SEO_DESC: Indian wrestlers Mansi and Aman, along with judoka Yamini Mourya, secure quarterfinal spots at the Asian Games 2026 in Japan.

TAGS: Asian Games 2026, India Sports News, Athletics News, India

Asian Games 2026: Mansi, Aman, Yamini advance to quarterfinals

India's campaign at the Asian Games 2026 saw a significant boost on Thursday as wrestlers Mansi and Aman, along with judoka Yamini Mourya, displayed exceptional skill to secure their places in the quarterfinals. Competing in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, these athletes delivered commanding performances to keep India's medal hopes alive in the wrestling and judo arenas.

Dominant Wrestling Performances

In the women's wrestling division, former World Championships bronze medallist Mansi continued her impressive form. Competing in the 62kg category, she faced Kazakhstan's Irina Kuznetsova in the Round of 16. Mansi maintained total control over the match, securing a 6-1 victory. This win follows her previous success against the same opponent at the Budapest Ranking Series earlier this year. Looking ahead, Mansi is set for a high-stakes quarterfinal clash against South Korea's Jo Su-been, a notable competitor who previously contested the bronze-medal bout at the 2024 Asian Championships.

The men's Greco-Roman wrestling category also provided a moment of high drama through Aman. In the 77kg Round of 16, Aman faced Mongolia's Borgil Tuvshinbaatar. After falling behind with a score of 2-6, Aman staged a spectacular comeback. Utilizing a series of tactical rolls, he turned the tide to win the bout 8-6. His journey continues in the quarterfinals, where he will encounter a formidable opponent in Qatar's Asian champion, Shahin Badaghimofrad.

However, it was not all smooth sailing for the Indian wrestling contingent. Sumit Dalal, the current junior Asian champion, saw his run in the 60kg Greco-Roman category cut short in the quarterfinals. In a tightly contested match against Iran's Sajjad Abbaspourragani, the score remained tied at 1-1, but the victory was awarded to the Iranian athlete via VPO1. Sumit still holds a chance to fight for a medal through the repechage, depending on how his opponent progresses.

Yamini Mourya Shines in Judo

In the judo ring, Yamini Mourya delivered a clinical performance in the women's 57kg category. She faced Qatar's Fatena Bu-Qahoos and secured her spot in the quarterfinals by winning via an ippon. Yamini's next challenge will be against Mongolia's Ariunzaya Terbish, as she aims to push further into the competition.

Other Key Updates from the Games

The Indian contingent saw mixed results across various disciplines on Thursday:

• Sepaktakraw: India has officially assured a medal in the men's event after a decisive 2-0 victory over Vietnam in the Group A quadrant match, propelling them into the semifinals.
• Archery: Chikitha Taniparthi narrowly missed out on a quarterfinal spot in the women's individual compound event, losing a heartbreaker to Indonesia's Nurisa Dian Ashrifah with a score of 143-144.
• Cycling: Harshveer Singh Sekhon completed the first of four races in the men's omnium scratch race, finishing 10th and currently sitting on 22 points.
• Taekwondo: Rupa Bayor's journey ended in the women's individual poomsae semifinals, where she finished in 15th place.