Asian Games schedule: How to plan your day, from medal events to big names

Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP via Getty Images

In a packed year of Indian sport, the most important fortnight is here. The Asian Games begin in earnest from on September 19 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, and from then on there will be two weeks worth of sporting action coming your way.

It can be difficult to get your head around the whole event, with 499* Indians in action in 36 different sporting disciplines. Who's competing when? Will this be an event India could medal in? ESPN India has you covered.

Here are the key dates (and timings in IST) for all of India's key athletes and teams so that you can plan your schedule around it.

Note: This schedule is an overall outline and does not cover all events; we will have daily India schedules on our page with all events listed.

September 19

2:30 pm: Opening Ceremony

September 20

Medal possibilities

11 a.m.: Shooting - Women's 10m Air Rifle Final (qualifications begin at 6:15 a.m.), India will be represented by Elavenil Valarivan, Sonam Uttam Maskar, and Vidarsa K Vinod.

Outside medal chances

5:30 a.m.: Wushu -- Suraj Singh Mayanglambam in Men's Changquan Final

Other events

5:30 a.m. onwards: Rowing - Men's Single Sculls, Double Sculls Heat & QF, Men's Pair and Women's Four

6:00 a.m. or 11:30 a.m.: Badminton - Women's Team Round of 16

7:30 a.m.: Hockey - Women's team vs Uzbekistan

9:00 a.m.: Table Tennis - Women's Team Group Stage

10:30 a.m.: Cricket - Women's team in semifinal (TBD)

11:30 a.m.: Hockey - Men's team vs Indonesia

3:30 p.m.: Table Tennis - Women's Team Group Stage

September 21

Medal possibilities

9 a.m.: Shooting - Men's 10m Air Rifle Final (qualifications begin at 6:15 a.m.), India will be represented by Parth Mane, Rudrankksh Patil and Himanshu Dhillon.

Outside medal chances

5:30 a.m.: Wushu - Nyeman Wangsu in Men's Changquan Final

Other events

5:30 a.m. onwards: Rowing - Men's Single Sculls, Double Sculls, Four, Quadruple Sculls Heats

6:00 a.m. or 11:30 a.m.: Badminton - Men's Team Round of 16

6:30 a.m.: Table Tennis - Women's Team Group Stage

6:30 a.m.: Shooting - Men's and Women's Skeet Individual Qualification and Team Event - Day 1

8:00 a.m.: Kabaddi - Women's team vs Japan

8:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m.: Boxing - Men's 70kg Round of 32

9:00 a.m.: Table Tennis - Men's Team Group Stage

9:30 a.m.: Hockey - Women's Team vs Indonesia

1:30 p.m.: Kabaddi - Men's Team vs Japan

3:30 p.m.: Table Tennis - Men's Team Group Stage

September 22

Medal Events

8:25 a.m.: Shooting - 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team Final (qualifications begin at 6:15 a.m.), India will be represented by Parth Mane and Elavenil Valarivan

6:30 a.m. onwards: Karate: Women's Individual Kumite - 55kg - The event begins on this day, and will carry through to the medal rounds at the end of the day. India will be represented by Alisha Chaudhary.

11:30 a.m.: Cricket - The Women's Team, if they qualify, will be in action in the final

Outside medal chances

6:30 a.m. onwards: Karate - Chetan Bhatt in Men's Individual Kumite - 84kg

12:30 p.m.: Mixed Martial Arts - Suchika Tariyal in Women's Traditional -60kg Final

1:10 p.m.: Mixed Martial Arts - Varun Sanyal in Men's Traditional -77kg Final

Other events

6:00 a.m.: Badminton - Women's Team Quarterfinal

6:20 a.m.: Rowing - Men's Lightweight Double Sculls, Quadruple Sculls Heats

6:30 a.m.: Table Tennis - Women's Team Round of 16

6:30 a.m.: Shooting - Men's and Women's Skeet Individual Qualification and Team Event - Day 2

6:30 a.m. onwards: Fencing - Men's Foil Individual, Group Stage to Medal Rounds

7:15 a.m.: Kabaddi - Men's Team vs South Korea

7:30 a.m.: Wushu - Women's Nanquan Final

8:15 a.m. onwards: Fencing - Women's Epee Individual, Group Stage to Medal Rounds

