At the 2026 Asian Games: Manu Bhaker Reaches Final, Women's Team Takes Fourth Place

The second day of the 2026 Asian Games proved mixed for Indian athletes; however, they demonstrated impressive performance by winning a total of four new medals (three silver and one bronze). The main focus was on the shooting range and the mixed martial arts (MMA) arena.

Despite the successes, India has yet to secure its first gold medal. The day started brightly for India: the men's air rifle team in the 10-meter distance won a silver medal thanks to excellent aiming. Individual competitions also brought success afterward.

Himanshu Dhillou secured a silver medal, and former world champion Rudranaksh Patil won bronze, demonstrating strong competition. Furthermore, Suchika Tarial from the mixed martial arts section set a historic record by winning a bronze medal in the women's traditional fighting category at 60 kg.

Tension peaked in the matches between India and Pakistan. In the team table tennis tournament, India achieved a convincing victory over Pakistan with a score of 3:0 in both their encounters, defeating the Pakistani team twice in one day.

The women's table tennis team, consisting of Sutirta Mukki, young athlete Sindrela Das, and Shridhi Akula, left no chance for the Pakistani team. Subsequently, the men's table tennis team continued its confident play against Pakistan, easily winning its matches involving Ji Satyan, Harmit Desai, and Pais Jain.

Significant events also occurred in sports disciplines. The women's hockey team of India achieved a one-sided victory over Indonesia with a score of 17:1. In kabaddi, both teams—men's and women's, the reigning Indian champions—started their tournament strongly: the men's team defeated Japan with a score of 49:24, and the women's team defeated Bangladesh with a score of 42:21.

In badminton, the men's Indian team advanced to the quarterfinals, defeating Bangladesh 3:0, thanks to the performances of Lakshya Sen, Ayusha Shetty, and Kidambi Srikanth. In boxing, in the 32kg weight class, Sumit beat Bunjong Sinsiri from Thailand with a score of 5:0 and advanced to the next stage. In Wushu, Roshbina Devi and Aryan secured their place in the quarterfinals by achieving brilliant victories in their matches.

The 2026 Asian Games began on September 19th with a colorful opening ceremony in Itinago, which took place at noon Indian time. However, few people know what could bring India its first medal at these Games—it is the sport called Teqball.

India has a chance to win two medals in this sport on Sunday, September 20th. In the women's singles event, athlete Kimsi Disuza started her tournament with a big surprise, defeating a Japanese player ranked 7th in the world and local athlete Uina Sakamoto.

Kimsi lost the first set 10-12 but then brilliantly fought back, winning the second set 12-11 and the third set 13-11. Thus, the Indian athlete achieved a significant victory over Sakamoto in a match that lasted 43 minutes, with a score of 2-1.

In the second match, Kimsi faced Komian Dy from Cambodia, and this time the Indian athlete handled the task much more easily. Kimsi maintained control in both sets, winning the match 2-0 (12-9, 12-7). This match only lasted 24 minutes. After two victories, Kimsi secured first place in her group and advanced to the semi-finals.

After two wins in the group stage, Kimsi met Sumaya from Indonesia in the semi-finals. The Indian athlete started the match confidently, winning the first set 12-7. However, Sumaya managed to come back into the game and won the next two sets with scores of 12-9 and 12-7. As a result, Kimsi lost with a score of 1-2. She now has to participate in the bronze medal match in the women's singles event on Sunday.

Another opportunity for Kimsi to win a medal exists in the mixed doubles event. In the quarter-finals, her pair with Mohammed Anas Imran Beg lost to a Vietnamese team consisting of Giang Nghi Trinh and Hoang Minh Thang Nguyen, with a score of 0-2. The Vietnamese pair won the first set 12-7 and the second set 12-10.

After this, the Indian pair managed to bounce back in the repechage round. Kimsi and Anas defeated the Philippine pair consisting of Apolencia Joan and Prince Agustin, with a score of 2-0. The Indian pair won the first set 12-3 and the second set 12-6, thus qualifying for the bronze medal match.

Thus, Kimsi now has two chances to win a historic medal for India in Teqball at the Asian Games: in the women's singles event and in the mixed doubles event.

Kimsi's achievements are particularly important because Teqball is included in the program of the 2026 Asian Games in Itinago for the first time. This sport originated in Hungary. Although the name and format may seem new, Teqball is easiest to understand as a game combining elements of football and table tennis.

A special curved table is used in Teqball. Although it may resemble a table tennis table, rackets or balls are not used in the game. The main feature is that the player cannot touch the ball with their hands. To return the ball, one must use the feet, knees, hips, chest, and head, making football skills extremely important.

