Asian Games 2026 Day 4 Live: India in TT, badminton action; Sakshi Chaudhary defeats Paris Olympics medallist

Sep 22, 2026 12:51 PM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: On Lakshya's victory

Plenty of admiration for Lakshya Sen after that come-from-behind victory.

Sep 22, 2026 12:48 PM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Shivani Naik on badminton

Men's team QF MS1 | Lakshya Sen vs Kodai Naraoka (ranked World No 7)

11-21, 21-5, 21-19

Stunning Sen puts India 1-0 up.

For the record, Kodai couldn't respond to a net tumble -- that most underrated part of Sen's game. He had been putting pressure on Kodai and drawing out lifts to attack. The tumble leaves you with a bad choice and a worse choice. Kodai ended up hacking it into the net.

But those lifts whose length Sen aced on the day -- finally gave him that famous win.

India have silver from 2023. They need gold. They have the team for it. But Japan needs subduing. Its rest of singles is gritty. And Hoki-Kobayashi are former World champions. The win needs to be earned.

Sep 22, 2026 12:43 PM IST

WHAT A COMEBACK FROM LAKSHYA SEN!

Men’s team QF MS1 | Lakshya Sen vs Kodai Naraoka (ranked World No 7)

11-21, 21-5, 21-19

Stunning Sen puts India 1-0 up.

Sen steps it up to reduce a 10-16, 14-19 deficit and go up to 18-19. A line shuttle plop in back corner takes him to 19-19.

That was cannot defense and one of those phases where Sen pulls out ridiculous reflex returns and followed by definitive smash attacks. He imposed his unfazed personality - call it attitude - on the game and pulled out a sensational first point for India.

The first point was important. India can ride the momentum now. Satwik-Chirag, Ayush to follow.

Sen had beaten China's Shi Yuqi in the Team final at Hangzhou that was lost 2-3. He steps up again. The Thomas Cup team gets going again.

(From Shivani Naik)

Sep 22, 2026 12:29 PM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Shivani Naik on badminton

Men’s team QF MS1 | Lakshya Sen vs Kodai Naraoka (ranked World No 7)

11-21, 21-5, 9-16

Luring a lift out of Kodai is precious.

From his end, those strategic high lifts are crucial for Sen.

Drift. Lift. Thrift. Bad poetry. But prudent badminton.

Sep 22, 2026 12:27 PM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Shivani Naik on badminton

Men’s team QF MS1 | Lakshya Sen vs Kodai Naraoka (ranked World No 7)

11-21, 21-5, 6-12

Kodai leads 11-6 in third. Expected damage of the drift.

The next 15 points will be most important for Sen. He needs good tactics now. And some elevation to strokes. Too flat and Kodai likes that.

Sep 22, 2026 12:22 PM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Shivani Naik on badminton

Men's team QF MS1 | Lakshya Sen vs Kodai Naraoka (ranked World No 7)

Sen showing adequate stubbornness and grit and intensity in the third. At start of the third. This will put Kodai under pressure.

Sen must avoid the fast exchanges and drives against Kodai. It's a trap.

The criss crosses are doing just fine. Those are a trap. For Kodai.

Sep 22, 2026 12:10 PM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Shivani Naik on badminton

Men's team QF MS1 | Lakshya Sen vs Kodai Naraoka (ranked World No 5)

A game of three ...tri-tters to make up a word. Is there a word for 1/3?

Fractions.

But the first singles is quickly into the decider. That vroomed into the third. Drift must be deadly. That means he needs to limit damage in first half of decider when Kodai will be big n better side.

This is fun.

Lakshya takes second 21-5

Sep 22, 2026 12:09 PM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Shivani Naik on badminton

Men's team QF MS1 | Lakshya Sen vs Kodai Naraoka (ranked World No 5)

Kodai takes opener 21-11. Then Lakshya slams Kodai 16-3 in second.

Sixteen - three. Read that again

Sep 22, 2026 12:03 PM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Shivani Naik on badminton

Men's team QF MS1 | Lakshya Sen vs Kodai Naraoka (ranked World No 5)

Kodai takes opener 21-11

Kodai led 11-6. He is once again catching Sen on the forecourt backhand net corner. Thats not conventionally a Sen weakness, but the Japanese is an automaton. He has also gotten a little groovy with his attack - a touch more power, a shade more urgent. Sen is a slow starter. But he's fighting here to avoid being a no-starter.

Gopichand asking Sen to show some energy - because a tuned in Sen can flip things around.

Aside of this match, the atmosphere is drenched with quality and class. You have Chou Tien Chennai, Kunlavut Vitidsarn, Kodai, Shi Yuqi and Jojo Christie all on the four courts. Dispersed dazzle.

Sep 22, 2026 11:36 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Shivani Naik writes

One fine thing about this Asian Games is the high quality of ad campaigns / promos / cheer vids - call it whatever. But all 3 spots - Adidas, JSW and Reliance campaigns are top grade. Indian Olympic sport athletes getting their due.

The actual coverage of sport : Meh.

Badminton reverts to Malaysia vs Indonesia, while India vs Japan not on screens. Yawn, Sony, Yawn. Predictably meh.

Sep 22, 2026 11:27 AM IST

What's behind Smriti Mandhana's transformation?

For more than a decade into her career, hundreds didn’t arrive as frequently to Smriti Mandhana as the quality of her batting suggested they should.

There were plenty of starts and fifties across countries and formats, enough to establish her among the best batters of her generation. But converting those innings into hundreds remained an area for improvement.

