India’s Kabaddi Teams Charge Into Asian Games Semifinals as Athletics Delivers
India’s medal campaign at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games gathered momentum on September 24 as both kabaddi teams advanced to the semifinals and athletics supplied two standout podium finishes.
The men’s kabaddi team completed its Group A programme with a controlled 37-21 victory over Chinese Taipei. India established a 23-11 advantage by half-time after forcing two All Outs, then maintained its authority through disciplined defending and steady raiding in the second half.
Aslam Inamdar and Rahul Sethpal helped India take early control, with Sethpal’s ankle holds repeatedly disrupting the opposition. Devank Dalal and Ayan Lohchab kept the scoreboard moving after the interval as India completed an unbeaten group campaign and secured top position.
The defending champions entered September 25 with a semifinal against Thailand awaiting them. Kabaddi has traditionally been one of India’s strongest Asian Games disciplines, and the men are pursuing a ninth title after reclaiming gold at Hangzhou.
Women complete dominant group campaign
India’s women also moved into the last four without a defeat, overpowering hosts Japan 50-25 in their final Group A match. Captain Pushpa Rana’s team raced to a 32-13 lead at the break and comfortably absorbed a stronger Japanese response in the second half.
The result followed victories over Bangladesh and Iran, giving India three wins from three matches. The defending champions were paired with Nepal in the semifinal, with the gold-medal contest scheduled for September 26.
India won both kabaddi titles at the previous Asian Games in Hangzhou. The unbeaten group performances in Japan have placed the teams within one victory of returning to their respective finals, although the knockout rounds leave little room for error.
Seema Kumari ends a 16-year wait
On the track, Seema Kumari produced one of India’s most memorable performances of the Games by winning bronze in the women’s 10,000 metres. The 25-year-old from Chamba in Himachal Pradesh completed the race in 32 minutes, 50.05 seconds, finishing behind Bahrain’s Winfred Yavi and Japan’s Nozomi Tanaka.
Seema stayed close to the leading group throughout the tactical 25-lap contest and found enough energy for a decisive final-lap effort. Her result delivered India’s first Asian Games medal in the women’s 10,000m since Preeja Sreedharan and Kavita Raut claimed gold and silver in Guangzhou in 2010.
The bronze also reflected Seema’s recent progress after altitude training in Colorado Springs under national long-distance coach Scott Simons. She had lowered her personal best to 32:02.43 earlier in 2026, signalling her readiness to compete against a high-quality continental field.
Mixed relay extends its podium streak
India then added silver in the mixed 4x400m relay. TS Manu, MR Poovamma, TK Vishal and Vithya Ramraj clocked 3:14.46 to finish behind Bahrain, which won in 3:12.87.
Poovamma used her experience to strengthen India’s position on the second leg, while Vishal kept the team in medal contention before Vithya delivered a determined anchor run to hold off Vietnam. The result continued India’s consistency in the event, producing a mixed relay silver for a third consecutive Asian Games.
Those athletics medals contributed to a five-medal day for India. Naorem Roshibina Devi earned silver in the women’s 60kg wushu event, Satnam Singh and Salman Khan took bronze in the men’s double sculls, and the mixed skeet combination of Anantjeet Singh Naruka and Parinaaz Dhaliwal also finished third. India ended September 24 with 17 medals overall: one gold, eight silver and eight bronze.
More medal chances on September 25
The kabaddi semifinals headline India’s September 25 programme, but the contingent also entered several direct medal events. Shooters APS Tomar, Rudrankksh Patil and Niraj Kumar were due to compete in the men’s 50m rifle three positions event, while Kamaljeet and Suruchi Inder Singh began the mixed 10m air pistol competition.
Gulveer Singh was set to contest the men’s 10,000m, having won bronze at the previous Asian Games and subsequently broken Indian records over 5,000m and 10,000m. Manpreet Kaur and Krishna Jayasankar Menon were listed for the women’s shot put final, with India also represented in the women’s pole vault and men’s hammer throw.
Further opportunities were available in canoe sprint, weightlifting and equestrian dressage. In squash, Anahat Singh and Tanvi Khanna were drawn against each other in the women’s singles quarterfinals, ensuring an Indian presence in the next round. Mixed doubles quarterfinals in table tennis and squash added to a schedule capable of significantly improving India’s medal position.
After a relatively measured opening to the Games, September 24 offered India both immediate rewards and encouraging signs. With kabaddi approaching its decisive stage and the athletics programme expanding, the country’s medal push is entering one of its most important stretches.
