Asian Games 2026: Top Indian athletes to watch out for

Indian athletes are preparing for the second major multi-sport event of the year at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, scheduled from September 19 to October 4.

A contingent of 501 athletes will represent India at the 15-day continental showdown in Japan, competing for multiple medals across 36 sports disciplines.

India’s target will be to once again cross the 100-medal mark, as they did at the previous edition in Hangzhou, where the country recorded its best-ever haul of 106 medals.

The strongest gold medal prospects for India in Japan are expected to come from the team events in Kabaddi, Cricket, Shooting, and Hockey.

At the same time, the contingent will look for success in individual events through athletes such as Sujeet Kalkal, Esha Singh and Murali Sreeshankar.

Here is the list of Individual athletes to keep an eye out for at the 2026 Asian Games:

Sujeet Kalkal (Wrestling):

Reigning Asian Champion Sujeet is enjoying the best year of his career in 2026. He claimed his first Asian Championships title and was also World No. 1 this year.

The 23-year-old will make his Asian Games debut in the men’s 65kg freestyle category, aiming to continue his medal-winning run and add another major title to his collection.

Mirabai Chanu (Weightlifting):

Olympic silver medallist Mirabai Chanu has won almost every major medal, but an Asian Games medal continues to elude her. She heads to Aichi-Nagoya determined to change that.

Fresh from securing her third consecutive Commonwealth Games gold, the 32-year-old will compete in the women’s 49kg category and ranks among the strongest medal contenders.

Anahat Singh (Squash):

Teenage star Anahat Singh continues to rise rapidly on the international squash circuit and will enter the Asian Games as the world junior champion, targeting her first singles medal in Japan.

She will compete in both the women’s singles and the team event. The singles competition also serves as an Olympic qualifier, with the winner earning a direct quota for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Suruchi Phogat (Shooting):

Suruchi has emerged as one of the biggest finds in Indian shooting over the past couple of years, winning four individual titles in her first five ISSF World Cups in the 10m air pistol event.

The 20-year-old is set to make her Asian Games debut in Aichi-Nagoya, aiming to claim another major title after missing out on a medal at the 2026 Asian Championships.

Esha Singh (Shooting):

Reigning Asian Games silver medallist Esha Singh has been in strong form, securing two World Cup titles this year, and will now look to upgrade her medal colour in Japan.

She will have multiple medal opportunities, competing in the 10m air pistol and 25m sports pistol individual events as well as the team competitions.

Satwik-Chirag (Badminton):

The reigning Asian Games champions in men’s doubles, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, have had a mixed season marked by early exits and injury withdrawals.

However, they also claimed two titles on the circuit this year, including the China Masters Super 750 on Sunday, and will head into the Asian Games chasing a second consecutive gold.

Sarvesh Kushare (High Jump):

Sarvesh Kushare has had a tremendous past year, finishing in the top six at the World Championships and becoming the first Indian to clear the 2.30m mark.

He currently holds the Asian lead in the men’s high jump and will be among the favourites for the title. After a heartbreaking fourth-place finish at the previous edition, he will now aim for his maiden Asian Games medal in Japan.

Preeti Pawar (Boxing):

The 22-year-old Olympian Preeti made her return to the Indian team late last year after a long medical break due to a Hepatitis A diagnosis.

Since then, she has not looked back, winning three major titles ( the World Boxing Cup, Asian Championships and Commonwealth Games) and will look to continue this stunning run in Aichi-Nagoya.

Murali Sreeshankar (Long Jump):

After winning a silver medal at the 2023 Asian Games, Murali Sreeshankar suffered a complete turn of fortunes and was forced to sit out for nearly two years due to a career-threatening injury.

Now, the 27-year-old is finding his rhythm again and currently holds the Asian lead in the men’s long jump, and he now returns to the Asian Games aiming to upgrade his medal from three years ago.

Ancy Sojan (Long Jump):

The 25-year-old long jumper has enjoyed an outstanding last month, clearing the 6.70m mark three times and breaking India’s 22-year-old national record with a jump of 6.88m.

She is currently ranked Asia No. 1 in the women’s long jump and will hope to maintain her form with another strong performance while aiming to upgrade her silver medal from the 2023 Asian Games.