Asian Games 2026: Indian women athletes to watch out for

India will look to its leading women athletes to drive the medal campaign at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, with several Olympic medallists, world champions and defending Asian Games champions in contention.

India won a record 106 medals at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023, with shooting, athletics, archery and team sports playing a major role. As the country targets another 100-plus medal haul in Japan, these are the Indian women athletes to watch.

Manu Bhaker and Esha Singh lead shooting hopes

Shooting is expected to be one of India's biggest medal-producing sports, with Manu Bhaker and Esha Singh leading the women's pistol group.

Bhaker, a double Olympic medallist at Paris 2024, will compete in the 10m air pistol and 25m pistol events. She was also part of India's gold-winning 25m pistol team at the Hangzhou Asian Games.

Esha Singh arrives in Nagoya with an even stronger recent record. The 21-year-old was India's most decorated shooter at Hangzhou, winning four medals, and has been reported as the world No. 1 in 25m pistol and No. 2 in 10m air pistol in the build-up to the Games.

Elavenil Valarivan, Sonam Maskar, Vidarsa Vinod, Ashi Chouksey and Suruchi Singh add further depth to India's women's shooting contingent.

P.V. Sindhu remains India's badminton star

P.V. Sindhu remains one of India's biggest names in women's badminton. The two-time Olympic medallist and former world champion will compete in women's singles and the team event.

A singles medal would strengthen her impressive Asian Games record, although the draw could bring her up against leading players from China, Japan, Korea and Thailand.

In women's doubles, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand are another medal hope. The pair have emerged as India's leading women's doubles combination since winning the world championships medal, and a podium finish is a realistic target in Nagoya.

Mirabai Chanu chasing a missing Asian Games medal

Mirabai Chanu will have a particularly significant target in Japan.

The Olympic silver medallist and three-time Commonwealth Games champion has never won an Asian Games medal. She finished ninth in 2014, missed the 2018 Games through injury and finished fourth at Hangzhou 2023.

After winning gold at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in 48kg, Chanu enters the women's 49kg competition as one of India's leading weightlifting medal hopes.

Preeti Pawar and Antim Panghal in combat sports

In boxing, Preeti Pawar will be India's headline women's medal contender. The reigning Asian champion and former Asian Games medalist also won the 2026 Commonwealth Games title earlier this year.

Wrestler Antim Panghal is another name to watch in Nagoya. The World Championships bronze medallist will compete in the 53kg category, with a podium finish the immediate target.

Jyothi Surekha and Parul lead archery and athletics

Jyothi Surekha Vennam is one of India's strongest gold medal prospects in compound archery. She was part of India's compound sweep at Hangzhou and will look to repeat that success in Nagoya.

In athletics, Parul Chaudhary will defend her Hangzhou 5000m title after also winning silver in the 3000m steeplechase in 2023. Jyothi Yarraji, the national record holder in the 100m hurdles and Hangzhou silver medallist, can also be a medal contender.

Ancy Sojan, Pooja Singh and Shaili Singh also feature among the women's athletics names to watch.

Cricket, hockey and kabaddi expected to deliver

India's women's cricket team will enter Nagoya as the defending Asian Games champions. Led by Harmanpreet Kaur, the side also features Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh. Despite a disappointing 2026 T20 World Cup campaign, India will remain among the favourites for gold.

The women's hockey team will also have significant stakes, with the Asian Games serving as a pathway to LA 2028 Olympic qualification. Led by Salima Tete, India will look to improve on its Hangzhou bronze.

The women's kabaddi team will defend its Asian Games title and remains one of India's strongest team-sport gold medal prospects.

With Neeraj Chopra absent from the Games, India's women's contingent will carry a greater share of the spotlight in Aichi-Nagoya.

From shooting and archery to athletics, combat sports and team events, their performances could be central to India's top-4 finish ambitions in Japan.