8:30 a.m.: Artistic Gymnastics - Women's Vault Qualification

8:30 a.m. onwards: Boxing - Women's 51kg, Women's 54kg Round of 32

9:00 a.m.: Table Tennis - Men's Team Round of 16

11:30 a.m.: Badminton - Men's Team Quarterfinal

12:20 p.m.: Wushu - Women's Nandao Final

1:30 p.m.: Boxing - Men's 55kg Round of 32

3:30 p.m.: Hockey - Men's Team vs Sri Lanka

3:50 p.m.: Table Tennis - Men's Team Quarterfinal

3:50 p.m.: Table Tennis - Women's Team Quarterfinal

September 23

Medal Events

9 a.m.: Shooting - Women's 10m Air Pistol Final (qualifications begin from 6:15 a.m.), India will be represented by Manu Bhaker, Esha Singh, and Suruchi Phogat.

10 a.m.: Weightlifting - Mirabai Chanu in the women's 49kg final

11 a.m.: Women's Skeet Final, depending on three days of qualifications, where Maheshwari Chauhan could be in action

12:30 p.m.: Men's Skeet Final, depending on three days of qualifications, where Anantjeet Singh Naruka could be in action

Outside medal chances

6:30 a.m. onwards : Rowing - Men's Single Sculls, Double Sculls, Pair, and Women's Four Finals

Other events

6:00 a.m.: Badminton - Women's Team Semifinal

6:30 a.m.: Table Tennis - Mixed Doubles Round of 32

6:30 a.m. onwards: Fencing - Women's Foil Individual, Group Stage to Medal Rounds

8:15 a.m.: Fencing - Men's Sabre Individual, Group Stage to Medal Rounds

8:30 a.m.: Kabaddi - Women's Team vs Iran

8:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m.: Boxing - Men's 60kg and Men's 80kg Round of 32

9:45 a.m.: Kabaddi - Men's Team vs Bangladesh

10:15 a.m.: Table Tennis - Mixed Doubles Round of 16

11:15 a.m.: Squash - Women's Singles Round of 32

11:30 a.m.: Hockey - Women's Team vs Thailand

11:30 a.m.: Badminton - Men's Team Semifinal

12:30 p.m.: eSports - eFootball Semifinals and Final

1:30 p.m.: Table Tennis - Men's Team Semifinal

1:30 p.m.: Table Tennis - Women's Team Semifinal

September 24

Medal Events

6:00 a.m.: Badminton - Women's Team Final, it's a long shot for the Indians to get here, but what an occasion it would be if they can.

11:15 a.m.: Shooting - Skeet Mixed Team Final (Qualification starts at 6:30 a.m.), India will be represented by Maheshwari Chauhan and Anantjeet Singh Naruka

12:15 p.m.: Shooting - Men's 10m Air Pistol Final (Qualification starts at 6:15 a.m.), India will be represented by Kedarling Uchaganve, Akash Bharadwaj, and Kamaljeet.

12:30 p.m.: Badminton - Men's Team Final, the men were here last time, falling short to China at the final hurdle. They did win Thomas Cup bronze earlier this year too.

6:45 p.m.: Athletics - Mixed 4x400m Relay Final (Heats at 6:50 a.m.)

Outside Medal chances

7:50 a.m.: Rowing - Men's Quadruple Sculls Final

8:20 a.m.: Rowing - Men's Four Final

4:14 p.m.: Athletics - Asha Ilango and Niharika Vashisht in Women's Triple Jump Final

Other events

6:30 a.m.: Athletics - Heptathlon begins

7:00 a.m.: Athletics - Men's Triple Jump Qualifying

7:30 a.m.: Squash - Mixed Doubles Round of 16

8:15 a.m. onwards: Fencing - Women's Sabre Individual, Group Stage to Medal Rounds

8:30 a.m. onwards: Boxing - Men's 70kg, Women's 51kg, Women's 65kg Round of 16

9:45 a.m.: Kabaddi - Men's Team vs Chinese Taipei

10:30 a.m.: Squash - Women's Singles Round of 16

11:15 a.m.: Squash - Men's Singles Round of 16

11:30 a.m.: Hockey - Men's Team vs South Korea

1:30 p.m.: Table Tennis - Men's Team Final

2:25 p.m.: Artistic Gymnastics - Women's Vault Final

3:35 p.m.: Athletics - Men's High Jump Qualifying

4:00 p.m.: Table Tennis - Women's Team Final

4:15 p.m.: Kabaddi - Women's Team vs Japan

4:38 p.m.: Athletics - Men's 100m Heats

5:55 p.m.: Athletics - Women's 10,000m Final

September 25

Medal Events

8:30 a.m.: Shooting - 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team Final (Qualification at 6:15 a.m.), Suruchi Phogat will partner Kedarling Uchaganve for Team India.

