Aichi-Nagoya Games: A bagful of medals is India’s expectation
Hopes, ambitions, aspirations, and dreams soar as the ultimate test gets underway in Aichi-Nagoya! The 2026 Asian Games in Japan have officially begun, offering India a golden opportunity to demonstrate and strengthen its rising stature in world sports. It also provides a prime forum to showcase India’s ambition of breaking into the global top 10 within the next decade.
The streamlined Commonwealth Games in Glasgow offered an early hint that the trend has shifted from merely participating to winning laurels, with the Indian contingent finishing a commendable fourth thanks to strong efforts from weightlifters, boxers, athletes, judokas, and para-athletes. For a nation aspiring to host the 2036 Olympics, establishing itself as a true sporting power is an absolute necessity, making the Asian Games an ideal proving ground.
Experts share widespread confidence that this optimism is well-founded. Former world championship long jump medalist Anju Bobby George expressed a positive outlook in the media, predicting that athletics alone could bring in around 30 medals—one more than the tally from Hangzhou four years ago. While Indian javelin ace Neeraj Chopra was forced to miss the Games due to an injury that disrupted his pursuit of a third straight Asian Games gold, he has undeniably inspired many up-and-coming athletes to dream big and deliver matching performances.
The Commonwealth Games provided a preview, but Japan holds distinct medal prospects across multiple athletics disciplines. As Anju Bobby George noted in a leading newspaper, India stands a strong chance in jumps, throws, middle-distance, long-distance, and relay events. Long jumpers Ancy Sojan, Shaili Singh, and Murali Sreeshankar are all top podium contenders. Having missed the Paris Olympics two years ago due to injury, Sreeshankar in particular will be driven to produce something special. Other key athletes to watch include shot putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor, as well as decathlete and high jumper Tejaswin Shankar.
Beyond the athletics field, attention turns to star pistol shooter Manu Bhaker, veteran weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, and badminton icon P.V. Sindhu—who will likely be seeking a golden sign-off on the big stage. Alongside Sindhu, expectations are high for the formidable men’s doubles duo of Satviksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty to defend their gold medal performance from Hangzhou. Strong contingents in boxing, archery, wrestling, and kabaddi further bolster India’s chances. Factor in hockey and squash, and India boasts plenty of avenues to secure hardware. Having achieved a historic 107-medal haul in China, the target now is to surpass that mark in Japan—an ambitious yet reachable goal for this 501-strong Indian contingent.
Meanwhile, India’s women’s cricket team has demonstrated how to press ahead with fluency given the efficient way they have been getting the job done. As reigning champions and the top-ranked T20 outfit in world cricket, India looks fully prepared to claim gold once again. The men’s team will also aim for repeat gold. Last time, their higher seed earned them the top spot after the final against Afghanistan was washed out. This time, they will hope to seal victory on the field through their all-round skill—provided nature does not intervene.
Japan has hosted the Games before, most recently in Hiroshima in 1994. It seems slightly ironic, however, that a nation famed for perfection encountered early logistical hiccups for such a massive sporting event. Unflattering reports surfaced initially, but this should prove to be only a temporary phase. Much like the FIFA World Cup in the U.S., where early negativity quickly faded once action began, focus in Nagoya will shift as competitions get underway. With around 11,000 athletes from 45 countries arriving for this major continental event, attention will soon turn from accommodation issues to sporting excellence.
If the Hangzhou performance four years ago set the benchmark for India, then sports lovers across the country will be backing the contingent in Nagoya to deliver a touch of class. Success here would represent another confident step forward on the road to hosting the 2036 Olympic Games.