Asian Games 2026: Dates, Venue, Indian Women's Schedule

By: Ayushi Dutta, Senior Correspondent

The flags are ready, the stadiums are lit, and India's sporting stars are stepping onto one of Asia's biggest stages. As Aichi-Nagoya prepares to officially open the 20th Asian Games on September 19, 2026, Indian women athletes arrive with a packed calendar, established champions and a new generation looking to make their mark.

For India's women, the action has already begun. The women's cricket team opened its Asian Games campaign before the opening ceremony, defeating hosts Japan by eight wickets on September 18 to move into the semi-finals. Shree Charani's four-wicket haul restricted Japan to 57, before Shafali Verma's unbeaten 40 off 15 balls helped India chase down the target in just five overs. India will now face Bangladesh in the semi-final on September 20.

The wider Games will bring together athletes from 45 countries and regions across 43 sports, with 469 medal events scheduled across 54 venues. The official Games period is September 19 to October 4, although several competitions, including cricket and hockey, have begun ahead of the opening ceremony.

For India, the focus will span cricket, hockey, kabaddi, badminton, shooting, boxing, archery, weightlifting, athletics, and several other disciplines. Here's everything you need to know about the Asian Games 2026, including dates, venues, India's women's schedule, key athletes, and where to watch the action.

What Are the Asian Games? A Quick Primer

The Asian Games, popularly known as the Asiad, are the continent's premier multi-sport competition, held every four years. New Delhi hosted the first edition in 1951, and the Games have since evolved into a major international sporting event featuring both Olympic disciplines and sports with strong Asian roots.

Kabaddi, wushu and sepak takraw are among the disciplines that give the Asian Games a distinctive identity, while sports such as athletics, swimming, badminton, boxing and shooting bring together some of the continent's leading Olympic and world-level competitors.

The 2026 edition is particularly significant for Japan. Aichi-Nagoya marks Japan's third time hosting the Asian Games, following Tokyo in 1958 and Hiroshima in 1994. It is also the country's first Asian Games in 32 years.

Asian Games 2026 Dates and Venue: When and Where Are the Games?

The 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 will officially take place from September 19 to October 4, 2026, across Aichi Prefecture and the city of Nagoya in Japan.

The opening ceremony will be held at Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya on September 19, while the closing ceremony is scheduled for October 4.

However, sporting action has already started ahead of the formal opening. Cricket and hockey are among the events beginning before September 19, while other competitions have also been scheduled earlier as organisers spread the 43-sport programme across the available venues.

The Games feature 43 sports, 54 venues and 469 medal events. Competition is not limited to Nagoya, with venues across Aichi Prefecture and selected events in other Japanese locations. The official venue list includes the Aichi International Arena, Vantelin Dome Nagoya, Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium, Tokai Citizens Gymnasium and several specialist sporting facilities.

India at Asian Games 2026: 503 Athletes, Including 234 Women

India will field 503 athletes at Aichi-Nagoya 2026, comprising 269 men and 234 women, across 36 disciplines.

The final number increased from the initially announced 492 athletes following the addition of four surfers, six track and field athletes and one MMA fighter. The Indian delegation is supported by 265 accompanying personnel, including coaches, support staff and Indian Olympic Association officials.

The women's representation is particularly notable, with 234 women accounting for almost half of India's athlete contingent. India's participation follows its record-breaking performance at Hangzhou 2023, where the country won 107 medals, its first-ever 100-plus medal haul at an Asian Games.

Asian Games 2026 Women's Cricket: India Begins Gold Medal Defence

India's women's cricket team is one of the first Indian sides to enter the medal race at Aichi-Nagoya.

The defending champions began their campaign on September 18 against hosts Japan in the women's T20 quarter-final. India bowled Japan out for 57 before reaching 59/2 in only five overs. Shree Charani took four wickets for 10 runs, while Shafali Verma provided the finishing burst with an unbeaten 40 from 15 deliveries.

India's next assignment is the semi-final against Bangladesh on September 20. The women's cricket gold-medal and bronze-medal matches are scheduled for September 22.

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur leads a squad featuring established names such as Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh and Renuka Singh Thakur.

India won the women's cricket gold medal at Hangzhou 2023, making this another opportunity for the side to defend its continental title.

Asian Games 2026 Women's Hockey: India Begins Pool Campaign

India's women's hockey team enters the tournament with a different target after taking bronze at Hangzhou 2023.

