India finished the 2026 Asian Games with 85 medals, including 21 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze. That is a strong performance by any measure, but it is also 22 medals fewer than India’s record haul of 107 medals at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou. So, where exactly did India lose those 22 medals?
The answer is not simply that India performed badly. Some sports improved significantly, while others saw a clear drop. Athletics and shooting, which together produced a huge share of India’s medals in 2022, were among the biggest reasons for the decline. At the same time, boxing, wrestling and hockey showed important improvement.
Here is a sport-by-sport look at what changed between the 2022 and 2026 Asian Games.
Athletics: From 29 Medals to 24
Athletics remained one of India’s biggest medal-winning sports, but its overall tally dropped from 29 medals in 2022 to 24 in 2026.
The bigger concern was the decline in gold medals. India won six athletics golds in 2022, but managed only one in 2026.
Several Indian athletes came close to the top step but finished behind competitors who produced exceptional performances, including new Asian Games records.
This matters because athletics is one of the largest medal pools at the Asian Games. Even a small decline across several events can have a major impact on India’s overall position.
India therefore needs to look beyond individual stars and continue building depth across track and field events.
Shooting: Another Major Drop
Shooting was another major contributor to the 22-medal decline.
India won 22 shooting medals, including seven golds, in 2022. In 2026, the tally fell to 15 medals, including three golds.
That means India lost seven medals compared with the previous edition.
The Indian shooting team still produced several strong performances, but the results were not as dominant as they were in Hangzhou.
Shooting has become one of India’s most reliable medal sources at major international events. Therefore, even a drop in this sport can quickly affect the country’s overall medal tally.
Rowing: A Disappointing Campaign
Rowing was another sport where India saw a noticeable decline.
The campaign was also surrounded by controversy, with Indian rowers raising concerns about last-minute changes to events. The situation became serious enough for athletes to protest and go on strike.
Such disruptions can affect preparation and performance, particularly in a sport where athletes spend years training for specific events.
The rowing results were therefore disappointing not only because of the medals lost, but also because of the circumstances surrounding the competition.
Badminton Also Lost Ground
Badminton has traditionally been an important sport for India, especially after the rise of players such as PV Sindhu and the success of the men’s team.
However, India could not reproduce its previous level of success in 2026.
The decline in badminton added to the overall medal gap between the two editions. For India, the challenge is to ensure that the next generation of players can maintain the consistency achieved by the country’s leading stars.
Tennis, Chess and Equestrian Failed to Add Medals
Some of the lost medals came from sports where India had previously stood on the podium.
India failed to win a medal in tennis, marking the first time in Asian Games history that the country finished without a tennis medal.
Chess and equestrian also failed to produce podium finishes in 2026.
Chess was particularly important because India had won two silver medals in the sport in 2022. Those medals were part of the previous tally but could not be repeated in 2026.
Bridge and Roller Skating Also Affected the Comparison
Not every missing medal represents a decline in India’s sporting ability.
Some events that contributed to India’s 2022 tally were simply not part of the 2026 Games.
India had won one silver medal in Bridge and two silver medals in Chess in events that were included in the previous edition but were absent from the 2026 programme.
Similarly, India had won two bronze medals in roller skating, but the sport was not included in the 2026 Games.
This is an important point when comparing the two medal tallies. A lower total does not automatically mean Indian athletes performed worse in every sport.
Boxing Shows a Big Improvement
While some traditional medal sources declined, India’s boxers delivered a major positive result.
India won three boxing gold medals in 2026, compared with no boxing gold in the previous edition.
That improvement is significant because gold medals have a direct impact on India’s position in the overall medal table.
The performance also shows that India’s combat sports programme is developing strongly.
Wrestling Makes a Strong Comeback
Wrestling was another major positive.
India secured two wrestling gold medals in 2026, after winning no wrestling gold at the previous edition.
Wrestling has historically been one of India’s strongest Olympic and Asian Games sports. The return of gold medals is therefore an encouraging sign.
The bigger question will be whether India can maintain this momentum at future international competitions.
Archery Remains a Reliable Medal Source
Archery once again proved its value.
India matched its previous benchmark with nine medals, including an impressive five gold medals.
This consistency is extremely important. While some sports fluctuate from one edition to another, archery continues to provide India with a dependable supply of medals.
The country’s strength in both recurve and compound events has helped make archery one of India’s most successful Asian Games disciplines.
Hockey, Cricket and Kabaddi Deliver Gold
India’s traditional team sports also performed strongly.
Cricket and kabaddi again produced two gold medals each, maintaining India’s dominance in these disciplines.
Hockey went one step further by winning two gold medals, improving on its previous performance.
These team-sport victories are particularly valuable because they bring gold medals while also strengthening India’s sporting identity at the continental level.
India Also Found New Medal Sources
There were encouraging signs beyond the traditional sports.
India secured its first-ever Asian Games podium finishes in mixed martial arts and kurash.
These results show that India’s medal base is gradually becoming wider.
That could become increasingly important in future Games. If India can maintain its traditional strengths while developing newer sports, the country may be able to reduce the impact of disappointing performances in athletics or shooting.
So Where Did India Lose the 22 Medals?
The biggest answer is athletics and shooting.
Athletics dropped by five medals, while shooting dropped by seven. Together, those two sports account for 12 of the 22 fewer medals.
The remaining difference came from declines in sports such as rowing and badminton, along with the absence of medals from tennis, chess and equestrian. Some medals were also impossible to repeat because certain events were not included in the 2026 programme.
At the same time, India made important gains in boxing, wrestling and hockey, while archery remained highly consistent.
So, the 2026 Asian Games should not simply be viewed as a failure because India went from 107 medals to 85.
The real story is more complicated.
India’s medal base is changing. Some established sports are losing ground, while combat sports and newer disciplines are showing promise.
The next challenge for Indian sport is clear: restore consistency in athletics and shooting, strengthen badminton and rowing, and continue developing the sports where India is now showing rapid improvement.