Asian Games 2026: India’s complete schedule today, September 18; events, timing

Team India led by Harmanpreet Kaur take on Japan (Image credit: BCCI Women) India will have another busy day at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan on Friday, September 18.The Indian women’s cricket team will be the main attraction as the defending champions begin their title defense against Japan in the quarter-finals. The match is scheduled for 10:30 IST.India will also be in action in Teqball and Soft Tennis, with several events starting early in the morning.

The women’s cricket team begins their title defense

Harmanpreet Kaur will lead the Indian women’s cricket team with Smriti Mandhana serving as her deputy.India enters the knockout stage with a strong team. Mandhana recently became the top run-scorer in women’s international cricket, surpassing former Indian captain Mithali Raj. She also has the most international centuries among women.Deepti Sharma, the leading wicket-taker in the women’s T20Is, will be one of India’s key players with the ball. Shree Charani, the best-built bowler in the format, is also expected to impress.Shafali Verma will be another player to watch after she was named Player of the Series at the Women’s Asia Cup.Japan, meanwhile, will be participating in the Asian Games cricket tournament for only the third time. Their best finish came in 2010 when they won the bronze medal.

Teqball and Soft Tennis events

Quimcy Joaquim Dsouza to open India’s Teqball campaign in women’s singles. She will face Japan’s Yuina Sakamoto before taking on Cambodia’s Koemyean Dy.Should Dsouza advance, she could also play in the women’s singles quarterfinals on the same day.He would later join Muhammad Anas Imran Beg in India’s mixed doubles campaign. The Indian pair will face the Philippines, Cambodia, Thailand and Kuwait in the group stage.In Soft Tennis, Jay Meena, Aryan Thakur and Yogesh Choudhary will represent India in the men’s team qualifiers.

India Asian Games Schedule Today – 18 September

Time (IST)Sports Stage/Athletes/Match 05:30 AMSoft Tennis Men’s Team QualifierJay Meena, Aryan Thakur, Yogesh Choudhary (India) 02:30 AMTeqball Women’s Singles Qualifier Match 2Quimcy Joaquim Dsouza (Saina30 India) Yuimcy Joaquim Dsouza (Sainapandia) Vs. AMTeqball Women’s Singles Qualifier Match 3Quimcy Joaquim Dsouza (India) Vs. Koemyean Dy (Cambodia) 07:30 AMTeqball Women Singles QuarterfinalsQuimcy Joaquim Dsouza (India) 09:30, Joaquim Dsouza (India) 09:30ixed doubles AMTeqball, Joquim Cyball Dsouza / Mohamed Anas Imran Beg (India) vs. Prince Agustin / Jhoana Abulencia (Philippines) 10:30 a.m. Women’s Cricket Quarter-Final India Vs. Japan11:00 AMTeqball Mixed Doubles Qualifier 5Dsouza / 5Dsouza / Sohorne Thudia Yoyorn (India) (Cambodia) 12:30 Teqball Mixed Doubles Qualifier 7Dsouza / Beg (India) Vs. Phakpong Dejaroen / Suphawadi Wongkhamchan (Thailand) 13:00 Teqball Mixed Doubles Qualifiers Match 9Dsouza / Ind Hesouza / Alsfaila Begman (India) / Alsfaila Beg (India) / Alsfaila Beg (India) (Kuwait)