Asian Games 2026: India Wins Gold and Marathon Silver

The Asian Games 2026 delivered another important day of competition on September 26, with India collecting medals across several sporting disciplines in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Athletics, shooting, squash and kabaddi were among the events featuring Indian athletes, creating a busy schedule for the country’s contingent.

One of the biggest stories of the day came from the men’s marathon. India’s Sawan Barwal won the silver medal, producing a personal-best time of 2:11:37. Japan’s Ichitaka Yamashita won gold in 2:10:49, finishing 48 seconds ahead of Barwal. The result ended India’s 44-year wait for a medal in the men’s marathon at the Asian Games.

The marathon result added another significant moment to India’s athletics campaign. Barwal’s performance was particularly notable because the marathon is one of the most demanding endurance events on the Asian Games programme. His silver medal gave India a historic result while also adding to the country’s growing medal tally in Nagoya.

Shooting also contributed another medal on September 26. India’s Ashi Chouksey, Tilottama Sen and Vidarsa Vinod Kochalumkal secured silver in the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions team event. The Indian trio combined for 1,763 points, according to IANS reporting.

Another major highlight of the Asian Games 2026 was women’s kabaddi. India’s women’s team won the gold medal after defeating Iran in the final, retaining the title from the previous Asian Games. The match was closely contested, making the victory another important result for India’s team-sport campaign in Nagoya.

The day’s programme also included badminton, table tennis, squash and other competitions. India’s Lakshya Sen exited the men’s singles badminton competition after losing to Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew in the second round. Meanwhile, Yashaswini Ghorpade’s women’s singles campaign ended in the third round after she was defeated by Japan’s world No. 3 Miwa Harimoto.

Squash produced another medal for India, with Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar taking bronze in mixed doubles. Their result contributed to India’s medal haul during a day featuring competition across numerous sports.

The wider Asian Games programme continues to feature athletes from across Asia competing for medals in athletics, shooting, swimming, badminton, kabaddi, squash, archery and several other disciplines. India’s schedule on September 26 included multiple medal events and high-profile team competitions.

The Asian Games 2026 have therefore become one of the major sports stories of the day, with India’s results providing several different storylines. Barwal’s marathon silver marked a long-awaited milestone, women’s kabaddi added a gold medal, and shooting and squash strengthened India’s overall medal count.

Sports coverage from Aichi-Nagoya will continue as athletes move through the remaining events. Results can change throughout the day as finals conclude, so the latest medal tally and individual results should be checked against official or regularly updated competition sources.