Archive · 23 Sep 2026
Indian Athletics Team Targets Historic Golds And 25-30 Medals
India is sending 75 athletes to compete in track and field at the Asian Games.
The team hopes to win between 25 and 30 medals.
Tajinderpal Singh Toor wants to win the shot put gold medal for the third Asian Games in a row.
If he succeeds, he will make history for India in one athletics event.
Murali Sreeshankar and Gulveer Singh are trying to win better medals than they did last time.
Avinash Sable will try to keep his steeplechase title.
Neeraj Chopra will not compete because he is injured.
Indian athletes will face strong competitors from several other Asian countries.
Tajinderpal Singh Toor is seeking a third consecutive Asian Games shot put gold, which would be unprecedented for an Indian track and field athlete in one event.
Murali Sreeshankar and Gulveer Singh hope to improve on their previous silver and bronze medals respectively.
India’s 75-member athletics team is targeting 25-30 medals despite javelin star Neeraj Chopra’s withdrawal because of injury.
Avinash Sable will defend his 3,000m steeplechase title, while Ancy Sojan enters the women’s long jump as Asia’s season leader.
India faces strong competition in javelin, long jump, decathlon and high jump, including athletes from China, Japan, Qatar, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
- Who
- India’s 75-member athletics team, including Tajinderpal Singh Toor, Murali Sreeshankar, Gulveer Singh and Avinash Sable.
- What
- The team is competing for medals, including historic or upgraded performances in several track and field events.
- When
- The athletics campaign begins on Thursday.
- Where
- At the Asian Games; the Indian team also held an acclimatization camp near Tokyo, Japan.
- Why
- India is seeking 25-30 medals, while individual athletes are pursuing titles, improved medals and historic achievements.
- Indian contingent
- 75 athletes
- Medal target
- 25-30 medals
- Previous medal total
- 29 medals in the last Asian Games: 6 gold, 14 silver and 9 bronze
- Historic target
- Tajinderpal Singh Toor is pursuing a third consecutive Asian Games shot put gold
- Notable absence
- Neeraj Chopra withdrew because of an injury
- Defending champion
- Avinash Sable will defend his 3,000m steeplechase gold
- Asian season leader
- Ancy Sojan leads the women’s long jump with 6.88 metres