Asian Games 2026: India-Pakistan hockey clash headlines action-packed Day 12
High-stakes action awaits as India faces Pakistan in the men's hockey semifinal at the Asian Games 2026. Explore the full Day 12 schedule here.
The Indian contingent is set for a monumental Day 12 at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with the marquee event being the high-voltage India-Pakistan men’s hockey semifinal. Scheduled for 1:00 PM IST at the Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium, this intense rivalry will determine which side secures a coveted spot in the gold medal match.
Hockey and Cricket: Battles for Gold Glory
While the hockey stadium prepares for a cauldron of emotion, the cricket pitch will also host a major showdown. The defending champions, India, are slated to face Sri Lanka in the second men’s cricket semifinal at 10:00 AM IST. A victory for the men in blue would ensure their march toward defending their title.
Multi-Discipline Medal Opportunities
Beyond the pitch and the field, India has a massive spread of athletes competing for podium finishes across various disciplines:
- Archery: Taniparthi Chikitha enters the compound women’s individual quarterfinals against Indonesia’s Nurisa Dian Ashrifah at 5:30 AM IST. In the men's category, Thirumuru Ganesh Maniratnam begins his quarterfinal campaign at 9:47 AM IST.
- Wrestling: Action begins at 7:22 AM IST at the Nagoya City Inae Sports Complex. Key contenders include Aman (Greco-Roman 77kg), Sumit (60kg), Nitesh (97kg), and Mansi (women’s 62kg).
- Squash: The women’s team, featuring stars like Anahat Singh and Joshna Chinappa, faces Hong Kong at 7:00 AM IST, while the men’s team battles Malaysia at 1:00 PM IST.
- Tennis: Sumit Nagal takes on China’s Yibing Wu in the men’s singles quarterfinal at 6:30 AM IST, with Yuki Bhambri and Rutuja Bhosale also in action in the mixed doubles.
- Taekwondo: Rupa Bayor will compete in the women’s individual Poomsae semifinal at 5:30 AM IST, aiming for the gold medal bout at noon.
Early Morning and Late Afternoon Action
For those following the early hours, Golf kicks off at 3:00 AM IST with Aditi Ashok, Diksha Dagar, and Pranavi Sharath Urs competing in Round 2. The day's intensity will eventually wind down with Sports Climbing, as Deepu Mallesh competes in the men’s speed event at 4:42 PM IST.
With heavyweights in wrestling, archery, and cricket all fighting for supremacy, Day 12 stands as one of the most critical junctures for India's medal tally in the 2026 games.