Asian Games 2026: 10 Indian athletes to watch as India chases another 100-medal haul

India heads into the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya with the difficult task of following up its record 107-medal haul from Hangzhou. The absence of javelin star Neeraj Chopra removes one of the country’s biggest individual gold prospects, but India still has a deep pool of medal contenders across shooting, archery, athletics, badminton, wrestling and weightlifting.

Here are 10 athletes who could play a major role in India’s medal hunt:

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Manu Bhaker — shooting

The Paris Olympics double medallist is among India’s biggest individual hopes in shooting. India won seven of its 28 gold medals in shooting at Hangzhou, and Bhaker’s presence gives the team another proven international performer.

Esha Singh — shooting

At 21, Singh enters the Games in exceptional form. She is the world No. 1 in the women’s 25m pistol and No. 2 in 10m air pistol, after winning two World Cup titles and a world championship bronze. She also won two individual silvers and a team gold at Hangzhou.

Jyothi Surekha Vennam — compound archery

Jyothi is arguably India’s strongest individual archery hope. She won three golds at the 2022 Hangzhou Games and has never returned empty-handed from an Asian Games. India also swept the compound archery golds in Hangzhou, making her events particularly important to the medal tally.

Dhiraj Bommadevara — recurve archery

Dhiraj arrives in Nagoya after becoming the first Indian man to win the Archery World Cup Final. The 25-year-old also won gold at the 2026 Antalya World Cup and has emerged as India’s leading male recurve archer.

Avinash Sable — athletics

The 3000m steeplechaser has already won Asian Games gold and holds the Indian national record. After returning from a long injury layoff, Sable won the event at the Indian Athletics Series Final, giving India an important athletics medal prospect.

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Mirabai Chanu — weightlifting

The Tokyo Olympic silver medallist is chasing an Asian Games medal that has so far eluded her. Now fully fit, the 32-year-old will compete in the 49kg category and sees the Asian competition as close to Olympic level.

PV Sindhu — badminton

A two-time Olympic medallist and former world champion, Sindhu remains one of India’s most experienced medal hopes on the badminton court. She will be looking to add an Asian Games individual medal to her long list of major honours.

Lakshya Sen — badminton

Sen is another major individual hope in badminton, a sport where India will look to improve on its medal record. His experience at the highest level makes him one of the country’s leading men's singles prospects.

Aman Sehrawat — wrestling

The Paris Olympics bronze medallist leads India’s wrestling hopes in a sport that has historically been a strong contributor to the Asian Games tally. Sehrawat is among the wrestlers identified as a strong medal contender for Nagoya.

Sujeet Kalkal — wrestling

Sujeet completes the list of India’s leading individual wrestling prospects. Alongside Sehrawat, he is expected to be among the country’s strongest chances of adding to the wrestling medal haul.