SportsPosted at: Oct 2 2026 2:00PM


India win historic quadrant bronze at the Asian Games

Aichi-Nagoya, Oct 2 (UNI) From working as a daily-wage labourer to leading India to its first-ever Asian Games medal in the men's quadrant event, veteran Akash Yumnam's remarkable journey added a human touch to a historic bronze here on Friday.
India's men's quadrant team secured the bronze after losing 0-2 to hosts Japan in the semifinal. Japan won the two sets 15-12, 15-13.
The medal is India's first-ever Asian Games podium finish in the quadrant event, with the country's previous sepaktakraw medals coming in the regu events.
India had entered the semifinals unbeaten in Group A. They began their campaign with a 2-0 victory over Vietnam, winning 15-12, 15-9, before overcoming Laos and producing a fighting comeback against Myanmar.
Against Myanmar, India lost the opening set 10-15 but recovered to take the second 15-13 and dominated the decider 15-7 to top the group and assure themselves of a medal.
For Yumnam, the bronze added another chapter to an unusual sporting journey. The Manipuri, appearing in his fourth Asian Games, worked as a daily-wage labourer after the death of his father while continuing to pursue sepaktakraw.
He went on to become one of India's experienced international players and was the first Indian to play in Malaysia's professional Sepak Takraw League. He was also part of India's men's regu bronze-winning side at the 2018 Asian Games.
India's recent performances had raised expectations around the quadrant team. Earlier this year, the Indian men's quadrant side won the Asian Sepaktakraw Championship in Nagoya, defeating Thailand in the semifinal and hosts Japan in the final. The team also won bronze at the King's Cup in Thailand in August.
Meanwhile, in track cycling, David Beckham Elkatohchoongo missed out on a place in the men's keirin gold-medal race after finishing fifth in his semifinal heat.
Elkatohchoongo clocked 10.578 seconds in Heat 1, with only the top three riders progressing to the final. He will now compete in the classification race for places 7-12.
The Indian cyclist had reached the semifinals after finishing third in Heat 2 of the repechage in 10.497 seconds.
He had earlier exited the sprint competition but fought back through the keirin repechage to reach the semifinal stage.
UNI BDN
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