Asian Games 2026: India exit Canoe Sprint, Fencing without medals
Synopsis
India's Saturday at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 was one of near-misses and heavy defeats — Canoe Sprint crews reached gold medal finals but finished last, both fencing teams were routed by Korea and Japan in the quarterfinals, and ESports also drew a blank. A mixed day that reflects how fine the margin is between qualifying for finals and winning them at the Asian level.
Key Takeaways
Raju Rawat and Neha Devi Leichonbam finished eighth of nine in the Mixed Canoe Double 500m Final A , clocking 2:00.891s .
Parvathy Geetha and Prasanna Kumar Chempadiyil Sathyaprakash ended ninth and last in the Mixed Kayak Double 500m Final A with 1:53.994s .
Men's Sabre Team lost 25–45 to the Republic of Korea ; Women's Foil Team lost 14–45 to Japan — both exiting at the quarterfinal stage.
Harshwardhan Singh Shaktawat won his Men's Kayak Single 500m Final B classification race in 1:52.458s , though the B final carries no medal.
Paritosh was eliminated 0–5 by Korea in the ESports Puyo Puyo Champions quarterfinal.
India's Canoe Sprint campaign at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 concluded without a podium finish on Saturday, 26 September, as multiple Indian crews failed to convert their final-round appearances into medals at the Miyoshi Lake Canoe Course in Japan.
Canoe Sprint: Final-Day Outcomes
The mixed doubles pair of Raju Rawat and Neha Devi Leichonbam finished eighth among nine pairs in the Mixed Canoe Double 500m Final A, clocking 2:00.891 seconds. In the same session, Parvathy Geetha and Prasanna Kumar Chempadiyil Sathyaprakash took the ninth and last position in the Mixed Kayak Double 500m Final A, finishing in 1:53.994 seconds.
The Geetha–Chempadiyil pair had earlier shown promise, recording 1:53.031 in Semifinal 1 to qualify for Final A — the gold medal race — raising Indian hopes. However, they could not replicate that performance in the final and return home without a medal.
On the men's side, Harshwardhan Singh Shaktawat finished first among three competitors in the Men's Kayak Single 500m Final B — a classification race — clocking 1:52.458 seconds. While the result places him at the top of the B final, Final B carries no medal.
Earlier Races: Thursday's Setbacks
India's difficulties in the sprint events began on Thursday, when Raju Rawat and Gyaneshwor Singh Philem finished ninth in the Men's Canoe Double 500m Final with a time of 1:56.121 seconds. Additionally, Megha Pradeep was eliminated from the Women's Canoe Single 200m after finishing fourth in her semifinal with a timing of 51.093 seconds, missing the cut for the final.
Fencing: Quarterfinal Exits for Both Teams
India's fencing contingent also bowed out at the quarterfinal stage across two disciplines. The Men's Sabre Team went down 25–45 to the Republic of Korea, while the Women's Foil Team lost 14–45 to hosts Japan.
Both teams had earlier progressed through the Round of 16 with commanding victories. The Men's Sabre squad defeated the Philippines 45–27, and the Women's Foil team edged out Indonesia 45–24 — results that had raised expectations of a deep run.
ESports: Early Exit in Puyo Puyo Champions
In ESports, India's Paritosh lost 0–5 to the Republic of Korea in the quarterfinal of Puyo Puyo Champions, ending India's campaign in that category without a medal as well.
Saturday's results underscore the gap India still faces in technical precision sports at the Asian level, even as the contingent continues to compete across a broader range of disciplines than in previous editions of the Games.
Point of View
India risks cycling through the same quarterfinal-exit pattern at every successive Asian Games.
NationPress
26 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Did India win any medals in Canoe Sprint at the Asian Games 2026?
No, India did not win any medals in Canoe Sprint at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026. The Mixed Canoe Double and Mixed Kayak Double pairs both finished last in their respective Final A races, while other Indian competitors were either eliminated in semifinals or contested non-medal classification finals.
How did India's fencing teams perform at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games?
Both Indian fencing teams exited at the quarterfinal stage. The Men's Sabre Team lost 25–45 to the Republic of Korea, and the Women's Foil Team lost 14–45 to hosts Japan. Both had won their Round of 16 matches comfortably before the quarterfinal exits.
Who is Harshwardhan Singh Shaktawat and what did he achieve?
Harshwardhan Singh Shaktawat is an Indian kayaker who finished first among three competitors in the Men's Kayak Single 500m Final B — a classification race — with a timing of 1:52.458 seconds. Final B is not a medal event, so the result does not count as a podium finish.
What happened to India's ESports competitor Paritosh at the Asian Games?
India's Paritosh lost 0–5 to the Republic of Korea in the quarterfinal of Puyo Puyo Champions at the Asian Games 2026 ESports event, ending India's campaign in that category without a medal.
Where are the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 Canoe Sprint events being held?
The Canoe Sprint events at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 are being held at the Miyoshi Lake Canoe Course in Japan.
