Nagoya, September 19, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President PT Usha attended the official welcome reception for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, where she met Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani and members of the wider Asian sporting community.
Sharing pictures from the gathering on X, Usha described the reception as an opportunity to engage with the OCA leadership and representatives of the Asian sporting fraternity.
“A wonderful evening connecting with the OCA President HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani and the esteemed members of the OCA Family at the official welcome reception. Together, we continue to pave the way for the growth and excellence of sports across Asia,” Usha wrote.
The reception was held ahead of Saturday’s opening ceremony at the Paloma Mizuho Stadium, which will formally mark the beginning of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
Earlier, Sheikh Joaan chaired the 110th OCA Executive Board meeting in Nagoya. The meeting reviewed preparations for upcoming continental events, including the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games Riyadh 2026, Asian Beach Games Cebu 2028 and Asian Winter Games Almaty 2029.
India’s campaign has already begun in some disciplines ahead of the opening ceremony, with competitions underway in teqball and cricket.
In men’s teqball doubles, Mohammad Anas Imran Beg and Declan Marshall Gonsalves were eliminated after losing both their Group B matches. They were beaten 0-2 by Vietnam and South Korea.
Quimcy Joaquim Dsouza reached the women’s singles semifinals after topping Group A with victories over Japan’s Yuina Sakamoto and Cambodia’s Koemyean DY. She subsequently lost 1-2 to Indonesia’s Ima Sumaya in the semifinal and will now face Sakamoto in the bronze-medal match.
India are also participating in the mixed doubles event, with Quimcy and Imran Beg set to compete for bronze after securing a win in the repechage.
The Indian women’s cricket team has also begun its Asian Games campaign, with cricket among the sports getting underway before the official opening ceremony.
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