Asian Games 2026 Live: Quimcy Dsouza falls in semi-final, bronze medal now in sight

Asian Games 2026 Live Updates: Quimcy Dsouza eyes historic medal; Manu Bhaker, Pawan Sehrawat lead India at Opening Ceremony

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THE TIMES OF INDIA | Sep 19, 2026, 06:59:11 IST

SUMMARY

Asian Games 2026 Live Updates: The Asian Games 2026 officially begin on Saturday in Nagoya, with the opening ceremony scheduled to start at 2.30 pm IST. While the ceremony marks the formal start of the Games, competition has already begun in a few sports, including women's cricket, soft tennis and teqball. The Aichi-Nagoya edition opens with athletes from across Asia competing over the coming weeks, and India enters the Games with one of its biggest contingents. Saturday's schedule combines the pageantry of the opening ceremony with India's first medal opportunities in teqball. The opening ceremony will feature a 158-member Indian contingent marching in Nagoya, while Indian athletes have already begun their campaigns in events that started before the official launch. Day 1 therefore offers both sporting action and the ceremonial beginning of the continental multi-sport event.

India's Quimcy Joaquim Dsouza enters Saturday's teqball semifinal with history within touching distance. Making her Asian Games debut, the 24-year-old has already produced one of India's standout stories of the opening days by topping Group A and securing a place in the semifinals. Quimcy defeated top seed Yuina Sakamoto of Japan 2-1 (10-12, 12-11, 13-11) before beating Cambodia's Koemyean DY 2-0 (12-9, 12-7). Finishing first in the group also earned her a bye into the semifinals. She will now face Indonesia's Sumaya on Saturday morning. A victory will guarantee India its first-ever medal in teqball, one of the six sports making its Asian Games debut. Even if she loses the semifinal, Quimcy will still have a chance to compete for bronze on Sunday.

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06:59 (IST) Sep 19

Asian Games 2026 Live Updates: Indonesia fight back

The semi-final has taken a dramatic turn as Ima Sumaya refuses to back down after losing the opening set. The Indonesian has made a strong start to the next set, taking a 2-0 lead over Quimcy Dsouza.

With the momentum shifting towards Sumaya, Dsouza will need to find a response quickly. The contest is far from over.

06:55 (IST) Sep 19

Asian Games 2026 Live Updates: India take the opening set

Quimcy Dsouza has wrapped up the first set in convincing fashion, defeating Indonesia's Ima Sumaya 12-7. The 24-year-old Indian held her nerve to secure the set and move one step closer to the final.

06:50 (IST) Sep 19

Asian Games 2026 Live Updates: Quimcy Dsouza makes flying start in Teqball semi-final

The wait is over as India's Quimcy Dsouza takes on Indonesia's Ima Sumaya in the women's singles Teqball semi-final.

Dsouza has come out firing, establishing an early 5-1 advantage before extending her lead to 8-2. With the first set being played to 12 points, the Indian is now just four points away from taking the opening set.

06:28 (IST) Sep 19

Pawan Sehrawat has been chosen as the flag-bearer for India's opening ceremony at the Asian Games, stepping in for Tajinderpal Singh Toor, who faced delays with his official kit. Toor mentioned that his kit would arrive too late to participate in the event. Additionally, the athletics team is still waiting for their uniforms. Sehrawat will accompany Manu Bhaker in carrying the Indian flag.

05:25 (IST) Sep 19

Asian Games 2026 Opening Ceremony Live Updates: Manu Bhaker and Tajinderpal Toor lead India parade

Double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker and defending Asian Games shot put champion Tajinderpal Singh Toor will lead India during the opening ceremony in Nagoya. The two athletes were named India's flag-bearers on Friday ahead of Saturday's ceremony. India's chef-de-Mission Sahdev Yadav confirmed Manu Bhaker as one of the flag-bearers, while the Athletics Federation of India later confirmed Tajinderpal Singh Toor as the second. Bhaker made history at the Paris 2024 Olympics by becoming the first athlete from India to win two medals at a single edition of the Olympic Games. Toor enters these Games as the defending champion, having won gold in the previous two Asian Games editions. Together, they will lead the Indian contingent during the parade of athletes.

05:25 (IST) Sep 19

Asian Games 2026 Live Updates: Teqball mixed doubles medal hopes still alive

India's mixed doubles medal hopes in teqball are still alive despite a quarterfinal defeat. Quimcy Joaquim Dsouza and Mohammed Anas Imran Beg lost 0-2 (7-12, 10-12) to Vietnam's Hoang Minh Tan Nguyen and Gia Nghi Trinh in the quarterfinals. However, the tournament format has given the Indian pair another chance through the repechage. They won their repechage match and remain in contention for a bronze medal. While Quimcy also has a semifinal to play in women's singles on Saturday, the mixed doubles campaign continues separately with a medal still possible. It means India enters the opening day of the officially inaugurated Asian Games with opportunities in more than one teqball event.

05:24 (IST) Sep 19

Asian Games 2026 Live Updates: Quimcy's stunning win over Japan sets up semifinal

Quimcy Joaquim Dsouza announced herself at the Asian Games with a memorable victory over the top seed in her very first group match. Facing Japan's Yuina Sakamoto, Quimcy recovered after losing the opening game to register a dramatic 2-1 victory with scores of 10-12, 12-11, 13-11. The result gave Quimcy the momentum she carried into her second match. She then defeated Cambodia's Koemyean DY 2-0 to finish at the top of Group A. That position also meant she received a bye into the semifinals instead of playing a quarterfinal. On Saturday, Quimcy returns to the court knowing a win over Indonesia's Sumaya will guarantee India's first medal in teqball at the Asian Games.

05:19 (IST) Sep 19

Asian Games 2026 Live Updates: Quimcy Dsouza stands one win from history

India's Quimcy Joaquim Dsouza enters Saturday's teqball semifinal with history within touching distance. Making her Asian Games debut, the 24-year-old has already produced one of India's standout stories of the opening days by topping Group A in women's singles and securing a place in the semifinals. Quimcy defeated top seed Yuina Sakamoto of Japan 2-1 (10-12, 12-11, 13-11) before beating Cambodia's Koemyean DY 2-0 (12-9, 12-7). Finishing first in the group also earned her a bye into the semifinals. She will now face Indonesia's Sumaya on Saturday morning. A victory will guarantee India its first-ever medal in teqball, one of the six sports making its Asian Games debut. Even if she loses the semifinal, Quimcy will still have a chance to compete for bronze on Sunday.

05:17 (IST) Sep 19

Asian Games 2026 Live Updates: Asian Games officially begin as Nagoya takes centre stage

The Asian Games 2026 officially begin on Saturday in Nagoya, with the opening ceremony scheduled to start at 2.30 pm IST. While the ceremony marks the formal start of the Games, competition has already begun in a few sports, including women's cricket, soft tennis and teqball. The Aichi-Nagoya edition opens with athletes from across Asia competing over the coming weeks, and India enters the Games with one of its biggest contingents. Saturday's schedule combines the pageantry of the opening ceremony with India's first medal opportunities in teqball. The opening ceremony will feature a 158-member Indian contingent marching in Nagoya, while Indian athletes have already begun their campaigns in events that started before the official launch. Day 1 therefore offers both sporting action and the ceremonial beginning of the continental multi-sport event.