10:30 a.m.: Shooting - Men's 50m Rifle 3 Positions Final (Qualification at 6:15 a.m.), India will be represented by Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Niraj Kumar and Rudrankksh Patil

3:35 p.m.: Athletics - Women's Shot Put Final, India will be represented by Manpreet Kaur and Krishna Jayasankar Menon

5:02 p.m.: Athletics - Men's 10,000m Final, where double Commonwealth Games silver medallist Gulveer Singh will be in action

Outside medal chances

6:00 a.m.: Equestrian - Dressage Team Final

10:30 a.m.: Sepaktakraw - Men's Team Regu Medal Match

6:45 p.m.: Animesh Kujur and Gurindervir Singh in Men's 100m Final

Other events

6:00 a.m. onwards: Badminton - Men's and Women's Singles Round of 64, Mixed Doubles Round of 32

6:00 a.m. onwards: Fencing - Men's Foil Team, Group Stages to Medal Rounds

6:30 a.m.: Athletics - Heptathlon continues

6:30 a.m.: Squash - Mixed Doubles Quarterfinal

6:30 a.m.: Table Tennis - Mixed Doubles Quarterfinal

7:00 a.m.: Athletics - Men's 400m Heats

7:30 a.m.: Hockey - Women's Team vs Japan

7:30 a.m.: Table Tennis - Men's Doubles Round of 32

7:30 a.m. onwards: Fencing - Women's Epee Team, Group Stages to Medal Rounds

8:30 a.m. onwards: Boxing - Men's 60kg, Men's +90kg, Women's 54kg Round of 16

8:30 a.m.: Squash - Women's Singes Quarterfinal

9:00 a.m.: Table Tennis - Women's Singles Round of 32

9:30 a.m. or 2:30 p.m.: Kabaddi - Women's Semifinal

10:30 a.m.: Table Tennis - Men's Singles Round of 32

10:45 a.m. or 3:45 p.m.: Kabaddi - Men's Semifinal

11:30 a.m.: Squash - Men's Singles Quarterfinal

12:00 p.m. Table Tennis - Women's Doubles Round of 16

12:30 p.m. onwards: Badminton - Men's and Women's Doubles Round of 32, Mixed Doubles Round of 16

1:30 p.m.: Table Tennis - Men's Doubles Round of 16

1:30 p.m.: Weightlifting - Women's 61kg Final

3:00 p.m.: Table Tennis - Mixed Doubles Semifinal

4:03 p.m.: Athletics - Men's 100m Semifinal

4:33 p.m.: Athletics - Women's Pole Vault Final

5:10 p.m.: Athletics - Men's Hammer Throw Final

5:45 p.m.: Athletics - Women's 400m Heats

6:13 p.m.: Athletics - Men's 400m Semifinals

September 26

Medal Events

9:30 a.m.: Shooting - Women's 50m Rifle 3 Positions Final, with Ashi Chouksey, Tilottama Sen and Vidarsa K Vinod in action (Qualification at 6:15 a.m.)

9:30 a.m.: Kabaddi - Women's Final

2:30 p.m.: Kabaddi - Men's Final

4:30 p.m.: Athletics - Men's Shot Put Final, where two-time defending champion Tajinderpal Singh Toor will be in action.

5:05 p.m.: Athletics - Men's Triple Jump Final, where Commonwealth Games silver-medallist Praveen Chithravel will be in action.

