New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with members of the Indian contingent that participated in the 2026 Asian Games at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi on Thursday.
The interaction is scheduled for around 4:30 p.m., during which the Prime Minister will also address the gathering.
The programme will be attended by athletes, coaches and support staff, along with officials from the Indian Olympic Association, representatives of National Sports Federations and officials from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
India finished fourth in the medal standings at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, securing 85 medals, including 21 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze.
The performance marked India’s second-highest medal tally in Asian Games history, behind the record 106 medals, including 28 gold, won at the Hangzhou Games in 2023.
The Indian contingent registered several notable achievements, including historic performances in recurve archery, gold medals for both the men’s and women’s hockey teams at the same edition, and maiden medals in soft tennis and mixed martial arts (MMA).
India also secured its first gold medal in women’s trap shooting, while a silver in weightlifting ended a 28-year medal drought in the discipline. In Greco-Roman wrestling, an Indian athlete reached the final after 64 years and claimed silver.
Athletics emerged as India’s most successful discipline in terms of overall medals, contributing 24 to the country’s tally, including one gold.
Archery was another standout discipline, with India winning nine medals, including five gold, matching its record performance at the Hangzhou Games.
India swept all three compound archery team titles, while Chikitha Taniparthi and Sahil Jadhav secured gold in the mixed team event, earning a qualification quota for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
In recurve archery, India delivered its best-ever Asian Games performance, winning medals in all five events. Kumkum Mohod claimed gold in the women’s individual event, securing another qualification quota for the 2028 Olympics.
In golf, Pranavi Urs became the first Indian woman to win an individual gold medal at the Asian Games, ending the country’s 24-year wait for a title in the sport.
She subsequently teamed up with Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar to secure silver in the women’s team event, marking another first for India at the continental competition.
[DD news]