Asian Games 2026: Can Indian athletics match Hangzhou’s historic medal haul? - Preview

Athletics is India’s most successful sport at the Asian Games, with 283 medals in the Games' history, accounting for more than 35 per cent of the country’s overall tally.

A 75-member Indian athletics contingent is heading to Aichi-Nagoya for the 2026 Asian Games, aiming to build on its strong record at the continental level.

At the last Asian Games in Hangzhou, the Indian athletics team won 29 medals, the highest tally for the nation in any sport and the second-highest in athletics behind China.

Matching that number will be difficult this time, with the absence of Hangzhou javelin champions Neeraj Chopra and Annu Rani, along with significant changes to the champion relay teams.

Despite these challenges, the team will aim for 20-25 medals in Japan and once again hope to rank among the biggest contributors to the nation’s overall medal tally.

Indian medal hopefuls in Athletics at Asian Games 2026

Sprints:

India has not traditionally been a strong force in the sprint events, securing just two Asian Games medals in the 100m or 200m over the past two decades, both won by Dutee Chand.

Once again, Indian sprinters will need to produce exceptional performances to challenge athletes from China, Japan and Bahrain for medals.

While India has shown some progress in these distances in recent years, a medal could be possible if any of Gurindervir Singh, Animesh Kujur, Vishal TK or Harita Bhadra deliver a new personal best or national record.

Individual sprint medals will remain difficult to come by, but the Indian relay teams offer stronger prospects and will be expected to challenge for multiple medals.

Middle and Long Distance Running

Indian middle- and long-distance runners have been among the country’s strongest medal prospects in recent years, claiming 15 medals across the 800m, 1500m, 5000m and 3000m steeplechase at the last two Asian Games.

However, the department has not been at its best since Hangzhou, with several injury concerns and growing competition from nations such as Japan, Qatar and Bahrain.

Despite these challenges, Indian runners will still be targeting 6-7 medals from these events, especially with in-form athletes like Gulveer Singh and Parul Chaudhary in the squad.

Jumps

The Indian jumpers will be among the strongest gold medal contenders in the athletics programme this time, following an outstanding couple of seasons.

Four athletes, Murali Sreeshankar (long jump), Ancy Sojan (long jump), Sarvesh Kushare (high jump) and Pooja Singh (high jump), will enter the Games as the 2026 Asian leaders in their respective events.

Sreeshankar and Ancy will also be aiming to finally secure the gold medals that eluded them last time, when both finished with silver medals in Hangzhou.

Throws

Indian throwers experienced a mixed season this year, marked by multiple national records in the hammer throw and a few injury withdrawals, including two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra.

Despite this, the Indian throwers will once again rank among the favourites in several disciplines. Shot putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor will be chasing a third consecutive Asian Games gold.

In the men’s javelin throw, Yashvir Singh and Rohit Yadav, both of whom have enjoyed solid seasons, could also feature on the podium as they challenge world leader Rumesh Pathirage of Sri Lanka for the title.

India will also be targeting a few medals in the women’s hammer, shot put, and discus throw events, where they will face a strong Chinese contingent.

Elsewhere, the reigning decathlon silver medallist Tejaswin Shankar will be aiming to upgrade his Hangzhou silver to gold this time.

All eyes will also be on Jyothi Yarraji (100m hurdles) and Avinash Sable (3,000m Steeplechase), who are making a comeback from injuries and looking to regain their best form to defend their medals.

Indian Athletics Squad for Asian Games 2026

Men's Track Events: Gurindervir Singh (100m, Animesh Kukur (100-200m), Rajesh Ramesh (400m), Vishal TK (400m), Krishan Kumar (800m), Mohammad Afsal P (800m), Yoonus Shah (1500m), Gulveer Singh (1500-5000-10000M), Yashas P (400m Hurdles), Santhosh Kumar (400m Hurdles), Avinash Sable (3000m Steeplechase), Pranav Gurav (4x100), Mohammed Ashfaq (4x400m), Dharmveer Chaudhary (4x400), Jay Kumar (4x400), Manu TS (4x400), Sawan Barwal (Marathon), Kartik Karkera (Marathon),

Women's Track Events: Unnathi Bollanda (200m), Harita Bhadra (200m), Kiran Pahal (400m), Prachi (400m), Gowthami Jayaraman (800m), Pooja (800-1500m), Parul Chaudhary (1500m, 3000m Steeplechase, 5000m), Seema (5000-1000m), Nandhini K (100m hurdles), Jyothi Yarraji (100m Hurdles), Anu R (400m Hurdles), Vithya Ramraj (400m Hurdles), Ankita (3,000m Steeplechase), Tamanna (4x100), Srabani Nanda (4x100), Abinaya Rajarajan (4x100), Sneha S.S (4x100), Sudeshna Shivankar (4x100), Rashdeep Kaur (4x400), Ansa Babau (4x400), Poovamma Raju (4x400), Kumari Saloni (4x400), Neeru Pathak (4x400), Priyanka Goswami (Marathon Racewalk), Manju Rani (Marathon Race Walk)

