India Win Historic Sepaktakraw Bronze at Asian Games 2026

India secured a bronze medal in men’s quadrant sepaktakraw at the Asian Games 2026, marking the country’s first-ever podium finish in the event after losing 2-0 to hosts Japan in the semi-finals on Friday, October 2, 2026. The Indian quadrant team fell 15-12, 15-13 at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Gymnasium in Aichi-Nagoya. Both losing semi-finalists receive bronze medals under tournament rules.

Semifinal Defeat Against Hosts Japan

The Indian starting lineup against Japan featured Akash Yumnam, Bobby Kumar, Malemnganba Singh Sorokhaibam, and Ram Kumar Sharma, with Lokhon Singh Elangbam and Arun named as substitutes. While India fought hard in the second set, they trailed Japan throughout before narrowing the gap to 13-14 in the final stages.

Japan finished second in Group B after opening their campaign with a 1-2 defeat to Indonesia, subsequently defeating Singapore and Korea to reach the semi-finals.

Unbeaten Group A Campaign

India reached the semi-finals by topping Group A with a perfect record, opening with a 2-0 (15-9, 15-8) victory over Laos and following it with a 2-0 (15-12, 15-9) win against Vietnam. India also defeated Myanmar 2-1 (10-15, 15-13, 15-7) after recovering from a first-set loss.

Broader Asian Games Sepaktakraw Results

For Akash and Malemnganba, the bronze is their second Asian Games medal, having previously won bronze in the men’s team regu squad at Jakarta 2018. Earlier on Friday, the Indian women’s team lost 0-2 to Thailand in a Preliminary Group A match, dropping sets 10-15 and 4-15.

Sepaktakraw has been part of the Asian Games programme since Beijing 1990.