The last two years have changed that. Mandhana’s 124 from 64 balls against Hong Kong in the Women’s Asia Cup in Dubai was her 18th international century, taking her past Meg Lanning for the most hundreds in women’s international cricket. During the same innings, she also went past Mithali Raj’s 10868 runs to become the highest run-scorer in women’s international cricket.

Read Shankar Narayan's piece on Mandhana's transformation from earlier this month

Sep 22, 2026 11:23 AM IST

While you are here

We also have a separate liveblog for the Women's Cricket Team final between India and Sri Lanka, which might end up giving the Indian contingent its first gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Games.

Follow the IND vs SL liveblog here

Sep 22, 2026 11:20 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: TT update from Bhuvan Gupta

Oh, Manav. The counterpunch specialist shows flashes of his defensive brilliance but flatters to deceive in the third rubber.

He had An Jaehyun on the mat in Game 1, leading 10-4. The Korean won eight straight points to snatch the game from Manav's grasp.

The Indian kept at it, nevertheless. He took the third game and rallied from 4-8 down in Game 4 before losing 10-12, 6-11, 11-7, 10-12.

With that, India lose the tie 0-3 to South Korea and bow out of the men's team event.

Sep 22, 2026 11:10 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Cricket update

Indian women's cricket team dugout seen sampling the famous Japanese rice milk cream crackers. The country had recently discovered how a papad fluffs up in oil. But rice crackers, fortified with good bacteria, is a thing in Japan.

By Shivani Naik

Sep 22, 2026 10:40 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: badminton update from Shivani Naik

Women's Team QF WS3: India go down to Japan 1-3

Sindhu faded out in third set but is looking good for Individuals. The sheer quality of that match was high in the first two sets

Unnati is improving at a quick clip.

Tanvi -- tough learning for her. But Nozomi Okuhara is top tier, so understandable.

Treesa-Gayatri - on a roll here....Beating the Japanese and experienced ones at that, is quite impressive. Bodes well for Individuals The loss might drown the significance. But in a team event, one solitary win amounts to not much. India needs to buck up in womens singles.

Sep 22, 2026 10:39 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: TT update from Bhuvan Gupta

Credit to Manush Shah for the way he took the fight to Oh Junsung. Despite the gulf in their rankings - 43 as against 23 - the Indian left-hander employed his trademark third-ball attacks to take two games off Junsung and force a decider. The Korean proves too good in Game 5, however, and takes it 11-6 to stretch his team's lead to 2-0.

Manav Thakkar now faces An Jaehyun, world No. 48 versus 36, in the must-win third rubber.

Sep 22, 2026 10:27 AM IST

In Case You Missed It: Badminton Women’s Team Update

The Indian women’s team campaign comes to an end after a 1-3 loss to Japan in the quarterfinals.

WS1: Pusarla V Sindhu lost to Akane Yamaguchi 23-21, 18-21, 11-21

WS2: Unnati Hooda lost to Tomoka Miyazaki 16-21, 18-21

WD1: Treesa Jolly/Gayatri Gopichand Pullela bt Yuki Fukushima/Mayu Matsumoto 21-17, 21-16

WS3: Tanvi Sharma lost to Nozomi Okuhara 12-21, 10-21

Sep 22, 2026 10:17 AM IST

In case you missed it: Jay Meena beats Pakistan's Arain Hussain

India's Jay Meena beat arch-rival Pakistan's Arain Hussain in his Group D soft tennis clash at the ongoing Asian Games 2026 at Aichi-Nagoya on Tuesday. Jay secured a 4-0 whitewash win over Arain with a scoreline of 4-2, 4-0, 4-2, 4-0.

Earlier, in the women's singles competition, Aadhya Tiwari lost 1-4 to Alisha Ziegler (Thailand) with a scoreline of 4-1, 0-4, 0-4, 2-4, 4-6. With the group winners getting to go to the quarterfinals, Aadhya will need to win her match against rival Pakistan's Kainaat Shallwani and also pray that the Pakistani beats Ziegler to stand a chance at a move to the final eight.

(Via ANI)

Sep 22, 2026 10:16 AM IST

IN case you missed it: India beat Korea to stay atop group in kabaddi

The Indian men's kabaddi team thrashed South Korea 63-31 in a Group A clash to continue its dominant run at the Asian Games here on Tuesday.

This is the second win for the defending champions and they sit on top of the group A.

India will next face Bangladesh on Wednesday, before taking on Chinese Taipei on Thursday in their final group A fixture.

India dominated from the outset, taking a 34-14 lead at half-time before extending their advantage in the second half, which they won 29-17.

India collected 38 points through successful raids, 17 bonus points, six points from all-outs and two points from super tackles. They conceded 23 points through opposition outs and eight bonus points.

India had begun its title defence with a resounding 49-24 win over hosts Japan in their opening group fixture.

The women's team will face Iran in their second group A match on Wednesday. it had defeated Bangladesh in their opener on Monday.

(Via Press Trust of India)

Sep 22, 2026 10:15 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Fencing update

Indian fencers Hemash Sanasam and Sachin progressed to the round of 32 after recording three wins and two losses each in the men's foil individual event at the Asian Games here on Tuesday.

Hemash will face Kazakhstan's Galim Nurumov, while Sachin will take on another Kazakh fencer, Timofey Semyonov, in the round of 32.

It was a mixed day for the two Indians as both finished fourth in their respective pools.

Hemash lost his opening bout 2-5 to Singapore's Raphael Juan Kang Tan before defeating Japan's Iimura Kazuki 5-1 and the Philippines' Sammuel Tranquilan 5-2. He then suffered a 2-5 loss to Macau's Cheong Chong Kio but finished the pool stage with a 5-1 win over Oman's Saeed Al Shuaibi.

