Asian Games 2026: India starts Archery campaign; focus on athletics, squash, badminton, shooting
India faces a massive Day 8 at the Asian Games 2026 with gold opportunities in squash, athletics, and badminton. Check the full schedule here.
The Indian contingent is bracing for one of its most intense schedules yet as the Asian Games 2026 enters Day 8. With a massive array of finals, qualification rounds, and medal-deciding matches, Sunday promises to be a defining moment for India's quest for glory in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Early Morning Action: Archery and Race Walking
The day kicks off in the pre-dawn hours with high-stakes competition. At 4:00 AM IST, race walkers Priyanka and Manju Rani will battle it out in the women's marathon race walk final. Shortly after, India's archery campaign begins in earnest. The men's compound team, featuring Sahil Rajesh Jadhav, Thirumuru Ganesh Maniratnam, and Kushal Dalal, will face the UAE in the elimination round, while the women's compound team prepares to take on Mongolia.
Other early morning highlights include:
- Surfing: Sugar Shanti Banarse and Sivaraj Babu are set to compete.
- Sepaktakraw: The Indian team faces a tough test against Republic of Korea at 5:30 AM.
- Equestrian: Hriday Chheda and Jai Sud will compete in the individual dressage final at 6:00 AM.
Badminton and Shooting: High-Pressure Rounds
Badminton fans will have plenty to cheer for as India's stars enter crucial stages. In the women's doubles quarterfinals, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand will take on Malaysia. The mixed doubles duo of Dhruv and Tanisha face a formidable Chinese pair, Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dongping. Meanwhile, the heavyweights PV Sindhu and Unnati Hooda face daunting quarterfinals, with Sindhu drawn against China's Chen Yufei and Hooda against Japan's Akane Yamaguchi.
In the shooting range, India's precision experts will be in action from 6:10 AM. Esha Singh, Manu Bhaker, and Rahi Sarnobat will compete in the 25m pistol precision qualification. This will be followed by the trap shooting events featuring Kynan Chenai, Ahvar Rizvi, Shapath Bharadwaj, Neeru, Manisha Keer, and Aashima Ahlawat.
Squash and Weightlifting: Gold Medal Opportunities
Squash stands out as a major source of potential gold for India. Two massive finals are scheduled for the afternoon:
- Men's Singles: Abhay Singh will face Malaysia's Ng Eain Yow at 12:30 PM.
- Women's Singles: Anahat Singh will clash with Malaysia's Sivasangari Subramaniam at 1:30 PM.
In weightlifting, Harjinder Kaur will look to make her mark in the women's 69kg final (Group A) at 10:00 AM.
Evening Athletics: The Grand Finale
As the day progresses, the spotlight shifts to the track and field. The athletics session will be packed with finals, making it a crucial window for India's medal tally. Key events include:
- Long Jump: Shaili Singh and Ancy Sojan