Asian Games 2026: India Finishes 4th With 85 Medals As Shooting, Athletics Dip Despite Historic Hockey, Archery Success
Mumbai: India's sporting ambitions received a sobering reality check at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games as a campaign that promised another leap forward ended with a significant dip from the record-breaking haul in Hangzhou. India retained fourth place in the overall standings but finished with 85 medals, comprising 21 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze. That was 21 medals and seven gold fewer than the…
Mumbai witnessed India's sporting reality at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, a disappointing departure from the record-breaking performance in Hangzhou. India secured fourth place in the overall rankings but achieved 85 medals, including 21 gold, 27 silver, and 37 bronze—21 medals and seven gold less than the 106-medal haul from the previous edition.
China dominated the competition with 341 medals, including 169 gold. Japan claimed second place with 83 gold and 269 medals, while South Korea secured third place with 39 gold and 150 medals.
India's reach for top-10 status by 2036 and top-five ranking by 2047 comes into question, considering their fourth-place finish in 2026. A late surge of 11 gold medals in the final two days significantly contributed to maintaining their fourth-place standing. However, shooting emerged as a major setback for India with 15 medals, including three gold, compared to seven gold, nine silver, and six bronze in Hangzhou.
Shooting star Manu Bhaker's poor performance cost India the opportunity to win more medals. Neeru Dhanda, the double Olympic medallist, emerged as the standout performer with her historic gold in the trap event. She also won a mixed team gold and a women's team silver.
Athletics experienced a pre-competition hiccup, with star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra withdrawing due to injury. Tajinderpal Singh Toor missed a chance at his third Asian Games title, while Murali Sreeshankar and Sarvesh Kushare settled for silver. However, the men's 4x400m relay team of Kiran Pahal, M Poovamma, Prachi Choudhary, and Vithya Ramraj delivered the lone gold for athletics.
The uneven preparations, including accommodation and transport problems, disrupted routines and reduced recovery time for Indian athletes.
Nonetheless, the Asian Games showcased India's broadening medal base. Archery delivered five gold, two silver, and two bronze medals, with 17-year-old Kumkum Mohod becoming the first Indian to win an individual recurve gold. Wrestling yielded six medals, including golds for Sujeet Kalkal and Aman Sehrawat. Tennis, however, saw a first-time loss in 40 years for India.
Pranavi Urs became the first Indian woman to win an individual Asian Games gold in golf, while Parveen Hooda, Lovlina Borgohain, and Ankush Panghal bagged gold in boxing. The Aichi-Nagoya Games presented a contrast between historic triumphs and declining performances in shooting and athletics, highlighting India's talent but also exposing persistent weaknesses that must be addressed for future success.
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