A busy medal schedule awaits India on Monday as the men’s cricket team begins its Asian Games 2026 campaign, while Avinash Sable, Lovlina Borgohain, Manu Bhaker and several other leading athletes look to add to the country’s medal tally on Day 9 of the continental event.
India, which ended Day 8 with 37 medals — four gold, 16 silver and 17 bronze — will begin its men’s cricket campaign in the quarter-finals against Afghanistan at the Korogi Athletic Park, according to Olympics.com.
The defending champions will face the silver medallists from Hangzhou 2023, with India seeking to continue its gold-medal run after defeating Afghanistan in the final three years ago.
Athletics will offer several medal opportunities, with nine finals featuring Indian athletes scheduled during the evening session.
Avinash Sable will be among the biggest attractions as he returns to the men’s 3,000m steeplechase. The Hangzhou silver medallist is making his comeback after a lengthy injury layoff and will seek a podium finish.
The men’s javelin throw will also be closely watched in the absence of defending champion Neeraj Chopra. Commonwealth Games medallist Yash Vir Singh and Rohit Yadav will lead India’s challenge as the country seeks to extend its gold-medal streak in the event.
India has won the men’s javelin gold at the last two Asian Games through Chopra. Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga and Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem are among the leading contenders in the event.
Hangzhou silver medallist Murali Sreeshankar and David Patturaj Solomon will compete in the men’s long jump, while Gulveer Singh will line up in the 1,500m and Parul Chaudhary in the women’s 5,000m. Both Gulveer and Parul have already won medals at the ongoing Games.
The athletics programme will also feature the women’s discus throw, men’s and women’s 400m hurdles and women’s 4x100m relay.
In boxing, Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain will face South Korea’s Seong Suyeon in the women’s 75kg quarter-final. A victory would assure Lovlina of a medal. Priya Ghanghas and Kapil Pokhariya are also one win away from securing podium finishes.
Shooting will see Manu Bhaker, Esha Singh and Rahi Sarnobat compete in the women’s 25m pistol qualification, with Manu seeking an individual medal in her final opportunity at the Games.
The squash competition will move into the team events, with singles finalists Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh looking to bounce back after their silver-medal finishes.
Indian archers will also compete in the individual compound events. Jyothi Surekha Vennam and Chikitha Taniparthi will feature in the women’s draw, while Sahil Jadhav and Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru will compete in the men’s event.
In hockey, the Indian men’s team will face Bangladesh in its final Pool A match. Pincky Balhara will represent India in kurash, while volleyball and tennis competitions will also continue with the Indian contingent in action.
With medal events scheduled across athletics, boxing and shooting, India will look to build on Sunday’s haul of seven medals as it enters a packed Day 9 programme.
(ANI Inputs)
