Delivering an exceptional multi-sport Thursday at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japanthe Indian contingent expanded its overall haul to 64 medals (10 gold, 22 silver, and 32 bronze), consolidating its firm grip on eighth place in the continental medal tally. The day witnessed history on the high seas as cousin duo Prince Kurisinkal Noble and Manu Francis secured a historic silver in men’s skiff sailing, while grappler Nitesh Siwach snapped a 64-year drought to reach the men’s 97kg Greco-Roman wrestling final. Complementing the podium finishes, India’s men’s cricket team decimated Sri Lanka by 124 runs and the defending champion men’s hockey team edged Pakistan 4-3 in a thrilling semi-final, locking in two blockbuster India vs Pakistan gold medal showdowns.
Historic Silver on Water: Kerala Cousins Shine in Men’s Skiff Sailing
The sailing events delivered milestone achievements for India off the coast of Aichi-Nagoya:
Breakthrough Men’s Skiff Silver: Hailing from Kerala, cousins Prince Kurisinkal Noble and Manu Francis captured India’s first sailing medal of the 2026 Games by taking silver in the men’s skiff category, demonstrating remarkable tactical sailing across nine demanding fleet races with one win and three second-place finishes.
Women’s Skiff Bronze: Adding to the maritime success, the duo of Harshita Tomar and Sheetal Verma fought through heavy wind shifts to claim a hard-earned bronze medal in the women’s skiff event.
Archery Podium: In the compound archery arena, Ganesh Maniratnam maintained steady nerves to secure a bronze medal in the individual competition, rounding off an impressive day for non-combat disciplines.
64-Year Drought Broken: Nitesh Siwach’s Historic Greco-Roman Feat
On the wrestling mats, Indian Greco-Roman grappler Nitesh Siwach achieved a rare and historic milestone for the country:
First Final Since 1962: Competing in the 97 kg weight divisionSiwach powered through difficult bracket matchups to become the first Indian Greco-Roman wrestler to enter an Asian Games final in 64 years, matching a standard last seen in 1962.
Tough Final Against Host Nation: Facing home favorite Yuri Nakazato of Japan in the title clash, Siwach put up a valiant defensive effort before going down 4-0 on technical points, securing a historic and rare silver medal for India in Greco-Roman wrestling.
Ind vs Pak Gold Medal Showdown: Shreyas Iyer’s Cricket Team Crushes Sri Lanka
In men’s T20 cricket, the Shreyas Iyer-led Indian lineup showcased ruthless dominance to storm into the tournament final:
Ishan Kishan’s Blazing 80:* Batting first, India piled up a formidable 169/7driven by an explosive, unbeaten knock of 80 runs off just 46 balls from wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan.
Sri Lanka Bundled for 45: The Indian bowling attack dismantled the opposition batting order in rapid fashion, skittling Sri Lanka for an astonishing 45 runs to record an emphatic 124-run victory.
Pace and Spin Masterclass: Premier pacer jasprit bumrah and left-arm all-rounder Axar Patel claimed two wickets apiece, giving away almost nothing on a helpful pitch.
Arch-Rival Final: India now advances to the grand final, where they will take on arch-rival Pakistan for the coveted Asian Games cricket gold medal.
45 Seconds to Glory: Dramatic 4-3 Hockey Win Sets Up Pakistan Rematch
In men’s field hockey, the defending champions survived a fierce test of character against their subcontinental rivals:
Early Offensive Advantage: India grabbed early momentum as skipper Harmanpreet Singh clinically converted two penalty corners, complemented by a lightning field strike from Sukhjeet Singh.
Pakistan’s Spirited Fightback: Refusing to yield, Pakistan struck three unanswered goals to level the scores at 3-3, pushing the semi-final encounter down to the wire.
Abhishek’s Decisive Winner: With barely 45 seconds left on the match clockstriker Abhishek deflected the winning goal past the diving Pakistani custodian, sealing a breathtaking 4-3 victory and confirming India’s place in the final.