India’s shooting star delivers a memorable podium finish at Asian Games 2026. Lovlina Borgohain punches her way into another medal-winning campaign. (Img: X)
Aichi Nagoya: India produced a dramatic mix of triumph, disappointment and fighting spirit on Day 9 of the Asian Games 2026 as athletes continued their battle for podium finishes across multiple sporting disciplines.
The biggest moment on Monday came from shooting star Esha Singh, who clinched a silver medal in the women’s 25m rapid pistol event after a tense gold medal shoot-off against China’s Xiao Jiaruixian. The young Indian shooter displayed extraordinary composure during a high-pressure final and added another major achievement to her growing international career.
At the same time, Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain strengthened India’s boxing campaign by entering the women’s 75kg semi-finals, ensuring another medal for the country. However, the day also brought disappointment for fans as two-time Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker ended her Asian Games 2026 journey without a medal.
The contrasting emotions once again highlighted the unpredictability and intensity of the continental sporting competition.
Esha Singh turned the women’s 25m rapid pistol final into a gripping contest with a remarkable comeback under pressure.
The Indian shooter finished the final with a score of 38 points, forcing a shoot-off against China’s Xiao Jiaruixian after both competitors remained locked in a close battle.
The gold medal was decided through the final shoot-off, where both athletes showed nerves of steel. After several intense exchanges, Xiao managed to edge ahead, leaving Esha with a valuable silver medal.
Esha’s performance was particularly impressive because she fought through multiple elimination stages before reaching the medal round. Her ability to stay calm during crucial moments became the defining factor of her campaign.
The silver medal added to Esha’s growing list of international achievements. She had earlier won two silver medals at the Hangzhou Asian Games 2023 and continues to establish herself as one of India’s leading shooting talents.
One of the biggest talking points from the shooting arena was Manu Bhaker’s unexpected medal-less finish. The two-time Olympic medallist entered the women’s 25m pistol event as one of India’s strongest medal contenders but narrowly missed qualification for the final.
Manu finished 11th in the qualification round with a score of 579-18x, while only the top eight shooters advanced to compete for medals. Indian shooter Rahi Sarnobat also failed to reach the final after finishing 30th in qualification.
Earlier, Manu had reached the women’s 10m air pistol final but finished fifth. She also missed a team medal in the event, bringing an end to her Asian Games campaign. Despite the setback, India’s shooting contingent continued to remain among the strongest performers at the Games.
India received a major boost from boxing as Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain entered the women’s 75kg semi-finals with a dominant victory. Lovlina defeated South Korea’s Suyeon Seong by a 5-0 scoreline in the quarter-final bout, securing her place in the medal rounds.
Her achievement made her the fourth Indian boxer to assure a medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, joining Parveen Hooda, Ankush Panghal and Narender Berwal.
Lovlina, who won a silver medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games 2023, once again showcased her experience and international class in a crucial knockout contest. Her progress has strengthened India’s hopes of a strong boxing medal tally at the tournament.
India also celebrated success in kurash as Pincky Balhara won a bronze medal in the women’s 78kg category. Balhara entered the semi-finals after defeating South Korea’s Lim Garam, ensuring India another medal in the combat sport.
However, her campaign ended in the semi-final stage after she lost against South Korea’s Mo Sumin, the 2026 Asian Championships gold medallist. The bronze medal marked another important achievement for Balhara, who had earlier won a silver medal at the Jakarta Asian Games 2018. With this result, India secured its third kurash medal in Asian Games history.
India’s men’s cricket team advanced to the semi-finals after their quarter-final clash against Afghanistan was abandoned due to heavy rainfall. As the higher-seeded team, India qualified for the last four without a single delivery being bowled.
The defending champions will now prepare for their semi-final encounter against either Sri Lanka or Nepal. The rain-affected quarter-final added another unpredictable chapter to the cricket competition, where weather conditions influenced the qualification scenario.
India continued its strong showing in team events with impressive performances in squash and volleyball. The men’s squash team defeated China 3-0 in their opening Pool A match. Suraj Kumar Chand, Veer Chotrani and Velavan Senthilkumar delivered commanding victories to give India a winning start.
The women’s squash team also began its campaign with a 2-1 victory over China. Tanvi Khanna and Joshna Chinappa played key roles in securing the win.
In volleyball, India maintained its unbeaten run after defeating Hong Kong China 3-0 in the men’s Pool C match. The victory came after India’s opening win against Vietnam.
Archery witnessed mixed results for India. Chikitha Taniparthi advanced to the quarter-finals after winning a dramatic shoot-off against Chinese Taipei. However, former Asian Games champion Jyothi Surekha Vennam exited the women’s compound individual event after losing to South Korea’s Kang Yeonseo.
Day 9 of the Asian Games 2026 showcased India’s growing strength across multiple Olympic and non-Olympic disciplines. While Esha Singh’s silver medal became the highlight of the day, Lovlina Borgohain’s confirmed boxing medal and strong performances in squash, volleyball and archery added further optimism to India’s campaign.
With several athletes still competing in upcoming finals and knockout rounds, the focus now shifts towards converting strong performances into more podium finishes for Team India.
