Asian Games 2026: PM Modi congratulates Team India, hails ‘determination, passion and remarkable sportsmanship’

The Indian contingent at the closing ceremony of the Asian Games and Prime Minister 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 sportsmanship” as India ended its campaign with 85 medals.India finished fourth in the medal table with 21 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze medals, ending the Games with their second highest medal tally in Asian Games history. The total was 21 medals short of the record 106 won at the 2023 Hangzhou edition.As the Nagoya Games drew to a close on Sunday, Modi made his way to the X to applaud the entire contingent and medal winners while expressing hope that the performances would help strengthen Indian sports at the grassroots level.

“The immense joy of the nation”

In his contribution, the Prime Minister praised the athletes for their efforts and sportsmanship throughout the continental parade.“As the 2026 Asian Games draw to a close, I pay tribute to every member of the Indian contingent for representing our nation with determination, passion and remarkable sportsmanship. 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 to come. May they help strengthen sports at the grassroots level as well,” 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 number of record-breaking performances, including 54 world records.The Games formally ended with a spectacular closing ceremony at Nagoya’s Mizuho Park Athletics Stadium on Sunday.

Historical golden and important performances

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

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 with five top finishes.The campaign also provided a number 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 as the inaugural recipients of the Jaspal Rana Award and Raja Randhir Singh Award for the best Indian athletes of the Games.With the Aichi-Nagoya campaign over, Modi’s message emphasized not only India’s medal tally but also the wider legacy of the Games – inspiring the next generation of athletes and strengthening the sports ecosystem from the ground up.