Outside medal chances

6:33 p.m.: Athletics - Vishal TK and Rajesh Ramesh in Men's 400m Final

Other events

4:00 a.m.: Athletics - Men's Marathon

4:30 a.m.: Archery - Men's Recurve and Women's Compound Qualification

4:30 a.m.: Archery - Women's Compound Qualification

5:35 a.m.: Athletics - Decathlon begins

6:00 a.m. onwards: Badminton - Men's and Women's Singles Round of 32

6:00 a.m.: Fencing - Women's Foil Team, Group Stage to Medal Rounds

6:30 a.m.: Table Tennis - Women's Singles Round of 16

7:00 a.m.: Fencing - Men's Sabre Team, Group Stage to Medal Rounds

7:35 a.m.: Athletics - Men's Javelin Throw Qualification

8:00 a.m.: Table Tennis - Men's Singles Round of 16

8:00 a.m.: Athletics - Women's 200m Heats

8:30 a.m.: Squash - Mixed Doubles Semifinals

8:30 a.m. onwards: Boxing - Men's 55kg and Men's 90kg, Women's 60kg Round of 16

8:45 a.m.: Athletics - Men's 200m Heats

8:50 a.m.: Athletics - Women's Long Jump Qualification

9:00 a.m.: Archery - Women's Recurve and Men's Compound Qualification

10:30 a.m.: Squash - Women's Singles Semifinals

11:15 a.m.: Squash - Men's Singles Semifinals

12:00 p.m.: Table Tennis - Men's Doubles Quarterfinals

12:30 p.m.: Badminton - Men's and Women's Singles, Men's and Women's Doubles Round of 16

12:45 p.m.: Table Tennis - Women's Singles Quarterfinals

1:30 p.m.: Table Tennis - Men's Singles Quarterfinals

1:30 p.m.: Hockey - Men's Team vs Japan

2:15 p.m.: Table Tennis - Women's Doubles Quarterfinals

4:04 p.m.: Athletics - Women's 100m Hurdles Heats

4:25 p.m.: Athletics - Women's 200m Semifinal

4:46 p.m.: Athletics - Men's 200m Semifinal

5:21 p.m.: Athletics - Men's 1500m Heats

6:15 p.m.: Athletics - Women's 400m Final

6:45 p.m.: Athletics - Women's 1500m Final

September 27

Medal Events

8:30 a.m.: onwards: Squash - Men's and Women's Singles medal matches, Mixed Doubles medal matches

10:45 a.m.: Shooting - Women's 25m Pistol Final, where the likes of Esha Singh and Manu Bhaker will compete

3:40 p.m.: Athletics - Women's Long Jump Final, watch out for Ancy Sojan and Shaili Singh

4:45 p.m.: Athletics - Men's High Jump Final, where Asia's best high-jumper of 2026 Sarvesh Kushare is looking for a first Asiad gold

4:53 p.m.: Athletics - Women's 100m Hurdles Final, with Jyothi Yarraji in action

5:40 p.m.: Athletics - The last event of the decathlon, where Tejaswin Shankar is a big contender for a medal, maybe even gold

5:52 p.m.: Athletics - Women's 3000m Steeplechase, Parul Chaudhary will be in action

Outside medal chances

4:05 p.m.: Athletics - Harita Bhadra in Women's 200m Final

Other events

4:30 a.m. onwards: Archery - All Team Events Round of 16 and Quarterfinals

6:00 a.m. onwards: Badminton - All Quarterfinals

8:20 a.m. onwards: Fencing - Women's Sabre Team, Group Stage to Medal Rounds

8:30 a.m. onwards: Boxing - Men's 60kg, 80kg, +90kg, and Women's 54kg, 65kg Quarterfinals

10:00 a.m.: Weightlifting - Women's 69kg Final

12:30 p.m.: Volleyball - Men's Team vs Vietnam

2:30 p.m.: eSports - Pokemon UNITE Final

3:30 p.m.: Hockey - Women's Team vs Singapore

3:35 p.m.: Athletics - Decathlon continues

4:15 p.m.: Athletics - Men's 200m Final

September 28

Medal Events

2:45 p.m.: Athletics - Women's Discus Throw, where Commonwealth Games medalist Seema Kaliramna will look for her first Asiad medal

4:25 p.m.: Athletics - Men's Long Jump Final, with Sreeshankar Murali in action

4:55 p.m.: Athletics - Men's Javelin Throw Final, which will be India's first Asiad final in 12 years without Neeraj Chopra

Outside medal chances

4:12 p.m.: Athletics - Avinash Sable in Men's 3000m Steeplechase

Other events

4:30 a.m. onwards: Archery - Men's and Women's Compound Individual, until Round of 16

6:00 a.m. onwards: Badminton - All semifinals

6:30 a.m.: Volleyball - Men's Team vs Hong Kong

8:30 a.m.: onwards: Men's 55kg, 70kg, 90kg, Women's 51kg, 60kg, 75kg Quarterfinals

