PM Modi congratulates Indian contingent on Asian Games performance

Indian contingent at the Asian Games closing ceremony and PM Narendra Modi

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday congratulated the Indian contingent for its performance at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, praising the athletes for representing the country with “determination, passion and remarkable sporting spirit” as India concluded its campaign with 85 medals. India finished fourth on the medal table with 21 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze medals, ending the Games with its second-highest medal haul in Asian Games history. The tally was 21 medals fewer than the record 106 won at the Hangzhou edition in 2023. As the Games drew to a close in Nagoya on Sunday, Modi took to X to applaud the entire contingent and the medal winners while also expressing hope that the performances would help strengthen Indian sport at the grassroots level.

‘Immense joy to the nation’

In his post, the Prime Minister praised the athletes for their effort and sporting spirit throughout the continental showpiece. “As the Asian Games 2026 draw to a close, my compliments to every member of the Indian contingent for representing our nation with determination, passion and remarkable sporting spirit. Congratulations to all our medal winners, whose performances have brought immense joy to the nation. May these Games inspire even greater achievements in the years ahead. May they contribute to strengthening sports at the grassroots too,” Modi wrote. The Prime Minister’s message came after more than two weeks of competition involving athletes from 45 countries. The Aichi-Nagoya Games witnessed a string of record-breaking performances, including 54 world records. The Games formally concluded with a spectacular closing ceremony at the Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium in Nagoya on Sunday.

Historic golds and landmark performances

India’s campaign was marked by several historic performances and successful title defences across disciplines. Both Indian cricket squads retained their Asian Games titles, while the men’s and women’s kabaddi sides also won gold. The men’s hockey side successfully defended its title with a 5-1 victory over Malaysia, while the women’s team ended a 44-year wait for an Asian Games gold by defeating China 1-0 in the final. There were also several breakthrough individual performances. Pranavi Urs became the first Indian woman to win an individual Asian Games golf gold, while 17-year-old archer Kumkum Mohod created history by becoming the first Indian woman to win individual recurve gold at the continental showpiece. Mohod was also part of India’s historic women’s recurve team gold that ended South Korea’s seven-edition winning streak in the event. Wrestler Sujeet Kalkal, meanwhile, produced one of the most dramatic comebacks of the Games to win the men’s 65kg freestyle gold. Boxer Lovlina Borgohain also joined an elite group of Indian women by becoming only the second after Mary Kom to win an Asian Games boxing gold.

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Looking beyond Aichi-Nagoya

Athletics emerged as India’s biggest medal contributor with 24 medals, while shooting accounted for 15. Archery was the most successful sport in terms of gold medals, producing five top finishes. The campaign also provided a series of important milestones ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with several young athletes making their mark on the continental stage. Earlier, Indian Olympic Association president PT Usha named Mohod and Kalkal the inaugural recipients of the Jaspal Rana Award and Raja Randhir Singh Award respectively for the best female and male Indian sportspersons of the Games. With the Aichi-Nagoya campaign now complete, Modi’s message placed the emphasis not only on India’s medal tally but also on the broader legacy of the Games — inspiring another generation of athletes and strengthening the sporting ecosystem from the grassroots upwards.

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