Sachin began with a 5-0 win over Pakistan's Baryal Khan but lost 2-5 to Chinese Taipei's Chen Chih-Chieh. He then defeated Kazakhstan's Galim Nurumov 5-3 before suffering a 0-5 loss to South Korea's Youn Jeonghyun.

Sachin rounded off the pool stage with a 5-1 win over Mongolia's Chingis Narmandakh to finish with three wins and two losses.

Taniksha Khatri and Mitva Jesangbhai Chaudhari are in fray in women's Epee individual event.

(Via Press Trust of India)

Sep 22, 2026 10:13 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Sepaktakraw

India suffered a 0-3 defeat to Malaysia in the men's team regu event of the Asian Games sepaktakraw competition here on Tuesday.

India showed some fight in the opening match but ran out of steam as Malaysia secured a 2-1 (15-13, 11-15, 15-6) advantage.

India then went down 0-2 (9-15, 12-15) in the second match before suffering another 0-2 (11-15, 5-15) defeat in the third to be blanked in the rubber.

India had opened their Group B campaign with a 1-2 loss to Japan on Monday.

They will face the Philippines in their final preliminary Group B match.

(From Press Trust of India)

Sep 22, 2026 10:01 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: TT update from Bhuvan Gupta

The Indian women will next face North Korea - a team that often throws up players unheralded yet dangerous - in the quarters at 3:50 pm IST. The victor would be guaranteed a podium finish.

Meanwhile, on Table 2, the Indian men's team is expectedly finding the going tough against a pedigreed South Korea in the round of 16. Harmeet Desai lost 1-3 to Jang Woojin and Manush Shah is on level terms at 1-1 against Oh Junsung.

Sep 22, 2026 09:56 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Badminton update from Shivani Naik

Women's Team QF WS3

India 1-2 vs Japan.

Tanvi vs Okuhara

Japanese leads 21-11, 11-4

We are plain foolish to think one from the golden generation can be rolled over. The new ones ain't quite there yet.

So, Nozomi Okuhara resurfaces. It's quite crazy that she has been at it, doing this, diving like a maniac since 2017. And that Glasgow -- THAT Glasgow -- was 9 years ago.

But here she is again at Nagoya taking on India's next gen, diving to her left, full prone, fuller stretch, sending the shuttle over the net, then bouncing back like a real cat. Her and Yamaguchi really brought elasticity to badminton. She has struggled, played in outposts like Odisha collecting points, gotten trolled by Indians because she complained about shoddy arrangements, and now watched Japan crumble as hosts quite dramatically. But the greatness of Okuhara doesn't wane. She has worked her way up the ranking ladder and is giving Japan its third point here.

Fun fact: On her YouTube channel, Okuhara delved deep into psychology of taking to the court as a short-statured player. Inspirational for many.

Fun fact 2: Her warmup routine is handstands. At 31

The Golden Generation doesn't give up.

Sep 22, 2026 09:46 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Women's cricket final action

India will be vying for their first gold medal of the Games as Harmanpreet Kaur's side takes on Sri Lanka in the women's T20I cricket final in Nisshin. Catch all the updates here

Sep 22, 2026 09:40 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: TT update from Bhuvan Gupta

Suthasini levels up in Game 4, making Sreeja think with her placement and choice of shots. It goes neck and neck for the most part and Sreeja inches ahead at 9-8 before the Thai bench calls a timeout.

Sreeja launches a forehand down the line upon resumption and finishes it off with another booming winner!

Sreeja redeems herself, winning 9-11, 11-6, 12-10, 11-8. India huff and puff their way past Thailand 3-2 in a three-hour epic to march into the quarterfinals.

Sep 22, 2026 09:33 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Badminton update from Shivani Naik

India pull one back 1-2 vs Japan.

Tanvi vs Okuhara

Nozomi Okuhara is back in the Top 10 after many many months. That's 3 Japanese womens singles in Top 10. It's what makes this QF a tough one. Still, Tanvi is riding on confidence after winning her first Super 300 at Taiwan.

She can take Okuhara down with her crisp stroke making. Errors are inevitable when she attacks. The body language is non negotiable. The overhead deception on the drop to go up 3-2 which left Okuhara short = reason enough to believe in herself. The strokeplay is elite.

Sep 22, 2026 09:30 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Table tennis update

Update from Bhuvan Gupta

Sreeja attacks with a vengeance early in Game 3 to forge a handy lead before giving it up. She calls for a timeout at 9-8, and after a superb counterpunch to earn match point, she fails to convert.

She is unruffled this time however, and unleashes a powerful forehand to take the game 12-10 and move to within a game of winning the tie for India.

Sep 22, 2026 09:26 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Badminton update from Shivani Naik

India 1-2 Japan

Tanvi vs Okuhara WS3

People keep wondering why Sindhu gets fielded in doubles. Today, she is slated to partner Tanisha Crasto.

Fielding Sindhu ensures India can get the third singles in before the second doubles. It gives Tanvi the chance to go up against Okuhara, after Treesa-Gayatri pull one back.

Sep 22, 2026 09:25 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Table tennis update

Update from Bhuvan Gupta

Sreeja regroups and gets going with her long pips. The mistakes pile up from Suthasini and Sreeja capitalises to take the second game 11-6. The tie is essentially down to a best-of-three-games shootout now between Sreeja and Suthasini. Cliched as it may be, nerves could dictate the outcome more than tactics.

