The 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, came to a close on October 4, and India’s campaign ended on a high. According to The Week and Khel Now, India finished fourth in the medal table with 85 medals: 21 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze. If you did not follow every event, here are the eight moments you should know about.
1. Fourth Place, Decided By Silver Medals
India and Uzbekistan both ended with 21 golds. As reported by The Week, India claimed fourth place because it won more silver medals. China, Japan and South Korea took the top three spots. The Week also said this is India’s second-best Asian Games haul, behind the record set at Hangzhou in 2023.
2. Women’s Cricket Team Won India’s First Gold
The first gold of the Games came from the women’s cricket team on September 22. As per Esquire India, they beat Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the final after posting 216, with Smriti Mandhana top-scoring with 79.
3. Men’s Cricket Team Beat Pakistan In The Final
The men’s team completed the cricket double on October 3. India scored 211 for 6 and beat Pakistan by 19 runs, according to Khel Now. As reported by CareerIndia, Abhishek Sharma scored 61 and Tilak Varma made an unbeaten 51.
4. A Historic Hockey Double
Both hockey teams won gold. The men’s team beat Pakistan 4-3 in the semi-final and then beat Malaysia 5-1 in the final to retain their title. The women’s team also won gold. Both teams earned direct qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, as reported by Khel Now and CareerIndia.
5. Kabaddi Golds For Both Teams
Kabaddi delivered as expected, with both the men’s and women’s teams winning gold on September 26, according to Khel Now’s list of Indian gold medallists. Kabaddi star Pawan Sehrawat was one of India’s two flag bearers at the opening ceremony, along with shooter Manu Bhaker.
6. Archery’s Golden Run
As per The Week, archery gave India nine medals, including five golds. The standout was Kumkum Mohod, who won the women’s individual recurve gold on October 3. Khel Now reported that she became the first Indian to win individual recurve gold at the Asian Games.
7. Boxing Brought Gold On One Big Day
October 2 was one of India’s best days. According to Khel Now, Lovlina Borgohain (women’s 75kg), Parveen Hooda (women’s 65kg) and Ankush Panghal (men’s 80kg) all won boxing gold, while Sujeet Kalkal won wrestling gold in men’s freestyle 65kg.
8. Golf, Athletics And Shooting Added To The Tally
- Pranavi Urs won gold in women’s individual golf with a score of 15 under par, as per Khel Now.
- The women’s 4x400m relay team of Kiran Pahal, Poovamma Machettira, Prachi Choudhary and Vithya Ramraj won gold.
- According to The Week, athletics gave India the most medals of any sport (24), followed by shooting (15).
The Bottom Line
A late gold rush in the final days pushed India into the top four. With hockey already qualified for LA 2028, and several young athletes winning big medals, there is plenty for Indian sports fans to look forward to.
FAQs
How many medals did India win at the Asian Games 2026?
India won 85 medals: 21 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze.
Where were the 2026 Asian Games held?
They were held in Aichi and Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4, 2026.
Did India win cricket gold at the Asian Games 2026?
Yes. Both the women’s and men’s teams won gold. The men beat Pakistan by 19 runs in the final.
