Japan. The Sports Ministry has given official approval to the 492-member strong Indian contingent for the upcoming Asian Games 2026. India's biggest hope in this continental Games Mahakumbh will be the 73-member athletics team. It will be captained by two-time Olympic medalist Neeraj Chopra. In these games to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan from 19 September to 4 October 2026, Indian players will take the field with the intention of further improving their previous historic performance.
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Eyes on Neeraj Chopra's golden hat-trick
This time, two-time current Asian Games champion Neeraj Chopra will aim to make a golden hat-trick by winning the third consecutive gold medal in the men's javelin throw event. 16 medal winners of the last Hangzhou Asian Games are included in this team, in which 5 individual champions including Neeraj Chopra will defend their gold medals. Along with Neeraj, the country's rising star Rohit Yadav will also challenge in the men's javelin throw event, who has recently caught everyone's attention by throwing his personal best throw of 87.68 meters in Bhubaneswar.
determination to break the previous record
At the Hangzhou Asian Games (2023), Indian athletes gave their best performance since 1951 by winning 29 medals including 6 gold, 14 silver and 9 bronze. According to sports experts, this time with the help of this huge athletics team of 73 players, India can reach new heights of medals in track and field events. The main track and field events of the Games will be played at the prestigious Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya.