Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, 19 September 2026 extended his best wishes to the Indian contingent as the 20th Asian Games officially got underway in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Modi said India is proud of its athletes for their hard work, dedication and determination, and urged them to give their best on the continental stage.

In a post on X, the Prime Minister wrote: 'As the Asian Games commence in Aichi-Nagoya, my best wishes to the Indian contingent. Each athlete has worked incredibly hard and shown remarkable dedication and determination. India is proud of them. May they give their best, play well and shine!'

Opening Ceremony Highlights

At the Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium in Nagoya, Japan's Emperor Naruhito formally declared the 20th Asian Games open, marking the ceremonial start of a two-week sporting extravaganza bringing together thousands of athletes from across the continent. The Games will see 45 countries and regions compete across 43 sports.

For India, the occasion carried special symbolism — Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker and kabaddi star Pawan Sehrawat jointly led the Indian contingent into the stadium, holding the national Tricolour aloft as flag-bearers of a team carrying a nation's expectations.

India's Hangzhou Record and Aichi-Nagoya Ambitions

India's contingent arrives in Japan on the back of a historic performance at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, where the country won 107 medals, including 28 gold — its best-ever tally at the Games. The target in Aichi-Nagoya is to surpass that milestone.

India enters as defending champions in both men's and women's cricket and kabaddi, while the men's hockey team also seeks to retain its title — making title defence a running theme for the contingent across multiple disciplines.

Key Athletes to Watch

PV Sindhu leads India's badminton campaign, while Mirabai Chanu spearheads the weightlifting effort. Manu Bhaker is among India's strongest prospects in shooting, and Aman Sehrawat takes the mat in wrestling. Lovlina Borgohain will aim to deliver in boxing.

Athletics will feature more than 75 Indian track and field athletes. Gulveer Singh, Tejaswin Shankar, Murali Sreeshankar, Jyothi Yarraji, and Parul Chaudhary headline the athletics roster, while Tajinderpal Singh Toor enters as a two-time defending champion in shot put.

Historic Context: Asian Games and Japan's Role

The first Asian Games were held in New Delhi in 1951, with 489 athletes from 11 countries participating. The Aichi-Nagoya edition marks the third time Japan has hosted the continental showpiece, after Tokyo in 1958 and Hiroshima in 1994. This is the 20th edition of a competition that has grown from a modest post-war gathering to one of the world's largest multi-sport events.

What to Watch Over the Next Two Weeks

With defending titles to protect and a record medal tally to beat, India's performance in Aichi-Nagoya will be closely tracked. Key early events in shooting, wrestling and athletics could set the tone for India's overall medal campaign. A strong showing would further cement the country's rising profile in continental sport.