Asian Games 2026: Where does India stand in the newly included sports?

Surfer Kamali Moorthy will compete in the women’s shortboard event at the 2026 Asian Games. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The 20th edition of the Asian Games will officially begin on September 19 at Aichi and Nagoya in Japan.

Athletes will compete in 43 sports, with six different events making their continental debut: Surfing, Teqball, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), Padel, and Virtual Taekwondo.

India will contest in only three of these events – Teqball, Surfing, and MMA.

Teqball

Squad:

• Anas Baig (men’s doubles, mixed doubles)
• Declan Gonsalves (men’s doubles)
• Quimcy Dsouza (women’s singles, mixed doubles)

A combination of football and table tennis, teqball is played on a curved table with the players allowed to hit the ball across the net with any part of their body except arms and hands. When teqball makes its Asian Games debut in Aichi-Nagoya, three Indians will be part of that historic occasion.

India’s best bet for a medal from teqball is from men’s doubles. Anas and Declan had won bronze in the same event at the 2024 World Teqball Championships in Vietnam.

Surfing

Squad:

• Kishore Kumar (men’s shortboard)
• Sivaraj Babu (men’s shortboard)
• Kamali Moorthy (women’s shortboard)
• Sugar Shanti Banarse (women’s shortboard)

Surfing will make its Asian Games debut at Akabane Long Beach beach in Tahara, Japan. India will have representation in both categories - men’s and women’s shortboard competitions.

India’s best prospect is 18-year-old Kishore Kumar after his run to the semifinals at last year’s Asian Surfing Championships in Mahabalipuram. The 16-year-old Kamali is another exciting talent to watch out for. Competing against the best surfers from Asia will provide valuable experience to the Indians.

MMA

Squad:

• Varun Sanyal (men’s traditional -77kg)
• Suchika Tariyal (women’s traditional -60kg)

As MMA makes its competitive debut at the Asian Games, there will be two Indians in the fray. Of the two, Sanyal has the best chance to make an impact.

Bronze Medal at the Asian Championships🥉

Not the medal I wanted, but I showed up fight-ready and represented 🇮🇳

I had the opportunity to fight against a 20-4 pro fighter and I have learned a lot from it.

Thank you @Raphe_mPhibr for supporting my journey 🙏🏾#MMA#Indiapic.twitter.com/aRSIQokoIF

— Varun Sanyal (@varunsanyal) January 12, 2026

Two-time national champion Sanyal will bank on his experience of winning bronze at the recent Asian Championships.