India, Sept. 30 -- India sent 495 athletes to Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, who competed in 36 sports at the 2026 Asian Games. The 20th edition of the multi-sport event began on September 19, and India won its first medal on the second day at the Games, with shooter Elavenil Valarivan clinching a double silver in 10m air rifle -- individual and team.

Three years back, at the Hangzhou Games, India, which had sent a strong 650-member contingent to China, returned with their best-ever show at the Asiad, winning a record 106 medals -- 28 gold, 38 silver and 40 bronze -- to finish fourth on the overall standings. Athletics contributed to 29 of those medals, while shooting brought 22, with 13podium finishes across the two sports.

At the Aichi-Nagoya G...