The curved surface of the table changes the direction and trajectory of the ball. This requires players to have excellent control, timing, reaction, and accuracy. This is why, although the game may look simple, returning the ball at the correct angle and at the right time presents a serious challenge for the players.

Teqball is held in both singles and doubles formats. The player's goal is to send the ball to the opponent's side of the table in such a way that they cannot return it according to the rules. The player can touch the ball no more than three times before returning it. There are also rules regarding using the same body part consecutively.

Usually, one game consists of 12 points, and the series is played in a 'best of three' format. In doubles, the game becomes even more exciting because both players must take turns using their touches. In this case, individual skills, as well as team timing and strategy, become extremely important.

There are five main disciplines in Teqball: men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles.

For Kimsi, the Asian Games were not limited to the women's singles event. She also participated in the mixed doubles event with Mohammed Anas Imran Beg. This Indian pair started their journey with a victory over the Philippine pair consisting of Joan Apolencia and Prince Agustin. One victory could make Teqball the sport that brings India its first medal at the 2026 Itinago Asian Games.

The 2026 Asian Games are approaching, where Indian athletes will compete for medals in several disciplines, including cricket, hockey, badminton, shooting, athletics, kabaddi, boxing, archery, and wrestling.

The Indian delegation will begin its participation in the 2026 Asian Games in the city of Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The start will be on September 17th with the tekkvball discipline. On September 18th, matches for the women's cricket team against Japan are scheduled, as well as table tennis competitions.

After this, attention will be focused on sports such as badminton, hockey, kabaddi, and table tennis. From September 24th to 29th, athletics will be one of the main venues for India to win medals. Furthermore, numerous opportunities for awards open up in shooting, boxing, swimming, rowing, and wrestling.

In the last week of the Asian Games, important matches are expected in archery, golf, tennis, hockey, volleyball, wrestling, and cricket. In individual competitions, India places hopes on weightlifting, where besides Mirabai Chanu, contenders for medals include Dhyanashri Yadav, Saram Nirupama Devi, and Harjinder Kaur.

In badminton, the men's team will play in the round of 16. The women's hockey team will face Indonesia. In kabaddi, the men's team will compete against Japan, and the women's team against Bangladesh.

A round of 32 finalists is planned in the 70 kg weight category for men in boxing. In MMA, the men's traditional category will be -77kg, and the women's -60kg. Rowing competitions will feature quadruple sculls for men (heats) and double sculls for light men (heats).

Shooting includes competitions in 10m air rifle for men (individual and team events, qualification, final), as well as skeet for men and women (qualification). In table tennis, matches in mixed doubles will take place in the quarterfinals and final.

Swimming schedules distances for men: 50m freestyle, 50m backstroke, 100m breaststroke, and the 4x200m freestyle relay. In table tennis, group and playoff rounds will take place for men's and women's teams, as well as initial rounds for women's doubles.

In Wushu, finals for the women's changquan, as well as elimination rounds for men and women in sanda, are planned.

Athletics events will also feature artistic gymnastics (women's all-around final), badminton (semi-finals for men's and women's teams), boxing (initial rounds in the 60kg and 80kg weight classes), canoe/kayak (various distances and types for men and women), cricket (women's semi-final, depending on qualification), equestrian sports (individual and team events, jumps and medals), esports (e-football), and fencing (individual event in foil for women and sabre for men).

In hockey, there will be a match between Thailand and India in women's Group B. In kabaddi, matches are scheduled between Bangladesh and India (men's Group A) and Iran and India (women's Group A). Rowing will feature finals in single, double, pair, and quadruple sculls for men, as well as finals for the women's quad (depending on qualification).

Shooting also includes competitions in 10m air pistol for women (individual and team events, qualification, final), as well as skeet for men and women (qualification and final). In table tennis, semi-finals for men's and women's teams, as well as initial rounds for singles and doubles, will take place.

Weightlifting has competitions scheduled for men in the 60 kg weight class (Rishikant Singh) and for women in the 49 kg (Mirabai Chanu), 53 kg (Dhyanashri Yadav), 61 kg (Saram Nirupama Devi), and 69 kg (Harjinder Kaur) weight classes.

In Wushu, semi-finals for men and women in sanda in the 56 kg, 75 kg, 52 kg, and 60 kg weight classes are planned (depending on qualification).

Competitions in aquatics and water sports are also scheduled, where the Indian team is ready for the main stage in Aichi-Nagoya 2026.