• Source:JND
HighLights
  1. The 20th Asian Games will be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
  2. Sahdev Yadav will serve as India’s Chef de Mission.
  3. Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana headline the women’s cricket team.

The Asian Games 2026 are almost upon us, with the Indian contingent entering the final stages of preparation ahead of the continental showpiece in Japan. Several squads have already been announced, while some teams have also begun their journey to the host country.

The 20th Asian Games will be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4, 2026. India is set to send a 768-member contingent, including 503 athletes 269 men and 234 women along with coaching and support staff.

Sahdev Yadav will serve as India’s Chef de Mission. While the opening ceremony is scheduled for September 19, sporting action will begin earlier, with preliminary events starting on September 10.

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India’s competitive campaign will begin with teqball on September 17.

Asian Games 2026: Key Details

Host: Aichi-Nagoya, Japan
Dates: September 19 to October 4, 2026
Opening Ceremony: September 19 at Paloma Mizuho Stadium
Closing Ceremony: October 4 at Paloma Mizuho Stadium
Indian Contingent: 768 members, including 503 athletes
Chef de Mission: Sahdev Yadav
Broadcast in India: Sony Sports Network
Live Streaming: SonyLIV

New sports and disciplines include padel, teqball, surfing, BMX freestyle, mixed martial arts and virtual taekwondo.

India Squad Asian Games 2026: Key Athletes

The India squad Asian Games 2026 features several Olympic and international stars across different disciplines.

Cricket

The men’s squad includes Jasprit Bumrah, Sanju Samson, Axar Patel and teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana headline the women’s team, with Jemimah Rodrigues missing out due to a hamstring injury.

Badminton

PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen, HS Prannoy, Kidambi Srikanth and Ayush Shetty are among the prominent names. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will spearhead the doubles challenge.

Athletics

Avinash Sable, Gulveer Singh, Murali Sreeshankar, Praveen Chithravel, Tajinderpal Singh Toor and Jyothi Yarraji headline the 74-member active athletics team. Neeraj Chopra will miss the Games.

Wrestling & Weightlifting

Aman Sehrawat and Antim Panghal lead the wrestling contingent, while Olympic medallist Mirabai Chanu heads the five-member weightlifting squad.

Boxing & Tennis

Lovlina Borgohain, Preeti Pawar and Sachin Siwach are among India’s boxing hopefuls. Sumit Nagal, Yuki Bhambri, N Sriram Balaji and Ankita Raina feature in tennis.

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India’s Key Asian Games 2026 Schedule

September 17: India begin campaign in teqball
September 18: Women’s cricket quarter-final vs Japan
September 20: Badminton, hockey, shooting and rowing begin
September 21: Men’s kabaddi group stage vs Japan
September 23: Mirabai Chanu’s 49kg weightlifting final
September 24: Men’s cricket quarter-finals begin
September 26: Archery begins; athletics medal events get underway

With several medal contenders in the lineup, the Indian athletes in Japan 2026 will look to deliver a strong performance across the Asian Games 2026.


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