The fourth day of the 2026 Asian Games in Japan brought an intense morning of sports action for the Indian contingent.
With six medals already secured—four silver and two bronze—the primary goal remains unchanged: capturing that coveted first gold medal.
From the shooting ranges to the badminton courts and the cricket pitch, India’s top athletes faced fierce battles against world-class opposition.
Big Match: Women’s Cricket Sets Sights on Continental Crown
The centerpiece of the day’s lineup is a blockbuster showdown between two familiar rivals: India and Sri Lanka.
Meeting at the Korogi Athletic Park, both sides entered the final backed by commanding performances throughout the tournament.
Led by a balanced and experienced lineup, India aims to reassert continental supremacy in the shortest format of the game.
Meanwhile, Pakistan and Bangladesh battled in a hard-fought bronze-medal playoff, setting the stage for an exciting finish on the cricket oval.
Mixed Outcomes on the Court and Mat: Morning Highlights
While India’s shooters kept medal hopes alive, the morning session presented steep challenges across racket sports and martial arts.
Shooting: Mane and Valarivan Advance to Medal Round
Following a three-medal haul on the previous day—highlighted by Himanshu Dhillon’s breakout silver and a team silver in the men’s 10m air rifle—India’s young marksmen continued their impressive form:
- Final Qualification: The duo of Elavenil Valarivan and 18-year-old talent Parth Mane shot a combined total of 634.6 in the 10m air rifle mixed team event to earn a spot in the final.
- World-Class Benchmark: China’s Wang Zifei and Sheng Lihao led the field with a qualification world-record score of 638.9, setting up a high-stakes medal showdown featuring India, China, South Korea, and host nation Japan.
Badminton: Japan Takes 2-0 Lead in Women’s Team Quarterfinals
At the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium, the Indian women’s team faced host nation powerhouse Japan in a challenging quarterfinal clash:
- Sindhu Edged Out: Double Olympic medalist P.V. Sindhu showed remarkable resilience to capture the opening game 23-21 against Akane Yamaguchi. However, the Japanese star staged a fierce comeback, claiming the next two games 21-18 and 21-11 to secure the opening tie.
- Young Talent Battles Hard: In the second singles encounter, Tomoka Miyazaki defeated India’s Unnati Hooda 21-16, 21-18, pushing Japan to the verge of the semifinals.
Karate: Chetan Bhatt Misses Out on Bronze by a Whisker
Heartbreak struck at the Toyohashi Gymnasium in the men’s Kumite 84kg category. Following an 0-8 semifinal loss to Jordan’s Mohammad Aljafari, Chetan Bhatt delivered a gritty performance in the bronze medal playoff against Chinese Taipei’s Meng-yu Chung. Despite a 1-1 tie at the final buzzer, Chung was awarded the win via Senshu (scoring the first uncontested point), leaving India just short of the podium.
What Lies Ahead for India’s Campaign
The afternoon schedule brings no break in momentum, with high-profile fixtures across several marquee sports:
- Men’s Badminton Quarterfinals: A star-studded lineup featuring Lakshya Sen, H.S. Prannoy, and the premier doubles duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will challenge Japan on home soil.
- Skeet Ranges: Indian shotgun shooters continue their individual and team qualifying campaigns, aiming to translate favorable conditions into final berths.
- Multi-Sport Competitions: Decisive matches across boxing, fencing, wushu, hockey, and table tennis will further shape India’s medal prospects as the day unfolds.