika Tariyal secured India’s first Asian Games MMA medal. India has also added further shooting medals, recorded wins in men’s and women’s hockey and reached the women’s cricket final.
The Games continue in Aichi-Nagoya until October 4, with Indian athletes still competing across numerous disciplines. The country’s final medal tally will be determined by results over the remainder of the competition.