India’s Athletics Medal Hopes: Meet the Stars of Asian Games 2026
From Gulveer Singh and Avinash Sable to Jyothi Yarraji and Pooja Singh, India Has Several Strong Medal Contenders
✍️ By Shri Pradeep Trivedi
English translation adapted from the original Gujarati article without changes to the content or experiences
Freelance Writer | Author | Sports Analyst | Lecturer | Sports Journalist
India has won a total of 778 medals from 1951 to 2022. These include 183 gold, 238 silver and 357 bronze medals. India won its highest number of medals, and for the first time more than 100 medals, at the 19th Asian Games held in Hangzhou in 2022. India won a total of 106 medals, including 28 gold, 38 silver and 40 bronze medals, and finished fourth.
India has won its highest number of gold medals in 2022 (28), 2018 (16) and 1951 (15). India finished second in 1951, third in 1962 and fourth in 2022.
Most Medals
Looking at different sports, India has won the most medals in athletics, with a total of 283 medals (85+102+96). This is followed by shooting with 80 medals (16+30+34), wrestling with 65 medals (11+15+39) and boxing with 61 medals (9+17+35).
India ranks first in kabaddi, second in chess and cricket, and third in archery, athletics, cue sports, diving, equestrian, field hockey and squash.
India hopes to win the most medals in athletics. Let us look at the athletes from whom medals are expected this time.
Athletics
India has the highest number of medals in athletics. So far, India has won 283 medals (85+102+96) in athletics across 19 Asian Games.
At the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou in 2022, a total of 68 Indian athletes (35+33) took part and won 29 medals (6+14+9).
This year, 74 athletes (34+40) are taking part in Japan. Normally, India is expected to win around 32 medals.
Gulveer Singh
In the long-distance races, 28-year-old Gulveer Singh from Atroli, Uttar Pradesh, is taking part in the 1,500 metres, 5,000 metres and 10,000 metres.
He won two gold medals in the 5,000 metres and 10,000 metres at the Asian Championships.
Recently, at the Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow, he won a silver medal in the 10,000 metres and a bronze medal in the 5,000 metres. This has kept India’s medal hopes alive for these Asian Games.
At the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, he won a bronze medal in the 10,000 metres.
Avinash Sable
Avinash Sable is a 32-year-old athlete from Mandwa, Maharashtra. He competes in the 3,000-metre steeplechase.
At the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou in 2022, he won a gold medal in the 3,000-metre steeplechase and a silver medal in the 5,000 metres.
In 2022, at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, he won a silver medal in the 3,000-metre steeplechase.
At the 2025 Asian Championships, he won a gold medal in the 3,000-metre steeplechase. A medal is therefore expected from him.
Rajesh Ramesh
Rajesh Ramesh, a 27-year-old athlete from Peralam, Tamil Nadu, is also expected to win a medal in the 400 metres and 4 x 400-metre relay.
At the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, he won a gold medal in the 4 x 400-metre relay and a silver medal in the 4 x 400-metre mixed relay.
He also won gold and silver medals at the 2023 Asian Championships in Bangkok.
Murali Sreeshankar
In the long jump, 27-year-old Murali Sreeshankar from Palakkad, Kerala, is expected to win a medal.
Standing 5 feet 11 inches tall, Murali comes from a sports family. His father, S Murali, was a silver medallist in the triple jump at the 1989 South Asian Games. His mother, K S Beejimol, was a silver medallist in the 800 metres at the 1992 Asian Junior Championships.
Coming from this sports family, Murali Sreeshankar won silver medals in the long jump at the 2022 Asian Games, the 2023 Asian Championships, and the 2022 and 2026 Commonwealth Games.
His personal best is 8.41 metres.
Praveen Chithravel
In the triple jump, 25-year-old Praveen Chithravel from Tamil Nadu won silver medals at the 2023 Asian Indoor Championships, the 2025 Asian Championships, the World University Games and the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Praveen holds the national record with a jump of 17.37 metres. A medal is expected from him.
At the 2022 Asian Games, he won a bronze medal with a jump of 16.88 metres.
China’s Yaming won the gold medal with a jump of 17.13 metres.
Sarvesh Kushare
Sarvesh Kushare from Devgaon, Maharashtra, is taking part in the high jump. He is 5 feet 10 inches tall.
He won silver medals at the 2023 Asian Championships and the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Tejaswin Shankar
Delhi’s 27-year-old Tejaswin Shankar is taking part in the decathlon.
He won a silver medal at the previous Asian Games.
He also won a gold medal in the heptathlon at the 2026 Asian Indoor Championships.
He won bronze medals at the 2022 and 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Tejaswin holds the national record in the decathlon with 8,057 points. A medal is expected from him.
Women’s Section
Parul Chaudhary
31-year-old Parul Chaudhary from Uttar Pradesh is taking part in the 1,500 metres, 5,000 metres and 3,000-metre steeplechase at these Asian Games.
The Arjuna Award winner won a gold medal in the 5,000 metres and a silver medal in the 3,000-metre steeplechase at the 2022 Asian Games.
In 2023, at the Asian Championships in Bangkok, she won a gold medal in the 3,000-metre steeplechase.
A gold or silver medal is especially expected from her.
Jyothi Yarraji
In the 100-metre hurdles, 27-year-old Jyothi Yarraji from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, is taking part.
Jyothi is 5 feet 9 inches tall.
At the previous Asian Games, she won a silver medal in the 100-metre hurdles with a time of 13.03 seconds.
China’s Lin Yuwei won the gold medal with a time of 12.79 seconds.
Jyothi has also won two gold medals at the Asian Championships.
If Yarraji records a time of less than 13 seconds, she will certainly win a medal. Her national record is 12.78 seconds.
Vithya Ramraj
Vithya Ramraj is an expert in the 400-metre hurdles and 4 x 400-metre relay.
The 27-year-old athlete from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, is taking part in the 400-metre hurdles and 4 x 400-metre relay at these Asian Games.
Coming from a very poor family, Vithya won a bronze medal in the 400-metre hurdles at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou with a time of 55.68 seconds.
She also won silver medals in the 4 x 400-metre relay and the 4 x 400-metre mixed relay.
If Vithya records a time of less than 55 seconds, she will certainly win a medal.
Pooja Singh
High-jump athlete Pooja Singh is a 19-year-old athlete from Bosti, Haryana. She is taking part in the high jump at these Asian Games.
In 2026, at the Asian Under-20 Championships held in Hong Kong, Pooja Singh set a national record and championship record in the high jump with a jump of 1.93 metres.
At the Asian Indoor Championships held in Tianjin, she won a silver medal with a jump of 1.87 metres and also set a national record.
In 2025, at the Asian Championships, she won a gold medal with a personal best of 1.89 metres.
Thus, as India’s athletes prepare to write a new chapter at the 20th Asian Games, we wish them all the best and hope they reach the highest levels of success.
Acknowledgement:
Newz Daddy extends sincere thanks to Shri Pradeep Trivedi, author, sports analyst and journalist, for sharing his memorable Asian Games details. We also appreciate the photographs and personal experiences that have enriched this article.