3 September 2026 (Navroze Bureau) : India will send a strong squad to the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026, with rising cricket star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker among the prominent names in the contingent.
The Asian Games will be held in Japan from September 19 to October 4, with athletes from 45 countries and regions competing across 43 sports. India will aim to improve on its record haul of 107 medals at the 2022 Hangzhou Games.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Headlines Cricket Squad
One of the biggest talking points is the inclusion of teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in India’s men’s T20 squad.
The team will be led by Shreyas Iyer, with the squad also featuring Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy and other established players.
India will be looking to defend its men’s T20 Asian Games title, while the women’s team will also attempt to retain its gold medal under captain Harmanpreet Kaur.
Manu Bhaker Leads Shooting Challenge
Paris 2024 double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker will be one of India’s leading medal hopes in shooting.
She is listed for the 10m air pistol and 25m pistol, including the mixed-team 10m air pistol event alongside Kedarling Balakrishna Uchaganve.
India’s shooting squad also includes names such as Rudrankksh Patil, Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Esha Singh, Elavenil Valarivan and Rahi Sarnobat.
PV Sindhu Returns to the Asian Games
Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu will spearhead India’s badminton challenge.
She will compete in women’s singles and the women’s team event. India’s men’s squad includes Lakshya Sen, HS Prannoy, Kidambi Srikanth, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, giving the country considerable experience in both singles and doubles.
Mirabai Chanu Among Key Medal Hopes
Tokyo 2020 silver medallist Mirabai Chanu will be another major name representing India.
Her presence gives India an experienced medal contender in weightlifting, while Lovlina Borgohain will lead the boxing challenge in the women’s 75kg category.
Wrestling will also feature Olympic medallist Aman Sehrawat, who won bronze at Paris 2024.
Hockey Carries Added Importance
India’s hockey teams will enter the Games with more than medals at stake.
The men’s and women’s hockey competitions at Aichi-Nagoya will also serve as qualification events for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. The winners of both tournaments will secure direct qualification for the 2028 Games.
India will therefore be under pressure to perform strongly in a sport in which it has traditionally been one of Asia’s leading powers.
Athletics Squad Brings Depth
India’s athletics contingent includes established competitors and emerging talents across track and field.
The squad features Avinash Sable, Tajinderpal Singh Toor, Annu Rani, Jyothi Yarraji, Parul Chaudhary, Gulveer Singh, Murali Sreeshankar and Tejaswin Shankar, among many others.
The athletics programme will provide India with opportunities across middle-distance running, race walking, jumps, throws, hurdles and combined events.
Anahat Singh Returns in Squash
Teenage squash player Anahat Singh will return to the Asian Games after helping India win bronze medals in the women’s team and mixed doubles events at Hangzhou 2023.
She will be among the players expected to carry India’s next generation of squash talent.
Neeraj Chopra to Miss the Games
India will, however, be without one of its biggest sporting stars.
Olympic and world champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has withdrawn from the Asian Games after an ankle injury, meaning India will have to look elsewhere for a medal in the men’s javelin event.
His absence is one of the most significant setbacks for the Indian contingent ahead of the Games.
Late Changes Hit the Contingent
India has also faced several changes to its final squad.
Wrestlers Mukul Dahiya and Deepanshu were removed following doping violations, while shooter Gaurav Kumar Masoori was dropped after a doping offence and replaced by Akash Bharadwaj.
In women’s cricket, Jemimah Rodrigues was ruled out after suffering a hamstring injury and was replaced by Pratika Rawal.
India’s Record Medal Target
India won a record 107 medals at Hangzhou 2023, comprising 28 gold, 38 silver and 41 bronze.
With several Olympic medallists, defending champions and young prospects in the squad, India will enter Aichi-Nagoya with the objective of surpassing that tally.
A Mix of Champions and Rising Stars
The 2026 contingent represents a combination of established champions and athletes who could become the country’s next generation of sporting stars.
From Manu Bhaker and PV Sindhu to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Anahat Singh, India has several high-profile names capable of attracting attention across different disciplines.