Asian Games 2026 LIVE: Sindhu, Manu Bhaker, Shaili Singh in medal hunt

A day that began with the longest competitive distance in athletics, producing one of the most precious medals for India, ended with questions around selections and accountability of absentee athletes that overshadowed the impressive performances of those who did turn up to do their best.

India shines with marathon silver and surprise bronze, but absentee athlete questions cloud the strong Asian Games performances.

Three years ago, the Indian men’s kabaddi team had won an ill-tempered, farcical and close Asian Games final against perennial rival Iran that went into the history books as a lesson on how not to conduct a competition.