India kicks off Asian Games with teqball, shooting and hockey contests on Day One
India begins its Asian Games campaign with early teqball bronze matches, a women's cricket semifinal and shooting qualifiers, while both hockey teams launch their title bids.
Day one of the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya features a packed schedule for India across multiple sports. In teqball, Quimcy Joaquim Dsouza returns for the women’s singles bronze match against Japan’s Yuina Sakamoto, while the mixed-doubles pair battles Vietnam for another podium chance. The women’s cricket team, captained by Harmanpreet Kaur, meets Bangladesh in the second semifinal, aiming to defend the gold won four years earlier.
Both the men’s and women’s hockey teams open their pool campaigns—women against Uzbekistan, men versus Indonesia—with Olympic qualification for Los Angeles 2028 at stake. Shooting begins with Elavenil Valarivan, Sonam Uttam Maskar and Vidarsa Vinod Kochalumkal competing in the women’s 10 m air-rifle qualifier. Additional Indian entries include table tennis group matches, swimming sprints, badminton versus Kazakhstan, and wushu bouts against Iranian opponents. Broadcasts are available on Sony Sports Network and streamed via SonyLIV.
Why it matters
India’s early results will shape its medal tally and Olympic qualification chances at the Asian Games.
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