India posted 211/6 in 20 overs against Pakistan in the men’s T20 cricket gold-medal final at the Asian Games 2026 in Nisshin, Japan. Abhishek Sharma led the charge with a blistering 61 off 28 balls, including seven sixes and three fours. He reached his half-century in just 20 balls, helping India score 81/2 in the powerplay. Tilak Varma then produced an unbeaten 51 off 22 balls, while Shivam Dube added 27 from 15 deliveries to accelerate the final overs. Pakistan now requires 212 runs to win the gold medal. (PC: AP)

India entered the crucial final phase of the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya on October 3, with medal opportunities across archery, wrestling, taekwondo, golf, cricket and hockey. Archer Kumkum Anil Mohod advanced in the women’s recurve individual event, while Dhiraj Bommadevara and Neeraj Chauhan competed in the men’s recurve category. Wrestling featured Aman Sehrawat, Sagar Jaglan, Deepak Punia, Antim Panghal and Manisha Bhanwala in medal rounds. India also faced Pakistan in the men’s cricket final and Malaysia in the men’s hockey gold-medal match. The day represented a major opportunity to strengthen India’s medal tally. (PC: Reuters)

Indian golfer Pranavi Urs created history at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya by winning the country’s first-ever individual women’s golf gold medal. The 23-year-old Mysuru golfer finished at 15-under par, holding off Singapore’s Shannon Tan and China’s Yin Ruoning by one stroke in a closely contested final round. Urs also contributed to India’s women’s team success alongside Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar, as the trio secured silver with a combined 14-under 546, behind China. The double-medal achievement marked a significant milestone for Indian women’s golf at the continental Games. (PC: NDTV)

Indian archer Kumkum Mohod, 17, made history at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, winning gold in the women’s individual recurve event. She defeated South Korea’s Oh Yejin in a dramatic shoot-off after their final was tied 5-5. Oh scored 8 with her decisive arrow, while Kumkum delivered a perfect 10 to secure the title. The victory made her the first Indian woman to win an individual recurve medal at the Asian Games, and she went on to claim gold. Kumkum had already won women’s team gold and mixed-team silver at the Games. (PC: X)

India won 10 medals, including 6 gold, on Day 13 of the Asian Games 2026 on Friday, taking its overall tally to 76. The Indian women’s hockey team defeated China 1-0 in the final to win gold, ending a 44-year wait for the Asian Games title. In boxing, Lovlina Borgohain defeated China’s Bao Ziyi 5-0 in the women’s 75kg final, while Parveen Hooda won gold in the 65kg category. Ankush Panghal also claimed gold in the men’s 80kg event. Wrestler Sujeet Kalkal won gold, while India secured medals in archery, sailing and sepaktakraw. (PC: NDTV)

Teenage opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is set to face Pakistan in his first senior-level India-Pakistan clash at the 2026 Asian Games. The 15-year-old has impressed with his aggressive batting against leading international bowlers in the IPL and for India’s junior teams. However, the high-pressure contest will present a different challenge, with the rivalry carrying expectations beyond individual performances. Indian legends Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli also produced memorable performances against Pakistan during their careers. Sooryavanshi recently scored 38 off 21 balls against Sri Lanka in the Asian Games quarter-final. A strong performance against Pakistan could help build his confidence and experience at the international level. (PC: HT)

Bichu Devi Kharibam, the Indian women’s hockey team’s goalkeeper from Manipur, said her hard work had paid off after India won gold at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan on Friday. India defeated defending champions China 1-0 in the final, ending a 44-year wait for the title and securing direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Forward Lalremsiami scored the decisive goal in the 10th minute, while Bichu played a key role in India’s defence. The 25-year-old goalkeeper previously helped India win silver at the 2018 Youth Olympics. She dedicated the Asian Games triumph to her family, teammates and the country. (PC: X)

Indian shooter Neeru Dhanda will carry India’s flag at the 2026 Asian Games closing ceremony after winning three medals. The 27-year-old trap shooter secured two gold medals and a silver, emerging as a top performer in Asian Games shooting. She first won silver in the women’s trap team event with Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer. Dhanda became the first Indian woman to win Asian Games gold in individual trap, setting an Asian record with 28 in the final after topping qualification with 118. She later won mixed-team trap gold with Kynan Chenai, with their 34 hits breaking the previous Asian record of 33. The closing ceremony is scheduled for October 4. (PC: X)

Indian hockey umpire and technical official Gurinder Singh Sangha was sent home from the 2026 Asian Games in Japan following multiple complaints of alleged sexual misconduct. A Hockey India source told PTI that Sangha allegedly misbehaved with a female hockey official from Malaysia and a hotel staffer during his stay in Nagoya. Hockey India said it would consider action after receiving a detailed report from the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF), which appoints hockey umpires and technical officials for the Games. The AHF declined to comment. Sangha had also faced a complaint during the 2025 Hockey India League in Ranchi. Hockey India said a three-member committee investigated that earlier matter but found no substantial evidence against him. (PC: X)

India is set to face five-time FIFA World Cup champions Brazil at Kolkata’s Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) on October 3 in one of the biggest fixtures in Indian football history. Ahead of the highly anticipated clash, India head coach Khalid Jamil and defender Anwar Ali addressed the media during a pre-match press conference. Brazil, meanwhile, were represented by head coach Carlo Ancelotti and captain Marquinhos at their respective press conference. The star-studded Brazilian side includes players such as Vinicius Jr. and Endrick. The Blue Tigers are preparing for the historic encounter against Brazil, with Jamil and Ali discussing the challenge ahead. The article introduces their pre-match comments before the Kolkata clash. (PC: X)