Archive · 4 Oct 2026
Five Indian Athletes Reached Asian Games Podiums After Switching Sports
The article tells how five Indian athletes changed sports on their way to competing at the 2026 Asian Games.
Suruchi Singh Phogat first trained as a wrestler, but an injury led her to shooting.
She and Kamaljeet Singh won gold in a shooting event.
Suchika Tariyal tried several combat sports before competing in MMA, where she won bronze.
Satnam Singh moved from handball to rowing and won a bronze medal with Salman Khan.
Pincky Balhara turned to kurash after missing selection for India’s judo team, and later won bronze.
Nitesh Siwach planned to play kabaddi but was encouraged to take up wrestling.
The article does not explain which medal or result Siwach achieved at the 2026 Games.
Suruchi Singh Phogat switched from wrestling to shooting after a collarbone fracture and won mixed 10m air pistol gold with Kamaljeet Singh.
Suchika Tariyal moved through judo, kurash and ju-jitsu before winning bronze in the Asian Games’ first MMA competition.
Satnam Singh changed from handball to rowing in 2018 and won men’s double sculls bronze with Salman Khan.
After missing selection for India’s judo team, Pincky Balhara turned to kurash and won bronze in the women’s 78kg event at Aichi-Nagoya.
Nitesh Siwach went from intending to play kabaddi to wrestling; the article gives no further details of his 2026 result.
- Who
- Indian athletes Suruchi Singh Phogat, Suchika Tariyal, Satnam Singh, Pincky Balhara and Nitesh Siwach.
- What
- The article describes athletes who changed sports before reaching the Asian Games; it specifies medals for four of them.
- When
- At the 2026 Asian Games; Balhara also competed at the 2018 Asian Games.
- Where
- Aichi-Nagoya, Japan; Balhara’s earlier Asian Games appearance was in Jakarta.
- Why
- The article attributes changes to factors including injury, missed selection, advice and opportunities.
- Event
- 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya
- Suruchi Singh Phogat
- Wrestling to shooting; won mixed 10m air pistol gold with Kamaljeet Singh.
- Shooting final score
- 486.6, a new Asian Games record, according to the article.
- Suchika Tariyal
- Won bronze in the women’s traditional 60kg MMA event.
- Satnam Singh
- Switched from handball to rowing in 2018; won men’s double sculls bronze with Salman Khan.
- Pincky Balhara
- Won bronze in the women’s 78kg kurash competition after previously competing at the 2018 Asian Games.
- Nitesh Siwach
- Switched from intending to play kabaddi to wrestling; the article’s account ends before stating his medal result.