NAGOYA/TOYOTA, SEP 28 (IANS/PTI): India’s athletes delivered a remarkable day of performances at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026, securing a string of medals across shooting, athletics, jumps, throws, hurdles, and combat sports.
Esha wins silver in women’s 25m pistol
India’s Esha Singh claimed her third Asian Games silver after a dramatic contest in the women’s 25m pistol final at the 2026 Games in Aichi-Nagoya. The 21-year-old shooter, already a double silver medallist from Hangzhou 2023, fought through multiple shoot-offs before finishing second behind China’s Xiao Jiaruixuan.
Esha had narrowly qualified for the final in eighth place with 580-22x but began strongly, hitting a perfect 5/5 in her opening series. She stayed among the leaders as Xiao and North Korea’s Kim Hyon Suk pressed hard. After slipping with three hits, Esha responded with another flawless round to stay in contention. Guaranteed a medal after Vietnam’s Trinh Thu Vinh was eliminated, she then engaged in a tense shoot-off battle with Kim for bronze, eventually prevailing after several rounds and a technical delay.
In the gold-medal showdown, Esha and Xiao exchanged near-perfect series, forcing repeated shoot-offs. Both shooters matched the Games record of 38 hits set in Hangzhou.
Gulveer clinches 1500m silver after 10k success
India’s Gulveer Singh continued his stellar run at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, clinching silver in the men’s 1500m with a personal best of 3:36.72. The distance runner, who had earlier won silver in the 10,000m, finished between Japan’s Kazuto Iizawa and Nagiya Mori. Iizawa claimed gold with an Asian Games record of 3:36.35, while Mori settled for bronze in 3:37.92.
Gulveer’s achievement marked his second medal of the Games, reinforcing his reputation as one of India’s finest middle- and long-distance athletes. He had already scripted history by becoming the first Indian to win two Asian Games medals in the men’s 10,000m, adding silver in Nagoya to the bronze he won at Hangzhou 2023. His 10,000m timing of 28:29.38 placed him behind Bahrain’s Birhanu Balew (28:27.51) and ahead of compatriot Albert Kiptoo (28:34.38).
Meanwhile, India’s Avinash Sable narrowly missed a medal in the men’s 3000m steeplechase, finishing fourth with a season-best 8:21.67. Japan’s Ryuji Miura won gold, followed by Ryoma Aoki and Qatar’s Zakaria Elahlaami. In the 1500m, India’s Yoonus Shah, despite a promising heat performance, finished ninth in the final with 3:43.88.
Sreeshankar clinches silver in long jump
India’s Murali Sreeshankar delivered a courageous performance to win silver in the men’s long jump at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, despite battling a painful ankle injury. The reigning silver medallist produced his best effort of 8.07m on his second attempt, securing second place behind China’s Shi Yuhao, who claimed gold with a season-best 8.17m. Uzbekistan’s Anvar Anvarov took bronze with 8.06m, just one centimetre behind Sreeshankar.
The Indian appeared in control until the fourth round, when a heavy landing aggravated his ankle. Though visibly in discomfort, he refused to withdraw, skipping his fifth and sixth attempts but holding firm in second place as rivals failed to surpass his mark. His 8.07m was also his first eight-metre-plus jump of these Games, keeping him ahead of a tightly packed field that included Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yu-tang (8.05m) and Japan’s Riku Ito (7.97m). Fellow Indian David Solomon Patturaj finished seventh with 7.70m.
Sreeshankar’s medal adds another silver to his Asian Games tally, repeating his podium finish from the previous edition. His determination under injury highlighted his resilience, while Shi’s commanding 8.17m ensured gold.
Yashvir wins silver, Rohit bags bronze in javelin
The Indian duo of Yashvir Singh and Rohit Yadav produced superb efforts to secure the silver and bronze medals respectively as the country registered a double podium finish in the men’s javelin throw competition at the Asian Games here on Monday.
Yashvir, the 24-year-old from Haryana, came up with a personal best of 85.72m in his sixth and last attempt to surpass fellow Indian Rohit Yadav and claim the silver medal. Rohit, the 25-year-old from Uttar Pradesh, threw the javelin at 84.35m to bag the bronze medal.
Sri Lanka’s superstar Rumesh Pathirage claimed the gold with an effort of 88.33m. Yashvir had won a bronze medal at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games this year, but Rohit Yadav could not finish on the podium there.
The two athletes were India’s biggest hopes in javelin throw after a late ligament injury forced reigning champion and two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra to withdraw from this Asian Games.
Vithya wins bronze in women’s 400m hurdles
India’s Vithya Ramraj clinched a bronze medal in the women’s 400m hurdles event at the Asian Games here on Monday, clocking a personal best of 54.75 seconds to break a more than four-decade-old national record created by the legendary P T Usha.
The 28-year-old from Coimbatore finished behind UAE’s Mariam Kareem, who won gold with a Games record 54.31 seconds, and Kazakhstan’s Adelina Zems, who took silver with a personal best of 54.58sec.
Ramraj bettered Usha’s 55.42sec effort that came in the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. Usha is currently heading the Indian Olympic Association and is in attendance at the Games.
It was the second medal at this edition of the Games for Ramraj following the silver in the 4x400m mixed relay event.
India’s Anu Raghavan finished fifth. She recorded a personal best of 55.88 seconds. Earlier, Commonwealth Games bronze-medallist Seema Kaliramna’s personal best effort was not enough as she finished fourth in the women’s discus throw final.
Seema produced an effort of 59.88m in her fifth attempt, but that was not enough as all three podium finishers had best throws in excess of 60m.
Pincky secures bronze after losing Kurash semi
India’s Pincky Balhara clinched a bronze medal in the women’s Kurash -78kg event at the Asian Games after losing her semifinal bout to South Korea’s Mo Sumin 0-5. Pincky, who won silver at the 2018 Jakarta Games when Kurash debuted, had earlier defeated South Korea’s Garam Lim 3-0 in the quarterfinals. However, Sumin dominated the semifinal, scoring a half point, a chala, and a yonbosh, while Pincky received two warnings (dakki).
Pincky’s medal marked India’s first success in Kurash at the ongoing Games, following defeats for other Indian athletes. Vishal lost his men’s +90kg quarterfinal to Thailand’s Kunathip Yea-On 0-5, while Sangita Balhara, Bharti, and Yash Kumar Chauhan also exited early in their respective categories.
A former judoka, Pincky had previously won gold at the 2018 Asian Junior Judo Championships but missed India’s judo squad for these Games.
Parul Chaudhary bags second bronze
India’s Parul Chaudhary secured her second bronze medal at the Asian Games, finishing third in the women’s 5000m final with a time of 15:14.61. In a tightly contested race, Parul produced a decisive late surge to overtake Kazakhstan’s Norah Tanui and claim the podium spot. Bahrain’s Winfred Yavi clinched gold with a powerful final lap, while Japan’s Nozomi Tanaka took silver.
The race began at a fast pace, with Tanui initially leading and opening a gap. Yavi gradually closed in midway, positioning herself for the title. Parul, alongside compatriot Seema Kumari, stayed within reach of the leading pack, though Seema later fell behind.
In the closing stages, Yavi accelerated to secure her third gold of the Games, adding to her 10,000m and 3000m steeplechase victories. Tanaka held on for silver, while Parul’s determined finish earned her bronze.
This medal adds to Parul’s earlier bronze in the 3000m steeplechase, marking a strong campaign despite not repeating her 2022 5000m gold.
Entering with a season-best of 15:04.26, she demonstrated resilience and consistency, contributing to India’s growing athletics tally.