Sep 22, 2026 09:25 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Badminton update

Update from Shivani Naik on the Women’s Team QF WD1

India pull one back 1-2 Japan

Treesa-Gayatri defeat World No 3 Fukushima-Matsumoto 21-17, 21-18.

Stunning win teased out by Treesa-Gayatri, surprising the Japanese a second time in a space of a month. While Iwanaga-Nakanishi were taken by surprise at the Delhi Worlds this win against a Top 5 pairing was clinically constructed and calmly executed.

Brilliant surge in intensity in the second to dominate the experienced Japanese. That uptick in speed of rallies and precision points was world-class. It's how the Top Tenners do it. Good to see Indians manage to close out the way they did

Treesa just never stopped crunching those smashes and net pings and pokes. Gayatri gets the final point with three attacking short smashes from the net.

This ensures Tanvi Sharma takes the court against Nozomi Okuhara.

Can we dare to dream?

Sep 22, 2026 09:21 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Boxing update

Sakshi Chaudhary starts her campaign with a unanimous 5-0 win over Paris Olympics light flyweight bronze medalist Aira Cordero Villegas of Philippines in the women’s 51kg in the first round.

from Nitin Sharma

Sep 22, 2026 09:16 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Table tennis update

Update from Bhuvan Gupta

Sreeja starts off well in the first game, leading through most of it. But Suthasini overcomes her rusty smashing early doors to land the winners at the end, and sneak ahead. She takes the game 11-9.

Sep 22, 2026 09:15 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Badminton update

Coming up: Badminton Men’s Team Quarterfinals in two hours time

India 🇮🇳 vs. Japan 🇯🇵

MS1: Lakshya Sen vs Kodai Naraoka

MD1: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty vs Takuro Hoki/ Yugo Kobayashi

MS2: Ayush Shetty vs Koki Watanabe

MD2: Hariharan Amsakarunan/MR Arjun vs Kakeru Kumagai/ Hiroki Nishi

MS3: Kidambi Srikanth vs Yushi Tanaka

Sep 22, 2026 09:14 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Boxing update

Update from Nitin Sharma

While the official broadcast did not show the scores as they took a advertisement break, Sakshi Chaudhary wins the first round of the bout against Paris Olympics light flyweight bronze medalist Aira Cordero Villegas of Philippines with a 5-0 verdict from all the five judges. A note to the broadcasters. Boxing round scores need to be shown.

Sep 22, 2026 09:12 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Badminton update

Update from Shivani Naik on the Women’s Team QF WD1

India trail 0-2. Can Treesa-Gayatri keep this time alive? They are 21-17, 14-12 ahead

Treesa-Gayatri vs Fukushima-Matsumoto

Keeping the shuttle pinned to one zone, the Indians are frustrating the player not doing the retrieving. For the one who's crowded - mostly Fukushima, it's a lot of bending. But Treesa smashes are singing now as she gets India the 11-7 lead.

It is reduced to 12-10, but Gayatri is being smart here with body smashes drawing out the lifts. Then Treesa wrong foots Matsumoto from the net. She really is concentrated talent.

Sep 22, 2026 09:06 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Table tennis update

Update from Bhuvan Gupta

As is her wont, Orawan claws her way back early in Game 3. She takes a sizeable lead before Yashaswini brings it back to parity at 6-6 with some more smart, error-free play. Orawan opts for a timeout.

The points flow one way and another after as leads exchange hands and Yashaswini overturns a three-point deficit to go to match point.

And she claims it! India's in-form paddler clinches her sixth consecutive win with a searing forehand down the line. She beats Orawan 11-5, 11-8, 11-9 and forces a fifth and final match in the tie.

Sreeja to take on Suthasini, one half of the Sawettabut sisters, in the pressure-cooker decider.

Sep 22, 2026 09:05 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Karate update

India's Chetan Bhatt lost out on a bronze medal after a defeat to Chinese Taipei's Meng-yu Chung by senshu in their men's Kumite 84kg bronze medal playoff.

Bhatt had earlier lost 0-8 to Jordan's Mohammad Aljafari in the semifinal to enter the bronze medal playoff at the Toyohashi Gymnasium.

Both karatekas scored one Yuko each, but Chung emerged victorious by virtue of Senshu, having scored the first point.

In karate, Senshu is awarded to the athlete who scores the first point without the opponent having scored before it and can decide the winner when the bout ends level

(From Press Trust of India)

Sep 22, 2026 08:59 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Boxing update

Update from Nitin Sharma

In boxing, Sakshi Chaudhary, who edged out two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen in the trials, will face Paris Olympics light flyweight bronze medalist Aira Cordero Villegas of Philippines in the women’s 51kg in the first round a few minutes from now.

Sep 22, 2026 08:56 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Table tennis update

Update from Bhuvan Gupta

Orawan tries to curb Yashaswini by aiming most of her venomous shots at the Indian's backhand. Yashaswini is up to the task, however and minimises errors in the crunch moments to take the second game 11-8. She leads 2-0 and is in the driver's seat. But as Sreeja experienced in the first match, you cannot count Orawan out.

Sep 22, 2026 08:56 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Badminton update

Update from Shivani Naik on the Women’s Team QF WS2

India trail 0-2.

Treesa-Gayatri vs Fukushima-Matsumoto

Treesa-Gayatri take the opener against World No 3, 21-17

Three Treesa smashes in three straight rallies get India the lead and then Gayatri sends a backhand down the line as India go 18-17 up. Those were 4 stunning points. They forced Japanese to go for lines, and they sprayed like a poorly plated gourmet meal.

