Introduction
India's Asian Games 2026 campaign got underway on Thursday, September 17, with teqball, two days before the official opening ceremony in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The Indian men's doubles pair of Declan Marshall Gonsalves and Mohamed Anas Imran Beg were the country's first athletes in action at the continental Games.
India's Teqball Squad
India has three athletes competing in teqball at Aichi-Nagoya 2026. Alongside the men's doubles event, Anas Imran Beg partners Quimcy Dsouza in mixed doubles, while Dsouza also competes in the women's singles. Gonsalves and Beg arrive as World Championships medallists, having won India's first-ever medal in the sport with a men's doubles bronze at the 2024 edition in Vietnam.
India's Teqball Entries
| Event | Athletes |
|---|---|
| Men's doubles | Declan Marshall Gonsalves / Mohamed Anas Imran Beg |
| Mixed doubles | Mohamed Anas Imran Beg / Quimcy Dsouza |
| Women's singles | Quimcy Dsouza |
The Format
Teqball makes its Asian Games debut at Aichi-Nagoya 2026, with five medal events contested from September 17 to 20: men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, and mixed doubles. All five events begin with a round-robin group stage before progressing to knockout rounds, which also include a repechage giving eliminated competitors a second route back into medal contention.
Gonsalves and Beg have been drawn in Group B of the men's doubles competition, playing their group matches at the Nagoya City Higashi Sports Center against opponents including a Vietnamese and a South Korean pair.
Why Events Start Before the Opening Ceremony
Several sports at the Asian Games begin before the formal opening ceremony on September 19, a scheduling practice common at large multi-sport events where the sheer number of disciplines and venues makes it impossible to fit all competition into the official window. Cricket, hockey and basketball are among other sports starting early at these Games.
India's Early Schedule
- September 17: Teqball begins India's campaign; soft tennis men's team qualification also underway
- September 18: Women's cricket quarter-final against Japan
- September 19: Official opening ceremony at Paloma Mizuho Stadium
- September 20: PV Sindhu begins badminton campaign at Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium
- September 28: Men's cricket team enters directly at the quarter-final stage
Expert Insight
Sports observers note that debut sports at multi-sport events often present unexpected medal opportunities for countries with early investment in them, since the competitive field is typically less established than in traditional disciplines. India's existing World Championships bronze in men's doubles suggests the pair are genuine contenders rather than simply making up the numbers at teqball's Asian Games debut.
Key Takeaways
- India's Asian Games 2026 campaign began on September 17 with teqball.
- Declan Gonsalves and Mohamed Anas Imran Beg were India's first athletes in action.
- India has three teqball athletes competing across three events.
- Teqball makes its Asian Games debut with five medal events from September 17 to 20.
- The official opening ceremony takes place on September 19.
FAQ
When did India's Asian Games campaign begin?
On September 17, 2026, with teqball, two days before the official opening ceremony.
Who were India's first athletes in action?
The men's doubles teqball pair of Declan Marshall Gonsalves and Mohamed Anas Imran Beg.
How many teqball medal events are there?
Five: men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, and mixed doubles.
Conclusion
Starting a Games campaign in a debut sport with a pair who already hold World Championships hardware gives India a reasonable chance of an early medal. The broader campaign builds from here toward the traditional strongholds in shooting, wrestling, badminton and athletics.
