India enters the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya with the objective of surpassing the 100-medal milestone for the second consecutive time, aiming to solidify its position among Asia’s leading sporting nations. This follows a breakthrough performance three years ago in Hangzhou, where India secured 107 medals, a significant increase from the 70 medals won in Jakarta-Palembang in 2018. Prior to Hangzhou, no country outside of China, Japan, and South Korea had crossed the century mark at the Asian Games.
As India sets its sights on the next few weeks of competition in Japan, the country’s broader ambition is closely tied to a bid to become the fourth Asian nation to host the Summer Olympics by 2036. Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya emphasized the importance of building sustained international sporting success by that time and expressed confidence in the current contingent’s ability to make the nation proud.
Despite the absence of star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, who is sidelined with a torn ligament and unable to pursue a third consecutive Asian Games gold, India maintains high expectations across several disciplines. In the previous edition, shooting and athletics were among the strongest contributors, with seven and six gold medals respectively. These sports are expected to continue delivering in Nagoya.
India’s dominance in compound archery, which culminated in a clean sweep of gold medals in Hangzhou, is anticipated to persist, with officials deeming fewer than five golds a disappointment. Cricket also remains a key focus, following India’s gold medal victories in both men’s and women’s tournaments at the last Games. The men’s team enters Nagoya as reigning Twenty20 world champions, while the women’s side arrives buoyed by their recent Asia Cup win in Dubai.
The nation also aims to defend its titles in field hockey, with both the men’s and women’s teams optimistic after the women’s squad achieved a strong fifth-place finish at the World Cup in August—the best result for an Asian team. Additional medal prospects include kabaddi, squash, wrestling, and weightlifting; however, swimming and aquatics continue to pose challenges for the Indian team.
Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu is among the top athletes to watch. The Tokyo Olympics silver medalist is targeting an Asian Games medal for the first time after missing out in previous editions due to injuries and performance fluctuations. Competing in the 49kg category, Chanu acknowledges the high level of competition she will face, describing it as akin to an Olympic event, with the strongest lifters in her weight class being from Asia. Fully fit and focused, she is determined to secure this elusive continental accolade during the Games.