India's Asian Games contingent received a formal send-off in New Delhi on Tuesday, 8 September, with Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya urging athletes to convert competitive pressure into podium-worthy performances at the Aichi-Nagoya Games. The ceremony, organised by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), brought together athletes, coaches, support staff, officials, and partners ahead of the squad's departure for Japan.

Mandaviya's Message to the Contingent

Addressing the gathered athletes, Mandaviya struck an aspirational note, invoking India's steady upward trajectory in international sport. 'There is no shortage of talent in this country. Day by day, year by year, we are moving forward, and we have to change the pressure into performance, the opponent into an opportunity, and the opportunity into an achievement. I have complete faith that our contingent will perform well at the Asian Games and increase the pride of the country,' the minister said.

His remarks come as India heads into the Games carrying significant momentum — and significant expectation — following a historic outing at the 2023 Asian Games, where the country amassed a record 107 medals.

PT Usha Calls on Athletes to Own the Moment

IOA president PT Usha, who attended the ceremony alongside Mandaviya, urged the contingent to embrace the scale of the occasion rather than be burdened by it. 'Do not be overwhelmed by occasion; make the occasion remember you. Look at yourself and remember how far you have come. You have earned your place among the best in Asia. Don't carry the weight of expectations, carry the strength of them. Go out there, enjoy the competition, and give everything you have. Go with confidence, courage, humility and the belief that you can compete with anyone in Asia,' she said.

Usha's words carry particular resonance — as a former Olympian and now the head of the IOA, she has navigated both the glory and the pressure of elite competition firsthand.

Athletes Speak: The Challenge Ahead

A panel discussion at the ceremony featured Olympic medallist Swapnil Kusale, Commonwealth Games gold medallist Asmita Dey, weightlifter Gyaneshwari Yadav, and kabaddi star Pawan Sehrawat. Dey, who will compete in judo, was candid about the scale of the task in a host nation where the sport was born. 'The Asian Games are very tough. Judo itself comes from Japan, and there are judo masters in my weight category, players ranked 7th, 8th, 14th in the world. To win this medal, I'll have to prepare like never before and be ready to defeat every one of them,' she said.

Her assessment reflects a broader reality facing the Indian contingent: competing in Japan means facing home-ground advantage across multiple disciplines, from judo to athletics, where Asian rivals are deeply entrenched.

India's Target and Historical Context

The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games run from 19 September to 4 October, with Indian athletes set to compete across a wide range of disciplines against the continent's leading sporting nations. India's benchmark is its own record — the 107-medal haul at Hangzhou 2023 — which set a new high-water mark for the country at the continental Games.

The IOA and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports have both backed the contingent's preparations, with logistical and financial support in place as the squad looks to sustain and build on that medal-winning momentum in Japan.

What to Watch

With the Games now days away, all eyes will be on disciplines where India has traditionally punched above its weight — shooting, wrestling, boxing, and athletics — as well as emerging strengths in kabaddi and weightlifting. Whether the contingent can match or surpass the 2023 tally will be the defining question of India's Aichi-Nagoya campaign.