Those. Four. Points. 👀

Sep 22, 2026 08:55 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Table tennis update

Update from Bhuvan Gupta

Yashaswini comes out all guns blazing in Game 1 against Orawan. She switches direction smartly with her backhand to wrongfoot her Thai opponent repeatedly and takes the game 11-5.

Not to jinx her but Yashaswini is unbeaten so far at the Asiad with five straight wins, and was instrumental in the gritty victory over Singapore. Let's see if she can continue that streak here.

Sep 22, 2026 08:50 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Shooting update

The Indian mixed pair of Elavenil Valarivan and Parth Mane bows out of the final at the fourth spot with a score of 376.3.

Nitin Sharma notes: While the first three series saw the Indian mixed pair of Elavenil Valarivan and Parth Mane never in the top two teams in terms of cumulative score in each series, the first elimination series saw the Indian pair top the series with a total of 64.0. It was too late for the Indian pair as they bowed out at the fourth spot with a difference of 1.8 points between them and the third placed Korean team.

Pritish Raj adds: It was much different from the qualification where the experienced shooter Elavenil led from front. 18-year-old Parth Mane was the better shooter in the final while Elavenil struggled which was visible in the result. After four shooting events, India blank in the fifth one returning medal less

Sep 22, 2026 08:50 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live

Update from Shivani Naik on the Women’s Team QF WS2

Treesa-Gayatri vs Fukushima-Matsumoto

India 15-15 Japan

Indian pair slightly ahead at 11-10 in first set. Save for the forecourt drop that Matsumoto engineered early and Fukushima pulled off at 14-12 for the Japanese, Treesa-Gayatri haven't really looked far off the pace. Done very well to go toe to toe with the experienced Japanese, with Gayatri scattering the shuttle with her cross drops.

The Japanese are trying to target Treesa with body smashes. She can be hemmed in briefly, but she will break free. She's playing on the back court far more today, compared to the World's. The Japanese top pair, aged 31 and 33 though have a wicked cross low drive angle where the lift becomes the only option. But this is close at 14-15 with Indians in pursuit.

The last rally went on for over 2 minutes

Sep 22, 2026 08:48 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Shooting update from Nitin Sharma

With the elimination series starting, the Indian mixed team trails the third placed Korean team by 2 points. With six shots in the first elimination series, the Indian pair need to reduce the gap and climb to third spot to have any chance of a medal in the final.

Sep 22, 2026 08:47 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Shooting update

Shooting update from Pritish Raj

The Indian duo is still fourth and will most likely get eliminated.

However, the previous rule would have meant that India had silver assured after the solid show in qualification but the new rule has made it four teams competing against each other instead of two in each medal match

Sep 22, 2026 08:43 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Shooting update

Shooting update from Nitin Sharma

After the third series, China are the top of the leaderboard with 315.7 while Japan maintains the second spot with a total of 314.9 The Korean team stands at the third spot with a total of 314.3 while the Indian pair of Indian pair of Elavenil Valarivan and Parth Mane stands fourth with a total of 312.3.

Sep 22, 2026 08:41 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Table tennis update

Update from Bhuvan Gupta

The see-saw battle continues in Game 5. Diya goes from 3-1 up to 3-4 down and Constantini calls for a timeout. He gesticulates animatedly to Diya, who looks a bit nervy.

She strings together a couple of points to inch ahead at 6-5 and it's now time for Jinnipa to go to her coach in a timeout.

The Thai contender proceeds to clinch a thrilling rally with a big forehand across court. Diya squanders her lead as the scoreline becomes 7-7.

The Indian composes herself again before pouncing on a loose return to load a killer forehand winner. She generates two match points but Jinnipa valiantly saves both.

It's Jinnipa's turn to earn a match point and Diya's turn to save it. Jinnipa comes at her again and this time, Diya is unable to thwart the Thai player.

Real disappointment for India and Diya as she loses 7-11, 11-5, 11-7, 7-11, 11-13 in a humdinger.

India now trail 1-2 in the tie and Yashaswini must win her reverse singles rubber against Orawan to keep her team alive at the Games.

Sep 22, 2026 08:39 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Shooting update

Shooting update from Pritish Raj

Another round of poor shooting from the Indian pair as they fall further behind. They are placed fourth with 207.9, four points behind leaders China and 1.3 behind a medal position

Sep 22, 2026 08:39 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Shooting update

Shooting update from Nitin Sharma

After the second series, China are the top of the leaderboard with 211.9 while Japan has climbed to the second spot with a total of 209.4. The Korean team stands at the third spot with a total of 209.2 while the Indian pair of Indian pair of Elavenil Valarivan and Parth Mane stands fourth with a total of 207.9.

Sep 22, 2026 08:34 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Shooting update

The Indian pair of Parth Mane and Elavenil Valarivan are fourth in the four-team final after the first series of five shots!

Nitin Sharma notes: After the first series, China are the top of the leaderboard with 107.2 while Korea stands at the second spot with a score of 104.9. Japan stands at third spot with a score of f103.9 while the Indian pair of Elavenil Valarivan and Parth Mane stands fourth with a total of 103.6.

Sep 22, 2026 08:27 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Shooting update

here we go! this could be India's first gold from the Asian Games! Elavenil and Parth Mane are up against three teams. Ela already has two silvers while Parth has a silver as well.

Can they make this one gold?

Sep 22, 2026 08:27 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Table tennis update

Update from Bhuvan Gupta

Jinnipa finds her range in Game 4. She unleashes a series of pinpoint drives, precipitating a five-point streak. Diya loses steam and fails to avert the onslaught as the game goes 11-7 to the Thai paddler. We're headed for an all-important decider.

