Archive · 17 Sep 2026
India Targets Asian Games Gold In Cricket, Hockey, Kabaddi
India is preparing to compete in the 2026 Asian Games in Japan.
Its strongest team sports are expected to be cricket, hockey, and kabaddi.
India won both cricket gold medals at the previous Asian Games.
Shreyas Iyer will lead the men’s cricket team, while Harmanpreet Kaur will lead the women’s team.
India’s men’s hockey team can qualify directly for the 2028 Olympics by winning gold.
India has also been very successful in Asian Games kabaddi.
The men have won gold eight times in nine competitions.
The women have won three gold medals since kabaddi was added to their competition.
Many well-known players, including Harmanpreet Singh, Smriti Mandhana, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, are expected to draw attention.
India will defend its men’s and women’s cricket gold medals from the 2022 Asian Games.
Shreyas Iyer and Harmanpreet Kaur will captain India’s men’s and women’s cricket teams, respectively.
A men’s hockey gold would give India direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
India has won eight of nine men’s kabaddi gold medals and three women’s golds.
The Asian Games are scheduled to begin in Japan on September 19, 2026.
- Who
- India’s men’s and women’s cricket teams, men’s hockey team, and men’s and women’s kabaddi teams, led by players including Shreyas Iyer, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Harmanpreet Singh.
- What
- India will compete for gold in cricket, hockey, and kabaddi, with hockey also offering a direct qualification route to the 2028 Olympics.
- When
- The Asian Games are scheduled to start on September 19, 2026; the women’s cricket tournament is listed as beginning on September 18, followed by men’s cricket on September 24.
- Where
- Japan.
- Why
- India is seeking to defend its cricket titles, continue its strong kabaddi record, and secure Olympic qualification through a men’s hockey gold medal.
- Event
- 2026 Asian Games
- Host country
- Japan
- Scheduled opening
- September 19, 2026
- Cricket defending champions
- India won both men’s and women’s gold medals at the 2022 Asian Games.
- Hockey Olympic qualification
- The men’s hockey gold medalist will earn a direct place at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
- Men’s kabaddi record
- India has won eight gold medals in nine Asian Games men’s kabaddi competitions.
- Women’s kabaddi record
- India has won three gold medals and one silver since the women’s competition began in 2010.