India's campaign at the Asian Games 2026 gathered momentum on Monday, September 21, as the country's medal tally reached six at the Aichi-Nagoya Games in Japan.
Indian shooters produced three more medals on Day 2, while Suchika Tariyal created a milestone by winning India's first-ever Asian Games medal in mixed martial arts. India now has four silver medals and two bronze medals, according to results available on September 21.
The medal-winning performances came as competition continued across Aichi and Nagoya, with India's athletes also competing in hockey, table tennis, swimming, kabaddi, badminton and other sports.
India’s Medal Tally at Asian Games 2026
| Medal | Number | Key events |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | 0 | — |
| Silver | 4 | Women’s 10m air rifle team and individual; men’s 10m air rifle team and individual |
| Bronze | 2 | Men’s 10m air rifle individual; women’s traditional 60kg MMA |
| Total | 6 | As of September 21, 2026 |
Himanshu Dhillon Wins Silver in Men’s 10m Air Rifle
Himanshu Dhillon added an individual silver medal to India's tally in the men's 10m air rifle final.
Dhillon finished with 252.4 points, behind China's Lihao Sheng, who won gold with 254.2 points. India's Rudrankksh Patil completed the podium with bronze after scoring 230.9 points.
The result gave India a double podium finish in the individual event, with two Indian shooters finishing among the medals.
Rudrankksh Patil Takes Bronze
Rudrankksh Patil added another bronze for India in the same men's 10m air rifle final.
The former world champion entered the individual final after finishing third in qualification. His bronze came shortly after he had already helped India secure silver in the men's team competition alongside Dhillon and Parth Mane.
For Indian shooting, the back-to-back team and individual podium finishes made the opening days of the Games particularly productive.
India Wins Silver in Men’s 10m Air Rifle Team Event
Earlier on September 21, Himanshu Dhillon, Parth Mane and Rudrankksh Patil won silver in the men's 10m air rifle team event.
The Indian trio finished second in the team competition at the Aichi Prefectural General Shooting Gallery. Dhillon and Patil subsequently advanced to the individual final, where both returned to the podium.
The team silver became India's third medal of the Games and set up an especially successful day for the shooting contingent.
Elavenil Valarivan’s Double Silver on Day 1
India had already opened its medal account through shooting on September 20.
Elavenil Valarivan won silver in the women's 10m air rifle individual event after finishing behind Japan's Hinata Taichi. Taichi won gold with an Asian Games record of 253.0 points, while Valarivan finished with 252.4. South Korea's Ban Hyojin took bronze.
Valarivan had also been part of India's silver-medal-winning women's 10m air rifle team alongside Sonam Uttam Maskar and Vidarsa Kochalumkal Vinod.
That gave Valarivan two silver medals on the opening day and helped India make an immediate impact in the shooting events.
Suchika Tariyal Creates History in MMA
One of the most notable Indian results on September 21 came from Suchika Tariyal, who won bronze in the women's traditional 60kg mixed martial arts event.
The medal is India's first-ever medal in MMA at the Asian Games. MMA is making its debut at the 2026 edition in Aichi-Nagoya, making Tariyal's podium finish a landmark result for Indian sport.
Tariyal had reached the semifinals after defeating Mongolia's Altanchimeg Baigalmaa 2-0 in the quarterfinals on September 20, guaranteeing herself at least a bronze medal.
How the MMA Semifinal Was Decided
Tariyal's semifinal against Singapore's Hui Hoon Teo ended in a draw after regulation time and an extra round. Following an Indian challenge, the contest was treated as a draw and the winner was determined using the athletes' morning weigh-in under the competition rules.
Teo was around 700 grams lighter and therefore advanced to the gold-medal match, while Tariyal received the bronze medal.
The unusual finish attracted attention because the semifinal was decided without a conventional win by points, submission or knockout. Regardless of the circumstances, Tariyal's bronze secured India's first Asian Games medal in MMA.
India’s Women’s Cricket Team Reaches the Gold-Medal Match
India's medal opportunities are not limited to the medals already secured. The women's cricket team has reached the Asian Games 2026 final and will face Sri Lanka for gold on Tuesday, September 22.
India reached the final with a 114-run victory over Bangladesh. Batting first, India scored 195 for four, powered by Shafali Verma's unbeaten maiden T20I century of 100 runs. Smriti Mandhana scored 37 and captain Harmanpreet Kaur made 40. Bangladesh were bowled out for 81.
Sri Lanka booked the other place in the final after defeating Pakistan by eight wickets. The gold-medal match will therefore bring together the defending Asian Games champions and Sri Lanka.
What Lies Ahead for India?
The Asian Games continue through October 4, giving India plenty of opportunities to add to its medal tally. The Olympic Council of Asia lists the Aichi-Nagoya Games as running from September 19 to October 4, 2026.
India's schedule includes events across shooting, cricket, hockey, badminton, table tennis, kabaddi, boxing, athletics, swimming and several other disciplines.
The women's cricket final against Sri Lanka on September 22 is one of the immediate medal events attracting attention. India's other athletes will also continue their campaigns as more individual and team events enter their decisive stages.
Why India’s Early Medal Run Matters
India's first six medals have come from two sports: shooting and mixed martial arts. The distribution also highlights the range of Indian athletes competing at the Games.
Shooting has provided five of the six medals so far, with Elavenil Valarivan, Himanshu Dhillon, Rudrankksh Patil, Parth Mane, Sonam Maskar and Vidarsa Kochalumkal Vinod featuring in India's medal-winning performances.
Suchika Tariyal's bronze adds a different dimension. It marks India's first medal in an MMA competition that is appearing at the Asian Games for the first time.
More medals are expected to be decided as the Games move into the next stages, but India's results through September 21 have already produced several significant milestones.
FAQs
How many medals has India won at the Asian Games 2026?
As of September 21, 2026, India has won six medals: four silver and two bronze. India had not yet won a gold medal at that point.
Who won India's first MMA medal at the Asian Games?
Suchika Tariyal won India's first-ever Asian Games medal in mixed martial arts, taking bronze in the women's traditional 60kg category.
Who won silver and bronze for India in men's 10m air rifle?
Himanshu Dhillon won silver and Rudrankksh Patil won bronze in the men's 10m air rifle individual final on September 21, 2026.
Who will India face in the women's cricket final?
India will face Sri Lanka in the women's cricket gold-medal match on September 22, 2026. India reached the final after defeating Bangladesh, while Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan.
When will the Asian Games 2026 end?
The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games are scheduled to conclude on October 4, 2026.
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