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What Is the Asian Games and Why Is India Competing in Japan in 2026?

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Updated on09/19/26

The Asian Games 2026 is Asia's largest multi-sport event, bringing together athletes from across the continent every four years. The 20th Asian Games, officially Aichi-Nagoya 2026, are being hosted by Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya, Japan. The official Games run from 19 September to 4 October 2026, although several competitions began before the opening ceremony, with men's basketball starting on 10 September.

Asian Games 2026 Dates, Scale and Host City

Host

Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya, Japan

Official Games dates

19 September to 4 October 2026

Opening ceremony

19 September 2026

Closing ceremony

4 October 2026

Participating NOCs

45, plus the OCA Refugee Team

Sports

43

Disciplines

71

Events

469

Nagoya has become the third Japanese city to host the Games, following Tokyo in 1958 and Hiroshima in 1994. There's a symbolic layer to this edition too: it marks 75 years since the very first Asian Games were held in New Delhi back in 1951, and it also returns the event to its normal four-year cycle after the 2022 Hangzhou edition was postponed to 2023 because of the pandemic.

India at Asian Games 2026: How the Campaign Has Started

India is represented by 503 athletes at the Asian Games 2026, building on its record 107-medal haul at Hangzhou 2022. The opening days have already produced several notable results:

  • India's women's cricket team began its gold medal defence with an eight-wicket win over hosts Japan in the quarter-final on 18 September, bowling Japan out for 57 before Shafali Verma smashed an unbeaten 40 off 15 balls to finish the chase in five overs.

  • Left-arm spinner Shree Charani took 4 for 10, dismissing Japan's openers Haruna Iwasaki and captain Mai Yanagida off successive deliveries.

  • India now face Bangladesh in the semi-final on 20 September, with Pakistan meeting Sri Lanka in the other last-four tie.

  • In teqball, Quimcy Joaquim Dsouza and Mohamed Anas Imran Beg lost their mixed doubles quarter-final to Vietnam, then beat the Philippines in the repechage to reach the bronze medal match.

  • As of 19 September, Dsouza has also reached the women's singles bronze medal match, after losing her semifinal to Indonesia's Ima Sumaya.

Indian Athletes to Watch at the Asian Games 2026

A handful of established stars are yet to begin their campaigns. Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu is part of India's badminton contingent. Olympic medallist Mirabai Chanu is among India's weightlifting entrants, while double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker is part of India's shooting contingent. Paris 2024 bronze medallist Aman Sehrawat rounds out the list, competing in wrestling.

Why Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Carries Extra Weight

Squash carries added significance at these Games, since the men's and women's singles champions are in line for the Asian continental qualification places toward the sport's Olympic debut at Los Angeles 2028, subject to the official Olympic qualification criteria.

What Comes Next for India

India enters Aichi-Nagoya as defending champions in several team events. Its men's and women's cricket and kabaddi teams will seek to defend the gold medals they won at Hangzhou, while the men's hockey team will also attempt to retain its title. If India's women's cricket team beats Bangladesh on 20 September, it will move a step closer to retaining the title it won at Hangzhou, while India's other squads still have their own campaigns to open in the coming days. The remainder of the Games will determine whether India can match or surpass its record 107-medal haul from Hangzhou 2022.

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Pari Deshmukh
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Pari Deshmukh is a journalist with over 12 years of experience covering current affairs across print and digital media in India. She holds a Master's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Pune University, bringing both academic grounding and extensive field experience to her reporting. Over her career, Pari has reported on national politics, policy developments, social issues, and breaking news events across India. Her work has appeared on platforms including The Print, Scroll.in, and Hindustan Times Digital, where she has built a reputation for factual, balanced, and timely reporting on stories that shape public discourse. With 12+ years in the field, she has covered major national events, conducted ground-level investigations, and interviewed policymakers, civil society leaders, and public figures. Her journalism is driven by one standard — verified facts reported without distortion, regardless of the pressure or pace of the news cycle. She has participated in press panels at the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards and is a member of the Press Club of India. Her reporting continues to serve readers who need current affairs coverage they can trust.

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