Asian Games 2026: Indian athletes delivered a stellar performance at the recently concluded Commonwealth Games. India secured a total of 39 medals, comprising 13 gold, 17 silver, and 8 bronze. However, there were some prominent athletes who came agonizingly close to winning gold but missed out, having to settle for silver or bronze instead.
Now, these athletes have a major opportunity to make amends. The 2026 Asian Games are scheduled to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4, 2026; there, these star Indian athletes will step into the arena with the aim of upgrading their medals to gold.
These 5 athletes now have their sights set on Asian Games gold
Neeraj Chopra: Star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games with a throw of 85.83 meters. Sri Lanka's Rumesh Pathiraje claimed the gold with a throw of 89.75 meters. Now, his sole objective for the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya is to improve his throw and clinch the gold medal. Having already won two gold medals at the Asian Games, Neeraj will be aiming for a third.
Lovlina Borgohain: India's star boxer Lovlina Borgohain lost in the final of the women's 75kg category at the Commonwealth Games. She faced Australia's Emma-Sue Greentree, who won the final 4-1. Now, she will aim to showcase the power of her punches in the Asian Games ring and secure the gold medal.
Jadumani Singh: Jadumani Singh, representing India in boxing, also secured a silver medal for the country at the Commonwealth Games. In the men's 55kg category, he defeated Australia's Zhai Dixon 3–2 in the first round. However, he fell behind in the second round of the final bout and ultimately suffered a 0–5 defeat. Naturally, he will be eager to upgrade the color of his medal on the Asian stage.
Lovepreet Singh: Demonstrating his strength in weightlifting, Lovepreet Singh won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games. He set a record in the snatch event by lifting 176 kg and lifted 212 kg in the clean and jerk, achieving a total lift of 388 kg. He missed the gold medal by a margin of just 1 kg. Consequently, he will be one of the top contenders for gold at the upcoming Asian Games in Japan.
Gulveer Singh: Long-distance runner Gulveer Singh delivered a stellar performance at the Commonwealth Games, winning silver in the 10,000m race and bronze in the 5,000m race. He became the first Indian athlete to win two medals in athletics at a single Commonwealth Games, though he missed out on the gold. Following this double success, his sights are now set on taking India to the top of the podium at the Asian Games.
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