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Five Indian Asian Games Medallists Who Surprised in 2026
Several Indian athletes won medals at the 2026 Asian Games even though they were not among the best-known medal hopefuls beforehand.
Seema Kumari won bronze in the women's 10,000 metres.
Vidarsa K Vinod was part of India's silver-winning women's air-rifle team.
Prachi Choudhary won bronze in the 400 metres, her first individual Asian Games medal.
Pooja Singh earned bronze in the high jump.
Her medal was India's first women's high-jump medal at the Games since 2002.
Neeraj Chauhan won bronze in men's individual recurve archery.
These results brought the athletes into the spotlight and included several milestones for Indian sport.
Seema Kumari won bronze in the women's 10,000m, ending India's long wait for a medal in the event.
Vidarsa K Vinod helped India win silver in the women's 10m air rifle team event.
Prachi Choudhary earned her first individual Asian Games medal, taking bronze in the women's 400m.
Pooja Singh won high-jump bronze, India's first women's medal in the event since 2002.
Neeraj Chauhan took bronze in men's individual recurve, becoming the second Indian man to medal in the event.
- Who
- Indian athletes Seema Kumari, Vidarsa K Vinod, Prachi Choudhary, Pooja Singh and Neeraj Chauhan.
- What
- They won medals in athletics, shooting and archery at the Asian Games.
- Where
- Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
- When
- At the 2026 Asian Games.
- Why
- Their performances earned medals despite the athletes not being considered favourites before the event.
Key facts
- India's medal haul
- 85 medals
- Seema Kumari
- Bronze in women's 10,000m; time: 32:50.05
- Vidarsa K Vinod
- Part of the silver-winning women's 10m air rifle team; shot 630.4
- Prachi Choudhary
- Bronze in women's 400m; time: 53.21 seconds
- Pooja Singh
- Bronze in women's high jump after clearing 1.84m
- Neeraj Chauhan
- Bronze in men's individual recurve, defeating Dhiraj Bommadevara 6-4
Sources
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