New Delhi: India will enter the Aichi Nagoya Asian Games aiming to build on its record 107 medal haul at Hangzhou in 2023, with strong hopes across shooting, archery, athletics, cricket, hockey, kabaddi, squash, wrestling and weightlifting.
The Asian Games will officially be held from September 19 to October 4 in Aichi Nagoya, Japan. Some sporting events, including cricket, will begin before the opening ceremony.
India won 107 medals at Hangzhou in 2023, including 28 gold, 38 silver and 41 bronze. It was the country's first Asian Games medal haul above 100 and marked a major improvement from the 70 medals won at Jakarta Palembang in 2018.
India is sending 503 athletes to the Games and will compete across 36 disciplines. More than 300 of the athletes are making their Asian Games debut.
Shooting will again be one of India's main medal hopes. India won seven gold medals in shooting at Hangzhou, while athletics produced six gold medals.
However, Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra will miss the Games after suffering an ankle ligament injury during training. Chopra had been aiming for a third consecutive Asian Games gold medal in the javelin throw.
His absence removes one of India's strongest medal prospects, but the country still has several leading athletes expected to challenge for medals.
Cricket will also be a major focus for India. The country won both the men's and women's cricket gold medals at Hangzhou and will try to repeat that achievement in Japan.
The women's team will arrive with strong confidence after winning the Women's Asia Cup in Dubai on September 13. India defeated Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the final to win the title for a record eighth time. India scored 183 for five before dismissing Sri Lanka for 111.
India's women's Asian Games campaign begins with a quarterfinal against Japan on September 18.
The men's team will enter the competition at the quarterfinal stage. India is scheduled to play its quarterfinal on September 28, while the men's final is scheduled for October 3.
India's cricket squad has also been affected by injuries. Fast bowler Harshit Rana was ruled out of the Asian Games squad and was replaced by Yash Thakur.
Spinner Varun Chakaravarthy is another concern. He has been ruled out of the remaining matches in India's T20 series against Afghanistan after suffering a side strain. His participation in the Asian Games remains uncertain.
The women's team also has an important absence. Batter Jemimah Rodrigues was ruled out of the Asian Games after suffering a high grade right hamstring tear while playing in The Hundred in England.
India will also look for medals in hockey. The women's team finished fifth at the World Cup in August, their best result at the tournament since 1974. The Asian Games title also carries added importance because the women's hockey champion can secure direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, subject to the qualification rules.
Expectations are also high in kabaddi, squash, wrestling and weightlifting.
Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu will be seeking her first Asian Games medal. The Tokyo Olympic silver medallist finished fourth at the Hangzhou Games and missed the 2018 Asian Games because of injury.
India's performance in Aichi Nagoya also comes as the country seeks to strengthen its position in international sport. Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has said India aims to host the 2036 Summer Olympics and has linked that ambition to the development of sports infrastructure and athletes.
India's 107 medals in Hangzhou set a high benchmark, but the final result in Japan will depend on performances across dozens of events. The absence of Chopra and fitness concerns around several cricket players add uncertainty to some of India's medal prospects.
The Games will provide an important test of India's growing sporting depth as the country looks to strengthen its position in Asia and pursue its wider ambition of hosting the 2036 Olympics.