Asian Games 2026: Team India faces packed schedule on September 29
Team India faces a marathon day at the Asian Games on September 29 with medal opportunities in athletics, shooting, boxing, archery, and more.
Team India is set for a marathon day of competition at the ongoing Asian Games, with athletes across multiple disciplines preparing for a high-stakes showdown on September 29. From the early hours of the morning to the midday finals, Indian sporting icons will be fighting for glory in events ranging from shooting and archery to boxing and tennis.
Early Morning Action: Surfing and Archery
The day kicks off in the predawn hours with surfing. Anbarasu Kishore Kumar will represent India in the Men's Shortboard quarterfinals against the Philippines' Toby Espejon at 4:54 am IST. Should he advance, the schedule moves rapidly through the semifinals and into the medal rounds by late morning.
As the sun rises, the focus shifts to archery at the Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Multipurpose Square. The Indian contingent includes:
- Dhiraj Bommadevara and Neeraj Chauhan: Competing in the Recurve Men's Individual 1/16 Elimination Round.
- Kumkum Anil Mohod: Taking on Mongolia's Bishindee Urantungalag in the women's recurve.
- Kirti Sharma: Facing Vietnam's Hoang Phuong Thao.
Shooting and Martial Arts: Chasing Gold
The shooting arena will be a major battlefield for India starting at 6:30 am IST. The Indian contingent is looking strong in the Trap events:
- Men's Trap: Kynan Chenai, Ahvar Rizvi, and Shapath Bharadwaj will battle in the Individual Qualification and Team Final.
- Women's Trap: Neeru, Manisha Keer, and Aashima Ahlawat will compete for podium spots, with individual finals scheduled for 10:30 am IST.
In the martial arts arena, Kurash specialist Vipin Kumar begins his Men's -66kg campaign in the Round of 16 at 6:24 am IST, with the potential for a final as early as 11:45 am IST.
Racket Sports and Boxing: High Intensity
The tennis courts will see significant Indian presence. Sumit Nagal is scheduled to face South Korea's Seongchan Hong at 9:00 am IST, while Yuki Bhambri joins Dhakshineswar Suresh for the men's doubles. Mixed doubles action featuring N Sriram Balaji and Ankita Raina will follow at noon.
In boxing, three Indian athletes have reached the crucial semifinal stage, looking to secure medals for the nation:
- Parveen: Facing China's Li Shu in the women's 65kg category (10:15 am IST).
- Ankush: Taking on Uzbekistan's Erkinboev Fazliddin in the men's 80kg category (11:00 am IST).
- Narender: Facing Kazakhstan's Oralbay Aibek in the men's +90kg category (11:30 am IST).
Water Sports and Cycling
The schedule is further bolstered by canoe slalom, sailing, and cycling. Hitesh Kewat and Pradhyumna Singh Rathod will lead the charge in the men's kayak heats, while the sailing contingent, including Prince Noble and Manu Francis, will compete in the Skiff/49er category. Meanwhile, track cycling will see qualification rounds for both men's and women's team sprints starting in the early morning hours.