New Delhi, India, August 24, 2026: India will send 492 athletee to the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games from September 19 to October 4.
The Indian Sports Ministry on Saturday, August 22, approved the 492-strong contingent which comprises 265 male and 227 female athletes, with athletics forming the largest delegation of 73.
The athletics group features 35 men and 38 women and is headlined by Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion and Paris 2024 silver medallist Neeraj Chopra, who will also be aiming for a hat-trick of Asian Games gold medals in men’s javelin in Japan.
Athletics was India’s most successful sport at Hangzhou 2022 in terms of total medals won – 29, comprised of six gold, 14 silver and nine bronze medals.
India won a record 107 medals – 28 gold, 39 silvers and 41 bronze – to finish fourth in the overall medal standings in Hangzhou.
Alongside Chopra, Avinash Sable (steeplechase), Tajinderpal Singh Toor (shot put), Parul Chaudhary (women’s 5000m), and Annu Rani (women’s javelin) will return to defend the individual titles they won in Hangzhou. Tajinderpal Singh Toor will also be chasing a hat-trick of Asian Games gold medals.
Badminton will comprise 20 athletes including such established names like PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen and Ayush Shetty.
Boxing will also field a strong challenge with 11 boxers, including recent Commonwealth Games silver medallists Lovlina Borgohain (women’s 75kg), Narendar Berwal (men’s +90kg) and Jadumani Singh (men’s 55kg).
Esports will have 15 members while 22 rowers will also travel to Japan. Sixteen wrestlers will be fighting it out for the country including world championships bronze medallist Antim Panghal (women’s 53kg) and Olympic bronze medallist Aman Sehrawat (men’s 57kg).
India’s men’s and women’s cricket teams as well as the men’s and women’s kabaddi teams will also defend their gold medals in Aichi-Nagoya.