Preparations for the 2026 Asian Games in Ittif Nagoy are complete, and now the athletes are ready to demonstrate their abilities. This time, Indian fans will be focused not only on experienced stars but also on young athletes participating in the Asian Games for the first time. Some of these Indian athletes have already established themselves internationally, while for others, it is a chance to prove their strength on a big stage.
The Asian Games will feature 43 sports with 71 disciplines, where a total of 469 medals will be contested. It is expected that over 11 thousand athletes will participate in this major sporting event. Many young faces from India are debuting on this large platform, but special attention is paid to five players from whom bright and impressive performances are expected.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who is only 15 years old, is one of the most discussed figures in Indian cricket. After explosive performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, his focus is now on the Asian Games. He previously debuted in T20 International during a visit to England, although he did not show outstanding results in that series. However, during the tour of Zimbabwe, he demonstrated his talent by scoring 151 runs. A recent excellent performance for the East Zone in the Duleep Trophy 2026-27 gave positive signals ahead of the Asian Games. Vaibhav will be representing India in the Asian Games for the first time. If a match between India and Pakistan takes place in the tournament, he may get the opportunity to participate in this intense confrontation in his first tournament.
After Niraj Chopra was unable to participate in the Asian Games, India's hopes in men's javelin throw rest on Rohit Yadav. The 25-year-old Rohit is in excellent shape this season, and his performances have raised medal expectations. In August, at the World Athletics Silver Meet Continental Tour in Bhubaneswar, Rohit made a throw of 87.68 meters, which was the best result of his career. Thanks to this throw, he secured second place in Indian history. He surpassed Kishore Jena (87.54 meters). Nevertheless, it will be important how he performs on the big stage. At the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, he finished seventh with a throw of 81.56 meters. But given his current form, Rohit is among the medal contenders at the Asian Games.
India has high hopes for Suruchi Phogat in shooting. The 20-year-old Suruchi has earned a place among the world's top athletes due to her consistency in the 10-meter air pistol shooting discipline. Over the last year and a half, she has won four world championships and consecutive world championship finals. She has also set a national record and a junior world record in the 10-meter air pistol shooting discipline. She ranks third in the world in this discipline. The Asian Games will be an important stage in Suruchi's career, where she is expected to win a medal.
Ayush Shetty, who is rapidly gaining popularity in India's men's singles badminton, will also participate in the Asian Games for the first time. This athlete from Karnataka is 6 feet 4 inches tall and prefers an attacking style of play in badminton. The 21-year-old Ayush managed to win a silver medal at the Asian Badminton Championships. His performance was historic as it marked the first silver medal in the men's singles category at this prestigious tournament in 61 years. Recently, at the World Championships in Delhi, he also caused a sensation by defeating Shi Yuki from China in his opening match. Although he lost to Alvi Farhan from Indonesia in the round of 16, his game proved that he is capable of challenging strong opponents.
Boxer Saakshi Chaudhary's confidence is currently at its peak. Right before the Asian Games, she strengthened her chances by winning a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Saakshi reduced her weight to make it into the 51 kg category. After that, getting into the Indian team was not easy. She had to defeat strong boxers such as Nihat Zarin and Menaxi Hooda, two-time world champions, to earn a ticket to the Asian Games. Now, having won gold at the Commonwealth Games, Saakshi will participate in her first Asian Games, giving her another opportunity to win a medal for India at the multi-sport event.