India’s Asian Games Campaign: Athletics, Boxing and Cricket Take Centre Stage on Day 10

AICHI-NAGOYA, Sept 28: India’s campaign at the 2026 Asian Games entered another important phase on Monday, with athletes from shooting, athletics, boxing, cricket, hockey, squash, archery and surfing scheduled to compete across venues in Aichi-Nagoya.

India began the day with 37 medals, including four gold, 16 silver and 17 bronze, after collecting seven medals on September 27. The previous day’s haul included two silver medals in squash and five athletics medals.

The Indian men’s cricket team was among the major attractions on the schedule as it opened its Asian Games campaign against Afghanistan in the quarterfinal. The Shreyas Iyer-led side entered the knockout stage directly, while Afghanistan reached the last eight after progressing through the group phase.

The quarterfinal was scheduled at Korogi Sports Park, but persistent rain created serious concerns before the contest. The weather had already disrupted cricket matches during the tournament, and further showers were forecast around Nagoya.

India came into the match as the defending men’s cricket champions after winning gold at the previous Asian Games. The women’s team had already retained its Asian Games T20 title earlier in the tournament, defeating Sri Lanka in the final and giving India its first gold medal of the 2026 Games.

Athletics was another major focus on Monday, with several Indian competitors involved in medal events. Avinash Sable was scheduled to contest the men’s 3000m steeplechase, while Murali Sreeshankar was set to compete in the men’s long jump final. Rohit Yadav was listed for the men’s javelin throw final, while Gulveer Singh was among the Indian runners in the men’s 1500m final.

Parul Chaudhary, who had already won bronze in the women’s 3000m steeplechase, was also scheduled to return to competition in the women’s 5000m final. Her presence added another medal opportunity for India’s distance-running contingent.

The athletics programme followed a productive but medal-less-in-gold day for India on September 27. Ancy Sojan and Sarvesh Anil Kushare won silver medals, while Parul Chaudhary, Tejaswin Shankar and Harita Bhadra collected bronze medals.

The previous day’s results also included a pair of squash silver medals. Anahat Singh became the first Indian woman to win an individual singles silver at the Asian Games, while Abhay Singh also finished runner up in the men’s singles event.

Shooting was another prominent part of India’s September 28 schedule. Manu Bhaker, Esha Singh and Rahi Sarnobat were due to compete in the women’s 25m pistol qualification and team event, with the individual final scheduled later in the morning for those who qualified.

Bhaker’s appearance came after she finished fifth in the women’s 10m air pistol final earlier in the Games. The 25m pistol competition therefore provided another opportunity for her and her teammates to compete for medals.

India also had competitors in trap shooting, with Neeru, Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer featuring in the women’s event. Kynan Chenai, Shapath Bharadwaj and Ahvar Rizvi were scheduled for the men’s trap competition.

Boxing remained another important medal source. Priya was scheduled to face Tajikistan’s Mijgona Samadova in the women’s 60kg quarterfinal, while Kapil Pokhariya was set to meet South Korea’s Kim Gichae in the men’s 90kg quarterfinal. Lovlina Borgohain was also due to face South Korea’s Seong Suyeon in the women’s 75kg quarterfinal.

India had already secured three boxing medals after Ankush Panghal, Parveen Hooda and Narender Berwal advanced to the semifinals. Their progress had contributed to the country’s medal tally on September 27.

Hockey was another team sport in action, with India scheduled to face Bangladesh in a men’s Pool A encounter. The Indian men’s team had started its Asian Games campaign with a 13-1 victory over Indonesia and followed that with a 16-1 win against Sri Lanka.

The squash teams were also scheduled for multiple pool matches. India’s women’s team was listed to face China and Japan, while the men’s side was scheduled to play China and South Korea during the day.

Archery and surfing opened India’s schedule early in the day. Sivaraj Babu was listed for the men’s shortboard surfing competition, while Indian archers were due to compete in the individual compound elimination rounds.

The day followed a mixed September 27 for India. The seven-medal haul increased the country’s total to 37, but India ended the day without adding another gold. The results nevertheless included podium finishes across athletics and squash and further medal assurances in boxing.

India’s wider Asian Games campaign has already produced medals across cricket, shooting, mixed martial arts, squash, athletics, kabaddi and other disciplines. The women’s cricket team retained its title earlier in the tournament, while both Indian kabaddi teams also defended their continental crowns.

For the men’s cricket team, the quarterfinal against Afghanistan was particularly significant because the knockout fixture determined its route into the medal rounds. Persistent rain, however, remained a major factor around the match. Reports indicated that a washout could affect qualification because of the tournament’s progression rules.

With the Games continuing through October 4, India’s medal campaign remains spread across several sports. Monday’s programme offered opportunities in individual events as well as team competitions, ensuring a busy schedule for the Indian contingent.

The combination of athletics finals, shooting events, boxing quarterfinals and the men’s cricket knockout match made September 28 one of the significant days of India’s Aichi-Nagoya campaign. The performances across these disciplines were expected to shape the country’s medal tally as the Games moved deeper into the competition.