Asian Games 2026 – How has India performed at every edition until now?

India took home 107 medals at the 2023 edition of the Asian Games in Hangzhou. | Photo Credit: AP

The 20th edition of the Asian Games will take place in Aichi-Nagoya beginning on September 19. 

India will be sending a 492-member strong contingent to compete across 37 disciplines as it looks to put up an impressive showing at the continental event.

In the last edition of the Asiad in Hangzhou, India walked away with its best-ever medal tally. It took home 106 medals in total (28 gold, 38 silver, and 40 bronze), including 29 in athletics alone. 

That display ensured that India finished fourth in the medal table, its best showing since 1962, behind China, Japan, and South Korea.

In the very first edition of the Asian Games, held in New Delhi in 1952, India finished second in the medal table with 51 medals (15 gold, 16 silver, and 20 bronze). During that edition, Kanti Shah became the first Indian to win an Asian Games medal when he claimed silver in the men’s 100m backstroke swimming, while Sachin Nag won the first Indian gold medal in men’s 100m freestyle swimming. 

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It remains India’s best performance at the Asian Games till date.

The only other time India has finished in the top three of the medal table came in Jakarta in 1962, where it finished third with 33 medals (10 gold, 13 silver, and 10 bronze). 

Here is a complete breakdown of India’s performance at the Asian Games by edition:

India’s performance at the Asian Games by edition

New Delhi 1951 – 51 medals (15 gold, 16 silver, 20 bronze) – 2nd

Manila 1954 – 17 medals (5 gold, 4 silver, 8 bronze) – 5th

Tokyo 1958 – 13 medals (5 gold, 4 silver, 4 bronze) – 7th 

Jakarta 1962 – 33 medals (10 gold, 13 silver, 10 bronze) – 3rd 

Bangkok 1966 – 21 medals (7 gold, 3 silver, 11 bronze) – 5th

Bangkok 1970 – 25 medals (6 gold, 9 silver, 10 bronze) – 5th

Tehran 1974 – 28 medals (4 gold, 12 silver, 12 bronze) – 7th

Bangkok 1978 – 28 medals (11 gold, 11 silver, 6 bronze) – 6th

New Delhi 1982 – 57 medals (13 gold, 19 silver, 25 bronze) – 5th

Seoul 1986 – 37 medals (5 gold, 9 silver, 23 bronze) – 5th

Beijing 1990 – 23 medals (1 gold, 8 silver, 14 bronze) – 11th 

Hiroshima 1994 – 23 medals (4 gold, 3 silver, 16 bronze) – 8th

Bangkok 1998 – 35 medals (7 gold, 11 silver, 17 bronze) – 9th 

Busan 2002 – 36 medals (11 gold, 12 silver, 13 gold) – 7th 

Doha 2006 – 53 medals (10 gold, 17 silver, 26 bronze) – 8th 

Guangzhou 2010 – 65 medals (14 gold, 17 silver, 34 bronze) – 6th

Incheon 2014 – 57 medals (11 gold, 10 silver, 36 bronze) – 8th

Jakarta 2018 – 70 medals (16 gold, 23 silver, 31 bronze) – 8th

Hangzhou 2023 – 106 medals (28 gold, 38 silver, 40 bronze) – 4th