Neeraj Chopra To Lead 73-Member Indian Athletics Squad For Asian Games 2026 In Aichi-Nagoya

India have announced a 73-member athletics roster for the upcoming 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The event runs from 19 September to 4 October. The contingent features 16 medallists from the previous Hangzhou edition.

Neeraj Chopra headlines the squad. He aims to defend his men's javelin title and secure a historic hat-trick of gold medals. Five individual champions return to defend their respective titles.

Defending Champions Lead Charge

The defending champions return. Rohit Yadav joins Chopra in the men's javelin event. Yadav recently threw a personal-best 87.68 metres while winning at the World Athletics Silver Level Continental Tour in Bhubaneswar.

Avinash Sable makes his comeback following an injury-disrupted period. He will defend his men's 3,000-metre steeplechase gold. Sable also secured a silver medal in the 5,000-metre race at Hangzhou.

Tajinderpal Singh Toor targets a third consecutive gold in the men's shot put. Parul Chaudhary is entered across three events: the 1,500-metre, 5,000-metre and 3,000-metre steeplechase. Annu Rani also returns to defend her women's javelin title.

Hangzhou Medalists Complete Squad

The remaining roster brings experience. Rajesh Ramesh secured his spot after winning gold with the men's 4x400-metre relay team in Hangzhou.

Other returning Hangzhou medallists include Jyothi Yarraji, Murali Sreeshankar, Tejaswin Shankar and Gulveer Singh. Mohammed Afsal, Ancy Sojan, Praveen Chithravel and Vithya Ramraj complete the list of previous podium finishers.

Selectors picked Tejas Shirse for the men's 110-metre hurdles. The hurdler is recovering from two stress fractures in his left foot suffered at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. India achieved their best-ever athletics campaign in Hangzhou, clinching 29 medals. The tally included six gold, 14 silver and nine bronze.