Indian Olympic Association president PT Usha joined Olympic Council of Asia President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani and other sports leaders at the official welcome reception in Aichi-Nagoya ahead of the Asian Games opening ceremony, as India’s campaign had already begun in Teqball and cricket.
Key Takeaways
- PT Usha met OCA President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani at the official Asian Games welcome reception.
- India’s Asian Games campaign began before the opening ceremony with Teqball and women’s cricket.
- Quimcy Dsouza reached the Teqball women’s singles bronze-medal match after winning her group.
Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha met Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani during the official welcome reception for the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.
The reception brought together senior officials and members of the Asian sporting community ahead of the Games opening ceremony. Usha also shared photographs from the event on X.
She described the gathering as an opportunity to engage with the OCA leadership and other members of the continental sporting fraternity.
Usha said the meeting reflected a shared commitment to the development of sport across Asia. She also highlighted the importance of working together to promote sporting excellence in the region.
PT Usha Meets OCA Leadership
Usha attended the reception along with several leading figures from the Asian sports community. Her meeting with Sheikh Joaan was a key part of the gathering ahead of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
In her post on X, Usha expressed her appreciation for the evening with the OCA president and other members of the OCA family.
She said the sporting community must continue working together to support the growth and excellence of sports across Asia.
The event came just before the formal opening of the Asian Games. The opening ceremony is scheduled for Saturday at the Paloma Mizuho Stadium.
OCA Executive Board Meets in Nagoya
The welcome reception followed the 110th meeting of the OCA Executive Board in Nagoya, Japan.
Sheikh Joaan chaired the meeting as the OCA leadership reviewed preparations for several upcoming continental sporting events.
The discussions included the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games Riyadh 2026. The board also considered preparations for the Asian Beach Games Cebu 2028 and the Asian Winter Games Almaty 2029.
The meetings in Nagoya have brought together sports administrators as the Asian Games prepare to officially begin.
India’s Campaign Starts Before Opening Ceremony
India’s sporting campaign has already started in some disciplines, even though the official opening ceremony is scheduled for Saturday.
Teqball and cricket are among the events that have begun ahead of the main ceremony.
In men’s doubles Teqball, Mohammad Anas Imran Beg and Declan Marshall Gonsalves could not progress beyond the group stage.
The Indian duo suffered defeats in both of their Group B matches. They lost 0-2 to Vietnam before suffering another 0-2 defeat against South Korea.
Their results ended their campaign in the men’s doubles event.
Quimcy Dsouza Advances to Bronze-Medal Match
Quimcy Joaquim Dsouza delivered a better result in the women’s singles competition.
She topped Group A after recording victories against Yuina Sakamoto of Japan and Cambodia’s Koemyean DY.
The group-stage results took Dsouza into the semifinals.
However, she could not secure a place in the final. Ima Sumaya of Indonesia defeated Dsouza 2-1 in the semifinal.
The Indian player will now compete for the bronze medal. She will face Sakamoto of Japan in the bronze-medal match.
India Eyes Another Teqball Medal
India also remains in contention for a medal in mixed doubles Teqball.
Quimcy and Imran Beg secured a place in the bronze-medal contest after winning their repechage match.
The result gives India another opportunity to finish on the podium in Teqball as competition continues in Aichi-Nagoya.
Women’s Cricket Team Begins Asian Games Campaign
Indian Women’s cricket team has also started its Asian Games campaign.
Cricket is among the disciplines that began before the formal opening ceremony.
India will compete across multiple sporting events during the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. The continental competition will bring together athletes from across Asia as the Games move into their main phase following Saturday’s opening ceremony. (Edited by Enewstime Desk)