Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to interact and address the Indian contingent that played in the Asian Games 2026 on Thursday, October 15, at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi. The programme is expected to start around 4:30 pm, as per the Prime Minister's Office.

The event will see athletes, coaches, support staff, Indian Olympic Association officials, representatives of National Sports Federations and officials from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports get together and interact.

The gathering comes after India finished fourth in the medal standings at the Asian Games held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4.

India finishes fourth with 85 medals

India clinched 85 medals (21 gold, 27 silver, 37 bronze) marking the second-highest medal tally in the country's Asian Games history. The country's then-record of 106 medals was set at the 2023 Hangzhou Games.

India recorded several firsts across sporting disciplines. Both the men's and women's hockey teams bagged gold medals in the same edition. The country also recorded its maiden Asian Games medals in soft tennis and mixed martial arts (MMA).

Other notable performances included India's first-ever gold medal in the women's trap event, a silver medal in weightlifting after a 28-year gap and a silver medal in Greco-Roman wrestling that marked a 64-year wait for an Indian finalist in the discipline.

Archery and athletics lead India's medal haul

A total of 24 medals were won in athletics, which accounted for the highest tally for India at the Games, despite the discipline only winning one gold medal.

Archery was a prolific medal-winning event for the country as Indian athletes captured nine medals (five golds, two silvers and one bronze). India swept all three compound team titles, while its recurve archers bagged medals across all five events for the country's best-ever Asian Games campaign in the discipline.

Kumkum Mohod won the women's individual recurve gold, while Pranavi Urs became the first Indian woman to win an individual Asian Games golf gold. Urs was joined by Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar to win a silver medal in the women's team event.

Meeting to recognise India's sporting achievements

The gathering will provide an opportunity to acknowledge and recognize the achievements of athletes who represented India across multiple disciplines. The contingent's fourth-place finish and historic performances in earning medals point to the country's success at the continental sporting event.

Modi is expected to address the gathering during the programme at the national stadium in the capital.