Sep 22, 2026 08:24 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Shooting update

“Among the most significant changes are the mixed team events. In both the 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team and 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team as well as Trap Mixed Team competitions, the top four teams from qualification will advance directly to a single final. Unlike previous Olympic formats, all four teams will compete simultaneously from the start, eliminating the separate gold and bronze medal matches and creating a more dynamic and streamlined medal contest"

ISSF, the world governing body had shared this statement after the changes were made in the mixed team final format last year, says Nitin Sharma

Sep 22, 2026 08:23 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Shooting update

The new mixed team final format sees the four teams shooting three series of ten shots each followed by the elimination series of six shots each with one team being eliminated after each series.

From Nitin Sharma

Sep 22, 2026 08:22 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Kabaddi update from Pritish Raj

Meanwhile, the Indian men's kabaddi team continued their dominant run by defeating South Korea 63-31 in the Group A clash.

This is the second win for the defending champions and they sit on top of the group A.

Sep 22, 2026 08:22 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Table tennis update

Update from Bhuvan Gupta

The contest is heating up. Diya is getting her topspins going while Jinnipa is countering them with her backhand as well as forehand push-blocks.

Diya relies on a run of points, followed by a really lucky net cord that floors Jinnipa, to take Game 3 11-7. She now is one game away from handing India the lead for the first time in this tie. Many a slip possible before that though, as we have already seen several times today.

Sep 22, 2026 08:21 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Badminton update

Update from Shivani Naik on the Women’s Team QF WS2

India 0-2 down

Miyazaki wins 21-18, 21-18

From 11-4 up, Unnati was torrented for 11 scathing points from Miyazaki as she could sneak in a mere 3 points as she trailed 14-15.

The tempo manipulation is something Unnati (and the likes of Tanvi Sharma) will need to quickly grasp. Or they are playing into hands of top names. Miyazaki merely hit the groove and kept going as the pace remained constant. If she can build a rally with patience, Miyazaki will make mistakes. The Japanese did fall back 16-18. Deny her the pace momentum. And definitely deny her the short lifts. But Miyazaki dragged the pace back where she wanted and raced to the end.

Sep 22, 2026 08:16 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Shooting update

Shooting update from Nitin Sharma

Unlike the earlier rules, where the top two teams fought for the gold medal match and third and fourth placed teams played in the bronze medal match, The Indian 10m air rifle mixed team of Elavenil Valarivan and Parth Mane will have to fight against the Chinese team, Japanese team and the Korean team for the medal. ISSF had changed the mixed team final rules once again last year with the top four qualifying teams fighting for the three medals.

Sep 22, 2026 08:13 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Table tennis update

Update from Bhuvan Gupta

Diya retaliates in the second game. Her forehand drives land in disconcerting spots for Jinnipa, who is unable to replicate her counterlooping heroics from Game 1. Diya converts game point at the second time of asking to take it 11-5 and level things up.

Sep 22, 2026 08:09 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Kabaddi update

India were about to get all out against Korea, but then the two-man Indian defence manages to hold a raider, who's struggling like a fish caught in the net. he continues to flail even though two Indian defenders have grabbed on to him like their life defended on it. Finally the time runs out and India get the points. With the time running out on the clash, Jang Kun Lee comes in for a final raid, and once again there's a two-man Indian defence which manages to grab him and wrest him to the ground. He continues to struggle as well, but finally, he gives up with a smile. And that's that!

India beat 63-31 against Korea in a group B clash to make in two wins out of two.

Sep 22, 2026 08:05 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Table tennis update

Update from Bhuvan Gupta

Game 1 is off to a frenetic start as Jinnipa Sawettabut subdues Diya with some fantastic counterlooping. She goes on the offensive relentlessly and takes the opening game 11-7.

Each Thai player has punched above her weight so far, belying rankings. Pair that with the Indian men's team showing, especially against Iran, and there is serious food for thought if you're an Indian TT enthusiast.

Sep 22, 2026 08:03 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Badminton update

Update from Shivani Naik on the Women’s Team QF WS2

India 0-1 down

Unnati goes 11-4 up on audacious grit and a running-behind backhander that managed to cross the net. She was at the net, sprinted behind with back to the net and sent a backhand back. Grit is there. Game is also there. Rally construction is quirk-in-progress

Sep 22, 2026 08:03 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Table tennis update

Fortune favours Yashaswini early in the decider. She gets a net cord and a lucky edge off the table to take the lead. Thailand call for a timeout but it doesn't work as Yashaswini continues to rattle off the points.

Suthasini breaks the Indian's run and takes three straight points to make it level at 9-9. Yashaswini finally comes up clutch, nailing a forehand and then drawing a wayward one from Suthasini. She wins the match 11-8, 5-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-9 in a tense 39 minutes.

The tie is level at 1-1 now and Diya Chitale is warming up for her crucial rubber.

(Update from Bhuvan Gupta)

Sep 22, 2026 08:03 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Badminton update

Update from Shivani Naik on the Women’s Team QF WS2

India 0-1 down

Unnati vs Miyazaki. The Japanese 20 year old takes the opener 21-16. She's 6-3 up in second

Unnati gets swamped by the Miyazaki forward charge. It's what happens at this level against the Top Tenners - they can buzz and brandish with a flick of a switch. All Miyazaki did was click up her foot speed, get arms whirring and the rallies got snappier. Unnati has the attack and the zing to her down shots, but speed blended with control over imbalanced shots is something Miyazaki, generally the Japanese and Top Tenners boast of effortlessly.

