India’s performance at the 2026 Asian Games presents a mixed picture when compared with the country’s historic campaign at the 2022 edition in Hangzhou. While Indian athletes have continued to make their presence felt across several disciplines, changes in the sporting programme have affected the number and type of medals available.
The comparison between the two editions is therefore more complicated than simply looking at the final medal tally. Some sports that contributed significantly to India’s success in 2022 have not produced the same results, while other disciplines have provided opportunities for improvement.
Sports That Helped India in 2022
At the 2022 Asian Games, India recorded its best-ever performance at the continental event, finishing with 107 medals. The haul included 28 gold, 38 silver and 41 bronze medals.
Athletics was one of the biggest contributors to that campaign, while shooting, archery, boxing, wrestling, rowing and other disciplines also played important roles in India's overall tally.
The strong performance in Hangzhou reflected the growing depth of Indian sport beyond traditional medal-winning disciplines. Several athletes and teams also produced podium finishes in sports where India had previously struggled to maintain consistency.
Changes in the 2026 Programme Matter
Comparing the 2026 results directly with 2022 requires consideration of changes to the Asian Games programme.
The number of medal events can vary between editions, and some sports or events may be added, removed or modified. Such changes can have a direct impact on a country's potential medal tally.
This means that a reduction in medals from a particular sport does not necessarily indicate that Indian athletes have performed worse. In some cases, the event in which India previously won a medal may simply not be part of the current competition programme.
The same applies in reverse: newly included events can create fresh medal opportunities for Indian competitors.
Where India Has Improved
Several Indian sporting disciplines have continued to show progress, particularly in events where the country has developed stronger international depth.
Shooting remains one of the key areas for India, with the sport having delivered a substantial share of the country's medals in recent Asian Games. Athletics and archery have also remained important contributors.
The development of younger athletes has added another dimension to India's campaign. Success at continental level provides emerging competitors with international experience while strengthening the country's pool of athletes for future global competitions.
However, medal counts alone do not fully capture this progress. Performance across qualifying rounds, final appearances and improvements in individual rankings can also provide useful indicators of how Indian sport is developing.
Sports Where India Lost Ground
India has also faced setbacks in some disciplines compared with the 2022 edition. Certain events that produced medals in Hangzhou have either offered fewer opportunities or resulted in Indian athletes finishing outside the podium positions.
The difference is particularly noticeable when individual events from the two Games are compared rather than looking only at the overall medal tally.
For India, the challenge is to convert strong participation into consistent podium finishes across a wider range of sports. Maintaining depth is especially important because medal opportunities can change significantly from one Asian Games cycle to another.
A Broader Measure of India’s Progress
The comparison between the 2022 and 2026 Asian Games ultimately shows that India's sporting progress cannot be judged solely by adding or subtracting medals.
The number of events, strength of international competition, athlete development and changes to the Games programme all influence the final outcome. India’s record 107-medal haul in Hangzhou established a new benchmark, but matching or surpassing that figure depends on both performance and the opportunities available in each edition.
For Indian sport, the more important long-term question is whether strong performances can be sustained across multiple disciplines and converted into regular success at Asian and global competitions.
