Asian Games 2026: Full list of LA 2028 Olympics qualification spots up for grab in Aichi-Nagoya

FILE PHOTO: Indian men’s hockey team after winning gold at the 2023 Asian Games and securing qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics. | Photo Credit: PTI

In addition to continental glory, the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya will serve as a qualification pathway to the 2028 Olympics for a few sports.

Archery, hockey, sailing, squash, surfing, tennis, and triathlon are the sports in which athletes or teams can book their spots in Los Angeles 2028.

Among these disciplines, there are 12 events where Indians can possibly earn Olympic qualification:

Archery

• Men’s Individual Recurve: Gold and Silver medallists earn one quota each
• Women’s Individual Recurve: Gold and Silver medallists earn one quota each
• Recurve Mixed Team: Champions earn one mixed team quota
• Compound Mixed Team: Champions earn one mixed team quota

Hockey

• Men’s Team: Champion earns the Olympics quota
• Women’s Team: Champion earns the Olympics quota

Squash

• Men’s Singles: Champion earns the Olympics quota
• Women’s Singles: Champion earns the Olympics quota

READ: Room crunch had left 30-35 Indian athletes in a spot: Chef de Mission Sahdev Yadav

Surfing

• Men’s Shortboard: One quota (Highest-ranked eligible male surfer earns quota by name individually)
• Women’s Shortboard: One quota (Highest-ranked eligible female surfer earns quota by name individually)

Tennis

• Men’s Singles: Champion earns one quota, subject to top-500 ranking requirement
• Women’s Singles: Champion earns one quota, subject to top-500 ranking requirement

The Indian men’s hockey team is the Asian Games defending champion and would look to seal its place in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, the women’s team will look to win its first continental gold since 1982.

India will also be pinning hopes in archery, with a total of six Olympic quotas up for grabs, including in the compound mixed team event, which will make its Olympics debut in 2028.

In squash, India’s chances will rest heavily on rising star Anahat Singh, who has been making waves at the global level.