Sep 22, 2026 07:45 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Table tennis update

Yashaswini is back in it. She's more urgent and proactive with her strokes now, pushing decisively and stepping around swiftly to her stronger forehand side. The rallies lengthen and with that, the quality of gameplay gets elevated. Yashaswini goes up 10-8 and converts her second game point to take the match to a fifth game.

(Update from Bhuvan Gupta)

Sep 22, 2026 07:44 AM IST

WATCH: Interview with Elavenil Valarivan

Elavenil Valarivan, who has already won two silver medals in the 10m Air Rifle event at the Asian Games 2026, will be pairing with Parth Mane in the final against China later in the morning as she chases the elusive gold medal.

Here's our interview with Ela, as she's popularly known:

Sep 22, 2026 07:41 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Badminton update

Update from Shivani Naik on the Women's Team QF WS2

India 0-1 down

Unnati vs Miyazaki 11-10 up

There's a surprise. Unnati Hooda is using some great deception. The footwork indicates one way, the racquet face turns the other way.

But Miyazaki will need to be moved around for Unnati to take control of this one. She does well to stay in the rally first. Miyazaki doesn't have gruelling speed and relies on gentler rallies before the kill fetches up. Unnati used that to her advantage, and snuck in plenty of shuttle scatters to get the Japanese on her toes. The round the head smash - Lakshyasque - isn't shabby either.

Her recovery from the lunge is decent, but keeping Miyazaki back will be the challenge.

Sep 22, 2026 07:40 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Table tennis update

Suthasini continues to target Yashaswini's backhand and keeps reaping rewards for that. It's one-way traffic at the moment as the Indian is unable to shake off the errors. Suthasini takes the third game 11-7 to lead 2-1 in the match. It's now or never for Yashaswini. If she loses the next game, it would become a really uphill battle for India.

(Update from Bhuvan Gupta)

Sep 22, 2026 07:33 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Table tennis update

Update from Bhuvan Gupta

Suthasini comes roaring back in Game 2. Ranked world No. 133, she puts the 76-ranked Yashaswini in all sorts of trouble to generate five game points and convert the first of them. India and Constantini would certainly not be happy with the way with the tie is progressing. Still a fair way to go, though.

Sep 22, 2026 07:32 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Badminton update

Women's Team QF WS2

India 0-1 down

Unnati Hooda vs Tomoka Miyazaki next

World No 24 Indian vs No 7 Japanese

Sep 22, 2026 07:32 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Kabaddi update

India lead South Korea 18-9 in the men's kabaddi clash. This is a big game for the Indian team. The Indian kabaddi fraternity still hasn't forgotten the hurt of the 2018 Asian Games where they could not win a gold medal and returned home with a bronze. It was a group stage defeat to Korea in that edition which started India's issues. It meant that they did not top their group and had to face Iran in the semis. They lost to Iran and eventually won bronze.

Today, India inflict their first all out on Korea thanks to Jaideep and Sunil Kumar shoving Korean captain Jang Kun Lee out of bounds.

A nine-point gap for India.

Sep 22, 2026 07:22 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Badminton update

Update from Shivani Naik: Sindhu vs Yamaguchi WS1 (Women's Team QF)

India 0-1 down against Japan

Yamaguchi beats Sindhu 21-23, 21-18, 21-11.

Muted response that from Sindhu.

Yamaguchi goes ballistic 11-4 onwards, not making the same mistake as the first set. The speed just doesn't drop, even if she nuances the drops and pace of the shuttle.

There's no dearth of attacking weapons with the Japanese. So she serves them up in 5 courses. The stinging wasabi though remains that drop that dollops like a dip at the net, literally rendering Sindhu twist-tangled in her feet going for the lunge.

Tough tough for India from here.

Sep 22, 2026 07:21 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Badminton update

Sindhu loses to Yamaguchi as Japan take a 1-0 lead over India in the women's team quarter-finals.

Sep 22, 2026 07:21 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Table tennis update

Update from Bhuvan Gupta

Yashaswini Ghorpade is in action now against Suhasini Sawettabut. She starts off clinically and races to a 10-5 lead before the Thai paddler, much like her teammate Orawan, rallies to save three game points. A lucky net cord comes to Yashaswini's rescue and she takes the first game 11-8.

Sep 22, 2026 07:16 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Table tennis update

Update from Bhuvan Gupta

Sreeja regains her chop-smash rhythm somewhat in Game 5, doing the early running to go ahead. Orawan's coach calls for a timeout, perhaps partly to stem her flow. It works, as Orawan takes three quick points to reduce the deficit to 5-6. It's now time for Massimo Constantini to call for a timeout. He steadies Sreeja and she responds nicely to regain a four-point cushion at 9-5.

But the Thai paddler is not going down in a whimper. She steps to her left and lets rip a booming forehand to rattle Sreeja. She strings together four straight points to bring the decider level at 9-9. Sreeja somehow induces an error from the leftie to earn a matchpoint but Orawan keeps it alive. 10-10 now.

Sreeja succumbs to the pressure and sinks a forehand in the net to lose the game 10-12 and with that, the match. Quite the comeback from Orawan - she looked dead and buried after the second game. Sreeja can't mask her disappointment as she snatches defeat from the jaws of victory. India slip to 0-1 in the best-of-five tie.

Sep 22, 2026 07:15 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Badminton update

Sindhu vs Yamaguchi WS1 at the Women's Team QF (Update from Shivani Naik)

Yamaguchi 11-4 up in the third deciding set.

