Asian Games 2026: Ankush Panghal Assures Boxing Medal After Dominant Win; India Shine In Archery, Athletics

Aichi-Nagoya, September 27 - Indian boxer Ankush Panghal secured a medal at the ongoing Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya 2026 after defeating Tajikistan's Nekruz Salimov in the quarterfinals. Ankush dominated the first two rounds, winning both 5-0, and emerged victorious with a unanimous decision. He will face Uzbekistan's Fazliddin Erkinboev in the semifinals.

Team India has had a mixed run across other sports, with mixed results in fencing, athletics, and decathlon. In fencing, the Indian women's sabre team lost to Uzbekistan, while athletes Murali Sreeshankar and David Patturaj Solomon made it to the finals in the men's long jump. In athletics, Vithya Ramraj and Anu Raghavan qualified for the finals in the women's 400m hurdles.

India struggled in the men's Kurash event, with Vishal, Sangita Balhara, Bharti, and Yash Kumar exiting early rounds. In decathlon, Tejaswin Shankar dropped from first to third place after the discus throw. Archery saw strong performances from the men's and women's teams, with both advancing to the semifinals in recurve and compound events.

Indian surfers also progressed, with four surfers advancing to the third round in both men's and women's shortboard events.