India’s 503 athletes are geared up to tackle 43 sports at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, a stage that blends familiar staples like cricket and hockey with fresh frontiers such as Teqball and Kurash.
Teqball, a hybrid of football and table tennis, is set to make its Asian Games debut on a curved, 1.32‑meter table. The sport demands players to return a football using any body part except hands, a test of balance, reflexes, and creativity. Indian trio Mohamed Anas Imran Beg, Declan Marshall Gonsalves, and Quimcy Dsouza will contest men's doubles, mixed doubles, and women's singles, respectively, aiming to carve out the country’s first medal in this discipline.
Kurash, the Uzbek‑style jacket wrestling that forbids ground work, has become a fast‑paced spectacle of throws and balance. India’s past success—silver by Pincky Balhara and bronze by Malaprabha Jadhav in 2018—sets a benchmark. The 2026 squad includes Vipin Kumar, Vishal and Yash Kumar, Bharti and Sangita Balhara, and Pincky Chauhan, all primed to keep the sport’s standing‑only rule at the forefront.
Soft Tennis, with its lightweight rubber ball and numerical scoring, offers a softer, quicker alternative to conventional tennis. Originating in Japan, it has been part of the Games since 1994. India’s six‑man squad—Yogesh Choudhary, Om Yadav, Jay Meena, Aniket Chirag Patel, Aryan Thakur, and Aadhya Tiwari—will look to break a long medal drought while mastering the lighter ball’s unique bounce.
Beyond these niche sports, India’s roster also embraces emerging disciplines like surfing, esports, and padel, reflecting the Games’ broader push to diversify. With the opening ceremony set for September 19, the athletes’ journey will begin with a mix of tradition and innovation, setting the tone for India’s pursuit of podium glory across the spectrum.