21-23, 21-18, 11-4

So there's dimensions to a Sindhu vs Japan game. We say Japan because Yamaguchi and Okuhara have been interchangeable. In the vertical, aerial dimension of reach and power smashes, Sindhu has conquered Okuhara at Rio Olympics, Akane at Tokyo Olympics and most recently at Japan Open.

But it's in the horizontal dimension, in change-of-direction strokes that Sindhu maintained her dominance over Those Two. The Indian deploys criss crosses well enough to outlast the compulsive defense.

But the Japanese has smartened up to this and can tug the strings back by simply pulling Sindhu on the front-back axis. The net lunge in itself is achievable, but recovering from that and tracking back -- Yamaguchi does that better than anyone in the world. Not just Sindhu.

But do expect a response. Sindhu response.

Sep 22, 2026 07:00 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Badminton update

Sindhu vs Yamaguchi (India vs Japan in women's team quarters) update from Shivani Naik

Yamaguchi takes second 21-18 after being pipped in the first.

23-21, 18-21

Coach Pullela Gopichand had told Revzsportz in Nagoya on Monday that conditions have tended to be fast at Nagoya -- small arena, drift brought in by need to keep the hall cooler. And Fast = Good for Indians. Also that the first match of the tie will set the tone. Sindhu has responded well in the Women's Teams. A 9-11 score not insurmountable.

Sindhu just has that hold on Japanese.

Both players have used the body attacks well. While Yamaguchi defense can pick the unretrievables 9 times out of 10, the Sindhu attack can bulldozer through. And in faster courts, the attack just cascades. So for second time, she goes from 13-17 to 16-17.

It's expansive cross court smashes like on 17-19 that make Yamaguchi resistance futile....though not for long. The Japanese World No 3 rushes through the second set taking it 21-18 finally catching the Indian in the net lunge quagmire,

Sep 22, 2026 06:59 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Table tennis update

Update from Bhuvan Gupta

Orawan's resurgence continues and Sreeja appears a bit flustered now. Orawan is dominating exchanges by opening up the table, hitting topspins and smashes from both ends to leave Sreeja with no answers. The Indian loses the game 11-6 and with that, her two-game advantage. We are going to a decider with the momentum firmly in Orawan's favour.

Sep 22, 2026 06:58 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Shooting update

From Pritish Raj

Indian duo of Elavenil Valarivan and Parth Rakesh Mane enter the final of 10m Air rifle mixed team event.

The Indian duo scored 634.6 in the qualification with both shooters shooting 3 series each.

India will face China in gold medal match who qualified with 638.9.

Elavenil was supreme in the qualification round with a score of 319.3 points while the young Parth Mane struggled with 315.3

Sep 22, 2026 06:53 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Table tennis update

Update from Bhuvan Gupta

Orawan gets her bearings in Game 3, forcing errors off Sreeja's racket to take the lead early. The Indian world No. 58 tries to rebound with her trademark inside-out forehands but Orawan is not to be denied. The Thai paddler converts her third game point at 10-9 to stay in the match. Sreeja still in front, needing to win one of two possible games.

Sep 22, 2026 06:45 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Table tennis update

Update from Bhuvan Gupta

Things going per plan for Sreeja so far. She's switching from the defensive red pips to the attacking black fluidly, finishing off points with forehand drives. Orawan out of sorts so far as Sreeja takes the second game 11-1 to lead 2-0 in the first match. One more game and the first rubber is India's.

Sep 22, 2026 06:38 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Table tennis update

India vs Thailand, TT women's team round of 16 update from Bhuvan Gupta

Right, it's time for India's first knockout tie. Sreeja Akula starts proceedings against Paranang Orawan - both their respective sides' No. 1s. Yashaswini Ghorpade lined up next, followed by Diya Chitale. Sutirtha Mukherjee and Syndrela Das miss out today.

Sep 22, 2026 06:37 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Badminton update

Sindhu vs Yamaguchi update from Shivani Naik

Sindhu takes opening set 23-21.

Sindhu did well to cover up the 6-10 deficit reaching 12-12. But all the action is centred on the frontcourt. While the Indian can charge the net and attack with short smashes and aggressive pushes, she also got trapped on the forecourt lunge when dictated by Yamaguchi drops at the very same spot.

These are fast and furious paced rallies as they are with These Two. So, Sindhu roared back from 13-17 to level at 18 and continued charging ferociously to go up 20-19.

That net charge was Fire.

However, Yamaguchi is three time World champ for a reason -- nailing a Beckhamesque bend smash on the line to go up 21-20.

Fast doubles-like exchange puts Sindhu ahead at 22-21. And the long-levered far-flung reaching wristy drop across court gave Sindhu the first set 23-21.

Sep 22, 2026 06:32 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Badminton update

Sindhu wins first set 23-21 vs Yamaguchi!

Sindhu seals the first set after a 26-minute struggle against Yamaguchi with a forehand crosscourt winner. She was leading 20-19 when she made a error of judgement on the line and let the shuttle fall in. After that, Sindhu keeps her calm to win the set.

Five consecutive points won in the game by the Japanese, but the Indian had more points won on her serve.

Sep 22, 2026 06:26 AM IST

Asian Games 2026 Live: Badminton update

The Indian women’s team comprising of PV Sindhu, Unnati Hooda, Devika Sihag, Tanvi Sharma, Isharani Baruah, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand, Kavipriya, Simran, and Tanisha are facing Japan in the quarter-finals. And first up, we have Sindhu vs Akane Yamaguchi in the women's singles!

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