Olympic medallists included in India’s squad for Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya
Several Olympic medallists, led by PV Sindhu, Manu Bhaker, Saikhom Mirabai Chanu and others, will represent India at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi‑Nagoya, Japan. The selection complements a men’s hockey side that has been a consistent presence at major tournaments.
India arrive in Nagoya on the back of record-breaking medal hauls at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games and consecutive multi-medal Olympics at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, raising expectations for the contingent. The Indian delegation for the 2026 Games numbers 503 athletes, and India won 106 medals at the Asian Games 2022.
PV Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medallist with silver at Rio 2016 and bronze at Tokyo 2020, is the senior leader of the Indian contingent and will compete in the women’s singles and team badminton events. Sindhu’s résumé includes a World Championship gold, Commonwealth Games gold and multiple BWF World Tour titles, and an individual Asian Games gold remains the one notable omission. The article notes the absence of fellow Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra and says Sindhu’s performance in Nagoya will carry added significance.
Manu Bhaker, who became the first athlete from independent India to win two medals at a single Olympic Games at Paris 2024, is listed for the 10m air pistol individual and mixed team events. The piece describes Bhaker as one of the world’s most scrutinised pistol shooters, citing her technical precision and psychological grit, and adds that she will face established rivals from China and South Korea.
India’s men’s hockey team, led by drag‑flick specialist Harmanpreet Singh, arrives in Nagoya as the defending Asian Games champions with back-to-back Olympic bronze medals at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024. The report calls those consecutive Olympic podiums the first for Indian hockey in over 50 years and describes a squad combining dual Olympic medallists with younger players adapting to the post‑PR Sreejesh era. Traditional rivals named for the tournament include Pakistan, South Korea and host nation Japan, and the piece highlights the team’s penalty‑corner routines and structured counter‑attacking.
Saikhom Mirabai Chanu, silver medallist at Tokyo 2020, is entered in the women’s 49kg weightlifting category after a recovery from back and hip injuries. The article states Chanu faces a deep field on the continent, noting China, Thailand and Indonesia as strong competitors, and says the Asian Games will be an opportunity for her to execute snatches and clean and jerks under pressure.
Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain is listed as India’s leader in the women’s 75kg middleweight boxing category, where the report notes her tall frame, long reach and counter‑punching style. Freestyle wrestler Aman Sehrawat, a Paris 2024 bronze medallist in the men’s 57kg, is described for his stamina, aggressive pace, speed, scrambling and counter‑attacking—qualities the article identifies as assets in a continental field that includes Japan, Iran and Central Asian nations.
A men’s hockey gold in Nagoya would secure direct qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, and the Asian Games 2026 are scheduled to take place in Aichi‑Nagoya, Japan.
