Aichi-Nagoya, October 3, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India concluded its Asian Games 2026 campaign in fourth place with 85 medals, including 21 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze, following a series of historic performances and title-winning campaigns across several disciplines in Aichi-Nagoya.
Around 500 Indian athletes competed in the 20th edition of the continental multi-sport event. India’s medal tally was its second-highest at the Asian Games, behind the record 106 medals won at Hangzhou 2023, where a contingent of 650 athletes secured 28 gold, 38 silver and 40 bronze medals.
Athletics led India’s medal count with 24, followed by shooting with 15, including three gold medals. Archery topped the gold-medal tally among individual sports with five titles, while boxing also delivered three gold medals. Lovlina Borgohain became the second Indian woman to win Asian Games boxing gold after Mary Kom’s 2014 triumph. Wrestlers Aman Sehrawat and Sujeet Kalkal also claimed gold.
India enjoyed a strong campaign in team events, with both men’s and women’s cricket teams defending their titles. The men defeated Pakistan in the final, while the women beat Sri Lanka. Both kabaddi teams also won gold, while the women’s hockey team ended a 44-year wait for an Asian Games title.
Several athletes achieved historic milestones. Pranavi Urs became the first Indian woman to win Asian Games golf gold, while 17-year-old Kumkum Anil Mohod secured India’s first women’s individual recurve gold. Mohod also contributed to the women’s recurve team gold alongside Ankita Bhakat and Kirti Sharma.
Neeru Dhanda won India’s first individual gold in women’s trap, while Kumkum and Suruchi Singh matched Asian records in the mixed team 10m air pistol event. Vithya Ramraj broke a 42-year-old national record in the women’s 400m hurdles while winning bronze. Yash Vir Singh and Rohit Yadav won silver and bronze, respectively, in the men’s javelin, in the absence of injured Neeraj Chopra.
Other notable achievements included Sawan Barwal’s marathon bronze and national record, Sarvesh Kushare ending India’s 56-year wait for a men’s high jump medal, and Baranica Elangovan becoming the first Indian pole vaulter to win an Asian Games medal. India also secured its first medals in mixed martial arts and soft tennis, through Suchika Tariyal and Jay Meena, respectively.
Mirabai Chanu won silver in the women’s 49kg weightlifting event, India’s first Asian Games weightlifting medal since 1998. Roshibina Devi earned her third consecutive continental medal in wushu, while Seema Kumari ended a 16-year wait for an Indian women’s 10,000m medal. Anahat Singh became the first Indian woman to win a singles silver in squash at the Games, while she and Abhay Singh also reached their respective singles finals.
India’s campaign also secured Olympic quota places for LA 2028 in archery and hockey. The country earned places in men’s and women’s hockey, the compound mixed team and women’s individual recurve archery events.
India’s strongest medal haul came on Friday, with 12 medals, including six gold. On the penultimate day, the country added nine medals, with golds in cricket and hockey among the highlights. The campaign combined successful title defences with national records and several firsts for Indian sport.
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