Asian Games 2026: Top Indian debutants to watch out for in Aichi-Nagoya

The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games are less than a fortnight away, and finishing touches are underway as the host city prepares to give the Games their final look.

Soon, the stage will be handed over to its rightful owners, the athletes. The world will witness some spectacular winning moments, some close finishes, and teenage prodigies will be waiting for their moments to shine. To mark the beginning of their sporting milestones.

The scale and level of competition will allow young athletes to emerge as the flagbearers of their sport. The games will feature 43 sports, 71 disciplines, 469 medal events and more than 11,000 athletes are expected to compete. 

For some, it will also be an opportunity to secure direct qualification quotas for the upcoming 2028 LA Olympics. With so much at stake, here’s a look at five Indian debutants who will be competing at their first Asian Games this year.

Rohit Yadav (Javelin Throw)

With Neeraj Chopra ruled out of the Asian Games due to injury, the spotlight in men's javelin throw will be on Rohit Yadav to bring home the laurels.

The 25-year-old from Uttar Pradesh has been in red-hot form recently. He had a very good season this year, registering a lifetime best of 87.68m to claim gold at the World Athletics Continental Tour Silver Meet in Bhubaneswar in August this year.

The throw moved him to second on the all-time Indian list, surpassing Kishore Jena’s 87.54m mark.

His seventh-place finish at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games with an effort of 81.56m in the men’s javelin final raises some doubts. But his overall momentum and consistency this year make him a medal contender on the biggest stage.

Suruchi Phogat (Shooting)

Shooter Suruchi Phogat was only 13 when she took up the sport. Now 20, she is set to compete at her maiden Asian Games and will be among the favourites to win a medal in the 10m air pistol.

Over the past 18 months, Phogat has been in remarkable form, winning four consecutive World Cups as well as the World Cup Final. She has also set a national record in the 10m air pistol, a world junior record and risen to World No. 3.

While Aichi-Nagoya will be her first Asian Games, Phogat is no stranger to competing at the highest level. Her consistency on the World Cup circuit has already established her among the world’s best, but the Asian Games will bring a different kind of pressure, with a medal expected from one of India’s brightest young shooting stars.

Ayush Shetty (Badminton)

Shuttler Ayush Shetty, 21, is one of India’s most promising young men’s singles badminton players who will be making his debut at the Asian Games.

The 6-foot-4-inch Karnataka shuttler has been in good form, becoming the first Indian in 61 years to win a men’s singles silver medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China.

At the recently concluded World Championships in New Delhi, Shetty stunned defending champion and World No. 1 Shi Yuqi in three games in his opening match. He, however, lost to Alwi Farhan of Indonesia in the Round of 16.

But overall, Ayush has been impressive with his powerful smashes, and his style of play has often drawn comparisons with Danish great Viktor Axelsen.

Sujeet Kalkal (Wrestling)

Wrestler Sujeet Kalkal has already made history, becoming only the fourth grappler in the country to win the U23 World Championship title, claiming the men’s 65kg freestyle title in Serbia last year.

Since then, the 23-year-old has been on the rise. The Asian champion also climbed to the World No. 1 spot in the United World Wrestling rankings and has remained unbeaten in his last 20 bouts.

Although he is now dropped to second place after giving an injury walkover at the Budapest Ranking Series, he has his eyes set on an even bigger prize, the Asian Games gold.

He will make his Asian Games debut in Aichi-Nagoya. With his form and growing reputation, Sujeet will step onto the mat with one clear target: to turn his debut into an Asian Games gold medal.

Sakshi Chaudhary (Boxing)

Sakshi Chaudhary’s Asian Games debut comes at a time when her confidence is at an all-time high. Last month, she stepped onto the grand stage in Glasgow and returned with a Commonwealth Games gold medal in the women's 51kg category.

But her journey to the Asian Games was far from easy. To make the Indian team, Sakshi moved down from 54kg, undergoing a demanding weight-loss and strict diet restrictions.

Then came the challenge within the country. Sakshi had to fight her way past some of India’s best, defeating two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen and then Minakshi Hooda to secure her place in the contingent.

Now, after proving herself on the Commonwealth stage, Sakshi heads to Aichi-Nagoya for her maiden Asian Games and with a gold medal already around her neck, she will be one of India’s debutants to watch.