Asian Games 2026: Packed Day 8 awaits India with gold medal clashes in squash, athletics
A massive Day 8 awaits India at the Asian Games 2026 with gold medal clashes in squash, athletics, and weightlifting. Check the full schedule here.
The Indian contingent is bracing for an action-packed Sunday at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Day 8 promises to be a rollercoaster of emotions, featuring high-stakes qualification rounds, intense quarterfinals, and several massive opportunities to clinch gold medals across diverse sporting disciplines.
Squash and Athletics Take Center Stage
The spotlight shines brightest on the squash courts, where India has two golden opportunities lined up. In the men's singles final, Abhay Singh will battle Malaysia's Ng Eain Yow at 12:30 PM. Shortly after, at 1:30 PM, Anahat Singh will face off against Malaysia's Sivasangari Subramaniam in a highly anticipated women's singles final.
As the sun sets, the track and field arena will become the focal point. The evening session features a flurry of finals, including:
- Women's Long Jump: Shaili Singh and Ancy Sojan Edapilly fight for the podium at 3:25 PM.
- Sprints: Harita Bhadra and Unnati Aiyappa Bolland in the women's 200m, and Animesh Kujur in the men's 200m.
- Jumps & Hurdles: Sarvesh Anil Kushare and Adarsh Ram Jothi Shankar in the men's high jump, and Nandhini Kongan in the women's 100m hurdles.
- Endurance: Parul Chaudhary and Ankita in the women's 3000m steeplechase.
- Relay: The day's athletics action will conclude with the women's 4x100m relay.
Early Morning Grind and Shooting Precision
India's campaign kicks off in the pre-dawn hours. The marathon race walk final sees Priyanka and Manju Rani competing for glory at 4:00 AM. Surfing and Sepaktakraw also see early action, with the Sepaktakraw team facing South Korea at 5:30 AM.
The shooting contingent will be in high gear from the early morning. Esha Singh, Manu Bhaker, and Rahi Sarnobat will test their nerves in the 25m pistol precision qualification at 6:10 AM, followed by the trap shooting squad including Kynan Chenai and Ahvar Rizvi at 6:30 AM.
Badminton and Team Sports Battles
Badminton fans have plenty to look forward to as the tournament enters critical stages. PV Sindhu faces a daunting task against China's Chen Yufei in the women's singles quarterfinals, while Unnati Hooda takes on Japan's Akane Yamaguchi. In doubles, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand will face Malaysia, while Dhruv and Tanisha take on the Chinese duo of Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dongping.
In team sports, the schedule remains intense:
- Volleyball: The men's team faces Vietnam at 12:30 PM.
- Hockey: The women's team takes on Singapore in a crucial Pool B match at 3:30 PM.
- Boxing: Ankush, Parveen, Sachin, and Narender are all scheduled for vital quarterfinal bouts.
Weightlifting and Decathlon Challenges
In the weightlifting arena, Harjinder Kaur will compete in the women's 69kg final (Group A) at 10:00 AM. Meanwhile, the grueling decathlon continues for Tejaswin Shankar and Thowfeeq Noushad, who must navigate a series of ten events, including the 110m hurdles, discus throw, pole vault, javelin, and the 1500m, throughout the day.