Indian contingent receives send-off for 2026 Asian Games

The Indian contingent for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, has received an official send-off in New Delhi. The 503-member delegation, which includes over 300 first-time athletes, was motivated by Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President PT Usha.

Key sports preparations include:

- Cricket: The BCCI confirmed a star-studded squad led by Shreyas Iyer for the men and Harmanpreet Kaur for the women. While accommodation in Nagoya will not be five-star, the BCCI expressed satisfaction with the arrangements. - Athletics: A 77-member contingent featuring multiple champions, including Tajinderpal Singh Toor and Avinash Sable, will compete. Neeraj Chopra has withdrawn due to injury. - Judo: Athletes like Commonwealth Games gold medalist Asmita Dey are focusing on ground fighting techniques to compete against top-ranked Japanese opponents. - Wrestling: The squad, including Antim Panghal and Priya Malik, aims to improve upon their previous bronze medal performance.

Separately, the IOA approved constitutional amendments to align with the National Sports Governance Act. These changes include adjustments to age limits for office-bearers and tenure regulations, though the executive council's membership strength will remain unchanged.