10:00 a.m.: Cricket - Men's Team in Quarterfinal

3:30 p.m.: Hockey - Men's Team vs Bangladesh

3:53 p.m.: Athletics - Women's 400m Hurdles Final

4:03 p.m.: Athletics - Men's 400m Hurdles Final

4:35 p.m.: Athletics - Men's 1500m Final

September 29

Medal Events

7:30 a.m. onwards: Badminton - All Finals

3:48 p.m.: Athletics - Women's High Jump Final, where India's Pooja Singh will compete. She has the best jump by an Asian athlete in 2026.

4:45 p.m.: Athletics - Men's 5000m Final, which is Gulveer Singh territory

Outside medal chances

7 a.m.: Sepaktakraw: Men's Regu Medal Matches

Other events

4:30 a.m. onwards: Archery - Men's and Women's Recurve Individual, until Round of 16

9:30 a.m. onwards: Boxing - Men's 60kg, 80kg, +90kg, and Women's 54kg, 65kg Semifinals

10:30 a.m.: Shooting - Women's Trap Final

12:00 p.m.: Shooting - Men's Trap Final

12:30 p.m.: Volleyball - Men's Team vs Qatar

2:45 p.m.: Athletics - Men's Pole Vault Final

4:20 p.m.: Athletics - Women's 800m Final

4:35 p.m.: Athletics - Men's 800m Final

September 30

Medal Events

5:30 a.m. onwards: Archery - Compound Team Events Semifinals and Finals -- India swept every single compound archery medal on offer in Hangzhou, remember.

7:30 a.m. onwards: Wrestling - Men's Greco-Roman 67kg, 87kg, 130kg, Women's 68kg, all rounds

Other events

3:00 a.m.: Golf - Men's and Women's Individual Round 1

6:30 a.m.: Squash - Women's Team Quarterfinals

7:30 a.m. onwards: Judo - Women's 48kg, elimination rounds to medal rounds

8:30 a.m.: Squash - Men's Team Quarterfinals

9:30 a.m.: onwards: Men's 55kg, 70kg, 90kg, Women's 51kg, 60kg, 75kg Semifinals

1 p.m. or 3:30 p.m.: Hockey - Women's Semifinal

October 1

Medal Events

5:30 a.m. onwards: Archery - Compound Individual Events Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Finals

7:30 a.m. onwards: Wrestling - Men's Greco-Roman 60kg, 77kg, 97kg, Women's 62kg, all rounds

12:00 p.m.: Shooting - Men's 25m Rapid Fire Pistol Final, Anish Bhanwala

Other events

3:00 a.m.: Golf - Men's and Women's Individual Round 2

7:00 a.m.: Squash - Women's Team Semifinal

7:30 a.m. onwards: Judo - Women's 57kg and 70kg, elimination rounds to medal rounds

9:00 a.m.: Squash - Men's Team Semifinal

10:00 a.m.: Cricket - Men's Team in Semifinal

11 a.m.: Volleyball - Men's Quarterfinal

1 p.m. or 3:30 p.m.: Hockey - Men's Semifinal

October 2

Medal Events

5:30 a.m. onwards: Archery - Recurve Team Events Semifinals and Finals

7:30 a.m. onwards: Wrestling - Men's Freestyle 65kg, 86kg, 125kg, Women's 50kg, 76kg, all rounds

9:30 a.m. onwards: Boxing - Finals in all weight categories

10 a.m.: Squash - Women's Team Final

12:00 p.m.: Squash - Men's Team Final

3:30 p.m.: Hockey - Women's Final

Other events

3:00 a.m.: Golf - Men's and Women's Individual Round 3

6:30 a.m.: Tennis - Men's Doubles Final

11 a.m.: Volleyball - Men's Semifinal

October 3

Medal Events

5:30 a.m. onwards: Archery - Recurve Individual Events Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Finals

7:30 a.m. onwards: Wrestling - Men's Freestyle 57kg, 74kg, 97kg, Women's 53kg, 57kg, all rounds

3:30 p.m.: Hockey - Men's Final

Other events

3:00 a.m.: Golf - Men's and Women's Individual Round 4

6:30 a.m. onwards: Volleyball - Medal and Classification Matches

6:30 a.m. onwards: Tennis - All Finals

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