Introduction
India heads into the Asian Games 2026 with a squad blending Olympic medallists, world-level competitors and emerging talent. With javelin star Neeraj Chopra absent through an ankle injury, attention shifts to a group of athletes across badminton, shooting, weightlifting, wrestling, boxing, archery and athletics as India looks to build on its record 107-medal haul from Hangzhou.
The Headline Names
| Athlete | Sport | Credentials |
|---|---|---|
| PV Sindhu | Badminton | Two-time Olympic medallist |
| Manu Bhaker | Shooting | Double Olympic medallist |
| Mirabai Chanu | Weightlifting | Olympic silver medallist, 2026 CWG gold |
| Aman Sehrawat | Wrestling | Paris 2024 bronze medallist |
| Lovlina Borgohain | Boxing | Tokyo 2020 bronze, 2022 Asian Games silver |
Badminton
PV Sindhu headlines India's badminton challenge, beginning at the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium from September 20. Lakshya Sen is also among the Indian shuttlers attracting attention. Badminton has consistently been one of India's more reliable medal sources at continental level, though the field includes strong competition from China, Japan, Korea and Indonesia.
Shooting and Archery
Manu Bhaker leads a shooting contingent that has become one of India's most productive medal sources in recent multi-sport cycles, with Esha Singh also in the squad. In archery, Jyothi Surekha Vennam and Dhiraj Bommadevara feature among athletes expected to contend, continuing a discipline where India has built genuine international depth.
Weightlifting and Wrestling
Mirabai Chanu leads a five-member weightlifting squad, arriving with 2026 Commonwealth Games gold and chasing a maiden Asian Games podium finish despite being a four-time CWG medallist and Olympic silver winner. In wrestling, Paris 2024 bronze medallist Aman Sehrawat headlines alongside Sujeet Kalkal.
Boxing
India's boxers arrive after a record-breaking Commonwealth Games campaign in which they won 10 medals, seven gold and three silver. Lovlina Borgohain, who took silver at the 2026 CWG and at the 2022 Asian Games, competes in the 75kg category seeking to convert previous silvers into gold. Commonwealth Games champion Sakshi Chaudhary is also in the squad.
Athletics
Over 70 Indian track and field athletes compete from September 24 to 29, including Avinash Sable, Murali Sreeshankar, Tajinderpal Singh Toor, Gulveer Singh, Jyothi Yarraji, Parul Chaudhary and Shaili Singh. Athletics historically produces a substantial share of India's Asian Games medals, making this window central to the overall tally.
Expert Insight
Analysts following India's preparation note that the squad's depth across shooting, archery, wrestling and boxing has been the structural change behind recent medal improvements, reducing reliance on individual superstars. That depth is precisely what will be tested with Neeraj Chopra absent, since his event was among India's most predictable gold sources at previous editions.
Key Takeaways
- PV Sindhu, Manu Bhaker, Mirabai Chanu, Aman Sehrawat and Lovlina Borgohain headline India's medal hopes.
- Neeraj Chopra is absent due to an ankle injury.
- Over 70 Indian athletes compete in athletics from September 24 to 29.
- India's boxers arrive after winning 10 medals at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
- India defends both men's and women's titles in cricket and kabaddi.
FAQ
Who are India's biggest medal hopes?
PV Sindhu in badminton, Manu Bhaker in shooting, Mirabai Chanu in weightlifting, Aman Sehrawat in wrestling and Lovlina Borgohain in boxing lead the list.
Is Neeraj Chopra competing?
No. He withdrew from the Asian Games due to an ankle injury.
When does athletics take place?
From September 24 to 29, with over 70 Indian track and field athletes competing.
Conclusion
With a smaller contingent and its most bankable individual gold medallist absent, India's Asian Games campaign becomes a genuine test of the squad depth built over recent cycles. The answer starts emerging as the medal events get underway from September 19.
