As the 2026 Asian Games officially begin in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on September 19, India’s sporting campaign is extending beyond its familiar strengths in cricket, hockey, athletics and badminton.
The country’s participation across 36 disciplines is also drawing attention to sports that remain relatively unfamiliar to a large section of Indian audiences.
Among them are teqball, kurash, soft tennis, sepak takraw and sport climbing. While each discipline has a different history and format, their presence at the continental event reflects the breadth of India’s sporting engagement. Teqball, in particular, has already provided an early talking point, with Indian player Quimcy Dsouza advancing to the women’s singles semifinal.
Teqball: India’s early breakthrough
Teqball is one of the new additions to the Asian Games programme in 2026. The sport combines elements of football and table tennis and is played on a curved table divided by a net. Players use permitted parts of the body, including their feet, thighs, chest and head, to return a football across the table.
The discipline demands precise control, quick reflexes, balance and an ability to anticipate the ball’s movement. Hand contact is not allowed, while restrictions on consecutive touches using the same body part add to the technical challenge.
India’s Quimcy Dsouza has given the sport a strong national angle. She reached the women’s singles semifinal after defeating Japan’s Yuina Sakamoto in a close contest and following it with a straight-sets win over Cambodia’s Koemyean Dy. Her progress has placed her one victory away from securing a medal for India in the sport’s Asian Games debut.
Kurash: Wrestling with a Central Asian identity
Kurash is a traditional grappling sport that originated in Central Asia, particularly in Uzbekistan. Although it may remind viewers of wrestling or judo, its rules give it a separate identity.
Competitors attempt to throw their opponents using controlled standing techniques. Unlike judo, kurash does not permit ground fighting, making balance, grip strength, timing and explosive movement crucial to a contest.
India’s official Asian Games contingent includes kurash, giving Indian athletes an opportunity to compete in a discipline with deep regional roots. Its inclusion also highlights the role of traditional Asian sports in the continental Games.
Soft tennis: A familiar sport with a different feel
Soft tennis shares the basic appearance of lawn tennis but uses softer rubber balls and specialised equipment. The differences in ball behaviour, racket use and playing technique create a separate competitive discipline.
The sport is particularly popular in East and Southeast Asia, where it has developed a strong tournament structure. Players need accuracy, movement, tactical awareness and control, with rallies shaped by the softer ball’s distinct response.
India’s contingent includes athletes competing in soft tennis, adding another racket discipline to the country’s Asian Games campaign. For Indian audiences familiar with conventional tennis, the sport offers a useful example of how similar sporting formats can develop into separate competitive traditions.
Sepak takraw: Football skills above the net
Sepak takraw is a fast-paced sport that combines elements of volleyball and football. Played on a court divided by a net, it requires players to use their feet, knees, chest and head rather than their hands.
The sport is known for its acrobatic movements, including high kicks, spinning strikes and aerial attacks. Teams must display flexibility, coordination, agility and precise timing to keep the ball in play and score points.
Sepak takraw has a strong following in Southeast Asia, especially in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Myanmar. India also has a national presence in the sport, with participation linked to the country’s wider development of less-publicised disciplines. Its inclusion at the Asian Games provides Indian players with a continental platform in a sport that demands both athleticism and technical skill.
Sport climbing: A test of strength and technique
Sport climbing challenges athletes to scale artificial walls using a combination of strength, balance, flexibility and route-reading ability. Depending on the event, competitors are judged on speed, height reached or their ability to complete difficult climbing sequences.
Speed climbing is particularly direct, with athletes racing to the top of a standardised wall in the shortest possible time. Other formats place greater emphasis on technical problem-solving and endurance.
India’s participation in sport climbing reflects the country’s expanding presence in modern and emerging sporting disciplines. The event also appeals to a younger sporting audience, combining physical power with precision and strategic movement.
A broader sporting journey for India
The presence of these five sports at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games shows that India’s sporting participation is not limited to the disciplines that traditionally dominate public attention. The country’s 503-athlete contingent includes competitors across a wide range of established, regional and emerging events.
For Indian viewers, the Games offer an opportunity to discover new athletes, understand unfamiliar rules and follow competitions beyond cricket. Quimcy Dsouza’s teqball campaign has already demonstrated how a lesser-known sport can become a national talking point, while kurash, soft tennis, sepak takraw and sport climbing add further depth to India’s Asian Games story.
As competition continues through October 4, these disciplines will provide another perspective on the scale and diversity of Asian sport-and on India’s growing presence across its many forms.