Men's Field Events: Sreeshankar Murali (Long Jump), P David (Long Jump), Praveen Chithravel (Triple Jump), Karthik Unnikrishan (Triple Jump), Aadarsh Ram (High Jump), Sarvesh Kushare (High Jump), Kuldeep Kumar (Pole Vault), Dev Meena (Pole Vault), Yashvir Singh (Javelin Throw), Rohit Yadav (Javelin Throw), Karanaveer Singh (Shot Put), Tajinderpal Toor (Shot Put), Damneet Singh (Hammer Throw), Praveen Kumar (Hammer Throw), N Thowfeeq (Decathlon), Tejaswin Shankar (Decathlon)

Women's Field Events: Shaili Singh (Long Jump), Ancy Sojan (Long Jump), Niharika Vashisht (Triple Jump), Asha Ilango (Triple Jump), Pooja (High Jump), Supriya S (High Jump), Baranica Elangovan (Pole Vault), Sindhushree Ganesha (Pole Vault), Manpreet Kaur (Shot Put), Krishna Jayashankar (Shot Put), Seema (Discus Throw), Sanya Yadav (women's discus throw), Tanya Chaudhary (Hammer Throw), Anushka Yadav (Hammer Throw), Pooja (Heptathlon), Anamika (Heptathlon)

Indian Athletics Schedule at Asian Games 2026

24th September

6:30 AM: Women's Heptathlon Day-1

6:50 AM: Mixed 4x400m Relay Heats

4:14 PM: Women's Triple Jump Final

4:38 PM: Men's 100m Heats

5:55 PM: Women's 10,000m Final

6:45 PM: 4 x 400m Relay Mixed Final

25th September

6:30 AM: Women's Heptathlon Day-2

7:00 AM: Men's 400m Heats

3:35 PM: Women's Shot Put Final

4:03 PM: Men's 100m Semi-Final

4:33 PM: Women's Pole Vault Final

5:02 PM: Men's 10,000m Final

5:10 PM: Men's Hammer Throw Final

5:45 PM: Women's 400m Heats

6:13 PM: Men's 400m Semi-finals

6:45 PM: Men's 100m Final

26th September

4:00 AM: Men's Marathon Final

5:35 AM: Men's Decathlon Day 1

7:35 AM: Men's Javelin Throw Qualification

8:00 AM: Women's 200m Round 1

8:45 AM: Men's 200m Round 1

8:50 AM: Women's Long Jump Qualification

4:04 PM: Women's 100m Hurdles Qualification

4:25 PM: Women's 200m Semi-final

4:30 PM: Men's Shot Put Final

4:46 PM: Men's 200m Semi-finals

5:05 PM: Men's Triple Jump Final

5:21 PM: Men's 1500m Heats

6:15 PM: Women's 400m Final

6:33 PM: Men's 400m Final

6:45 PM: Women's 15000m Final

27th September

TBA: Women's Marathon Racewalk Final

TBA: Men's Decathlon Day 2

3:40 PM: Women's Long Jump Final

4:05 PM: Women's 200m Final

4:15 PM: Men's 200m Final

4:45 PM: Men's High Jump Final

5:06 PM: Men's 800m Heats

5:33 PM: Women's Javelin Throw Final

5:52 PM: Women's 3,000m Steeplechase Final

6:15 PM: Women's 4x100m Relay Heats

6:42 PM: Men's 4x100m Relay Heats

28th September

2:45 PM: Women's Discus Throw Final

3:20 PM: 4 x 100m Relay Mixed Heats

3:53 PM: Women's 400m Hurdles Final

4:03 PM: Men's 400m Hurdles Final

4:12 PM: Men's 3000m Steeplechase Final

4:25 PM: Men's Long Jump Final

4:35 PM: Men's 1500m Final

4:50 PM: Women's 800m Heats

4:55 PM: Men's Javelin Throw Final

5:13 PM: Women's 5,000m Final

5:50 PM: Men's 4 x 400m Relay Heats

6:34PM: Women's 4 x 100m Relay Final

6:53 PM: Men's 4 x 100m Relay Final

29th September

2:45 PM: Men's Pole Vault Final

3:48 PM: Women's High Jump Final

4:05 PM: Women's Hammer Throw Final

4:20 PM: Women's 800m Final

4:35 PM: Men's 800m Final

4:50 PM: Men's 5000mm Final

5:18 PM: Mixed 4x100m Relay Final

5:35 PM: Women's 4x400m Relay Final

5:47 PM: Men's 4x400m Relay Final

Where to Watch?

The Asian Games will be broadcast on Sony Sports Network, with live streaming available on SonyLIV.