{
  "id": 8154494,
  "title": "India not a sporting superpower, but can make presence felt at Asian Games",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/india-not-a-sporting-superpower-but-can-make-presence-felt-at-asian",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-18T02:41:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/india-not-sporting-superpower-asian-games-2026-medal-expectations-10882995/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "India has not been a sporting superpower, but it can make its presence felt at upcoming Asian Games. The nation has won a total of 778 medals in Asian Games till now, with 183 being gold medals. China, on the other hand, has won 3,570 medals, with 1,674 of them being gold. A small, unassuming sauce-plate of a gift given to every athlete participating in the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games offers a metaphor for the significance of medals at the upcoming Asiad. The Asiad medal, no matter how much hype it creates, is just the appetizer for the Olympic Games at Los Angeles in two years. India currently holds 20 Olympic quotas, which can help secure qualification for the L.A. Games. Many Indian athletes have the potential to win gold in various events such as archery, badminton, rowing, boxing, and kabaddi. However, achieving this goal requires meticulous preparation and adaptability. For example, Indian weightlifters like Mirabai Chanu and wrestlers like Deepak Punia have had a history of low performances in Asiad, but Nagoya presents an opportunity to redeem themselves. Additionally, Indian athletes like Jasprit Bumrah and Shreyas Iyer can add to the excitement of the Games with their performances. The final medals to be contested will revolve around shooting and baseball, both of which have the potential to generate buzz and excitement among Indian sports fans.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "By the numbers: A look at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/by-the-numbers-a-look-at-the-asian-games-in-nagoya-japan",
        "published": "2026-09-17T23:41:47.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Japan’s manufacturing hub Aichi bets on Asian Games to drive growth despite soaring costs",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/japans-manufacturing-hub-aichi-bets-on-asian-games-to-drive-growth",
        "published": "2026-09-18T02:36:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Asian Games offer tough test as Malaysia chase six gold medals",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/asian-games-offer-tough-test-as-malaysia-chase-six-gold-medals",
        "published": "2026-09-18T02:36:04.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}