Asian Games 2026: Manu Bhaker And Mirabai Chanu Headline India's Medal Hopes On Action-Packed Day In Aichi-Nagoya

Aichi-Nagoya: Olympic champions Manu Bhaker and Mirabai Chanu will lead India's medal hopes at the Asian Games 2026 on Wednesday, according to Olympics.com. The packed day of competition features shooting, weightlifting, badminton, and more, offering numerous medal opportunities. Manu Bhaker, Esha Singh, and Suruchi Inder Singh will compete in the Air Pistol finals, while Mirabai Chanu and Gyaneshwari Yadav aim for gold in Weightlifting.

Double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker will attempt to add another Asian Games medal to her collection, while Paris 2024 bronze medallist Mirabai Chanu seeks her first continental title. Chanu narrowly missed out on a medal at Hangzhou 2023 due to injury. Both athletes will look to build on their success at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where Chanu won gold.

Shooting will present additional medal chances for India, with Anantjeet Singh Naruka among the promising shooters. The Indian men's badminton team will face a tough challenge against China in the semi-finals, with Lakshya Sen and his teammates eager to secure a spot in the gold medal match. Squash will also begin its campaign, and Wushu player Roshibina Devi will secure her third Asian Games medal.

Indian teams will continue their campaigns in hockey, kabaddi, and boxing, while swimming offers more medal opportunities. The Asian Games serve as a qualification pathway for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.