Asian Games 2026 Begin in Japan with Early Medal Events

The 2026 Asian Games have officially commenced in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with the first medal events taking place and early standings emerging. The Games, which run from September 19 to October 4, have seen athletes from across the continent competing for top honors in a variety of sports. In the early medal tally, China and Japan are leading with two gold medals each. China has accumulated a total of seven medals, including four silver and one bronze, while Japan has five medals with three bronze. Other countries like Macau, South Korea, and Kazakhstan have also secured gold medals, highlighting the competitive nature of the event. India opened its medal account on September 20 with a silver in the women's 10m air rifle team event. Elavenil Valarivan, Sonam Maskar, and Vidarsa K Vinod finished second, marking India's first medal of the Games. Additionally, India has assured another medal after Suchika Tariyal reached the semifinal in the women's Traditional 60kg MMA competition, guaranteeing the country's first-ever Asian Games MMA medal. However, India faces a setback with javelin star Neeraj Chopra absent due to an ankle injury.