The tournament is being staged at the Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium in Kakamigahara, Gifu Prefecture, rather than in Nagoya itself. India's Pool B campaign includes matches against Uzbekistan, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore and Thailand. Hockey India has published the competition schedule, with India's opening fixture against Uzbekistan on September 20.

The team is captained by Salima Tete, with India looking to progress from the pool stage into the knockout rounds.

The women's hockey competition runs from September 18 to October 3, with the pool stage followed by the semi-finals and medal matches.

For Indian viewers, the September 25 meeting with hosts Japan will be among the fixtures to follow closely, while India's final pool-stage match is scheduled for September 27.

Asian Games 2026 Women's Kabaddi: Defending Champions Return

India's women's kabaddi team will begin its campaign on September 21, with captain Pushpa Rana leading the 12-member squad.

India has been drawn in Group A alongside Iran, Japan and Bangladesh. The team will play Bangladesh on September 21, Iran on September 23 and hosts Japan on September 24.

The women's kabaddi semi-finals are scheduled for September 25, followed by the gold-medal match on September 26 at the Tokai Citizens Gymnasium.

India won the women's kabaddi gold medal at Hangzhou 2023 and will attempt to defend that title in Japan. The squad includes Ritu Negi, Sonali Shingate, Sanju Devi, Pooja Kajla, Ritu Sheoran, Jyoti Thakur, Pinki Roy, Manisha Kumari, Bhavna Thakur, Raj Rani and Nikita Kumari, alongside captain Pushpa Rana.

PV Sindhu, Mirabai Chanu and Manu Bhaker: Indian Women to Watch

India's women's medal campaign extends well beyond team sports, with several established names featuring in individual events.

PV Sindhu will be among the major attractions in badminton, with her campaign beginning during the early stages of the Games.

In weightlifting, Mirabai Chanu is set to compete in the women's 49kg category, while shooting brings another major name in Manu Bhaker. Bhaker is scheduled to compete in the women's 10m air pistol and 25m pistol events.

Boxer Lovlina Borgohain is another key name in India's women's contingent, while compound archer Jyothi Surekha Vennam will feature in India's archery campaign.

The women's recurve archery line-up also includes emerging names such as Ankita Bhakat, alongside India's next generation of archers.

Together, these athletes represent the mix of established international experience and younger talent that defines India's women's contingent at Aichi-Nagoya.

Indian Women's Schedule at Asian Games 2026: Key Dates

For viewers in India, the following dates are among the most important to track:

The exact schedule for athletes in sports such as athletics, badminton, archery, boxing and shooting can vary according to qualification, draw progression and results. Fans should therefore check the official competition schedule for any last-minute changes.

How to Watch Asian Games 2026 Live in India?

Indian audiences can follow the Asian Games through Sony Sports Network and SonyLIV, with television coverage available across Sony Sports channels and digital streaming on SonyLIV. The Olympics' India viewing guide also confirms Sony's broadcast and streaming arrangement for the Games.

Because Japan is 3.5 hours ahead of India, many events will take place during the early morning and daytime hours in India. This makes the Games particularly accessible for viewers looking to follow hockey, kabaddi, badminton and several individual sports before or during the workday.

The opening ceremony on September 19 will provide the official start to the Games, although Indian fans have already had their first major moment with the women's cricket team's victory over Japan.

India's Men's Teams Also Carry Title-Defence Hopes

While India's women are central to the country's campaign, the men's teams will also enter Aichi-Nagoya with significant targets.

India's men's cricket team receives a direct quarter-final entry, with its campaign scheduled to begin on September 28. The men's hockey team will defend the gold medal won at Hangzhou 2023, while the men's kabaddi team will also attempt to retain its continental title.

India's overall campaign follows a record 107-medal performance at Hangzhou, creating a strong statistical benchmark for the 2026 contingent. The Indian team is competing across 36 disciplines, including athletics, archery, badminton, boxing, cricket, hockey, shooting, wrestling and weightlifting.

For India's women athletes, however, the Aichi-Nagoya Games represent something more than another medal campaign. From cricket and kabaddi teams defending their titles to established Olympic stars and emerging athletes entering individual events, the women's contingent reflects the expanding depth of Indian sport.

As the Games unfold from September 19 to October 4, every fixture will add another chapter to that story.

Women Entrepreneurs Review Team will continue tracking the athletes, milestones, and stories shaping India's women's sporting journey at the Asian Games 2026.