Asian Games: Despite Neeraj’s absence, Indian athletics face challenges as new generation is ready to compete

India's athletics team, despite the absence of Neeraj, faces challenges at the Asian Games, according to a Times of India report published on 2026-09-17.

Several key athletes are injured or did not qualify, but a new generation of talented athletes is ready to compete.

Gulveer Singh is identified as a strong gold medal contender in long-distance running events. Ancy Sojan and Shaili Singh aim for long jump success while records are challenged, and several other athletes and relay teams are also expected to perform well.