# India Targets First Gold on Day 3 With Packed Shooting and Combat Sports Lineup

> Following medals in shooting and martial arts on Day 2, Indian athletes aim for their first gold medal across multiple medal rounds on Day 3 of the 2026 Asian Games.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Cricket · **Published:** 2026-09-21 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/cricket/tisare-dina-pahale-svarna-padaka-ki-talasha-men-utarega-india-dekhen-sabhi-spardhaon-ki-puri-samaya-sarani-35868 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Asian Games 2026, Indian Sports, Shooting, Elavenil Valarivan, Parth Rakesh Mane, Boxing, Swimming

Following a productive second day at the Asian Games 2026 where Indian athletes secured podium finishes in shooting and mixed martial arts, the focus firmly shifts to converting strong starts into gold. Strong opening wins across hockey, table tennis, and kabaddi kept the momentum going, and Day 3 brings several high-stakes medal rounds that could deliver the country its maiden gold of the tournament.

## Medal Opportunities at the Shooting Range
Shooting stands out as a prime venue for top honors on Day 3. In the 10m air rifle mixed team qualification, the pairing of Elavenil Valarivan and Parth Rakesh Mane will aim for a clinical performance to advance directly to the 10m air rifle mixed team final scheduled later in the day, where gold will be on the line.

The shotgun ranges will also witness heavy Indian participation across qualification phases. Mairaj Ahmad Khan, Anant Jeet Singh Naruka, and Bhavtegh Singh Gill will feature in the men's skeet individual qualification. In the women's skeet individual qualification, the Indian trio of Parinaaz Dhaliwal, Raiza Dhillon, and Maheshwari Chauhan will look to secure spots in the decisive stages.

## High Stakes in Combat Disciplines and Wushu
The combat arena offers immediate medal possibilities for the Indian contingent. In karate, Chetan Bhatt enters the men's kumite -84 kg semifinal against an opponent to be decided, with the winner progressing straight to the men's kumite -84 kg medal bout. In the women's kumite -55 kg round of 16, Alisha faces a stern test against Indonesia's Cok Istri Agung Sanistyarani before advancing to subsequent rounds.

The boxing ring will feature intense preliminary bouts as Sakshi meets Aira Villegas of the Philippines in the women's 51 kg preliminary bout 12, while Jadumani Singh Mandengbam clashes with Nepal's Chandra Bahadur Thapa in the men's 55 kg preliminary bout 18. Individual matches also feature Aadhya Tiwari taking on Thailand's Alisha Jiegler and later Pakistan's Kainat Shalwani. Jai Meena meets Pakistan's Husain Arain, while Aryan Thakur faces Mongolia's Bold-Erdene Altangerel and Chinese Taipei's Po-Yi Chen. In wushu, the women's Nanquan and Nandao final will see action across both the Nanquan and Nandao segments.

## Aquatics and Relay Clashes in the Pool
The swimming events offer further excitement with Indian representation across endurance and relay categories. Swimmers will compete in the men's 1,500m freestyle final B. Later, the squad lines up for the men's 4x100m medley relay starting in heat 2, aiming to clock a qualifying time that earns them a spot in the prestigious men's 4x100m medley relay final.

## What this means for you
Day 3 of the continental games provides sports enthusiasts with a packed schedule featuring multiple medal opportunities for the national contingent.

- **Viewing Schedule:** Fans following the multisport event can track live broadcasts across shooting ranges, swimming pools, and combat mats throughout the day. This provides visibility for athletes competing in disciplines beyond mainstream sports.
- **Youth Sports Participation:** High-profile appearances in precision shooting and martial arts regularly inspire interest among younger athletes looking to enter structured training. Local academies often notice increased inquiries following major tournament performances.
- **Medal Standings:** Securing podium finishes across the scheduled finals will lift the contingent's standing in the overall medal table. This outcome directly shapes national sporting momentum as the competition enters its middle phases.
- **Key Matchups:** Direct face-offs involving regional rivals such as Pakistan draw heightened viewership across television and digital streaming platforms. Audiences can expect prime viewing interest during these scheduled bouts.

## Why this happened
The Day 3 schedule is structured based on the pre-determined tournament timeline of the Asian Games 2026. Following preliminary rounds and initial podium finishes on Day 2, multiple disciplines naturally progress into their decisive medal encounters.

- **Tournament Progression:** Multisport championships structure opening phases around qualifiers and group rounds before staging early finals. Day 3 marks the point where several disciplines transition into semifinals and direct medal matches.
- **Day 2 Foundations:** Securing medals in shooting and mixed martial arts alongside victories in hockey and kabaddi gave the Indian contingent stable competitive footing. This early momentum positions athletes for finals on Day 3.
- **Single-Day Staging in Key Events:** Shooting and relay swimming events often run qualifications and medal rounds on the same competition date. This explains why both preliminary heats and finals for the 10m air rifle mixed team and 4x100m medley relay feature on Day 3.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. Who represents India in the 10m air rifle mixed team event on Day 3?
Elavenil Valarivan and Parth Rakesh Mane represent India across both the qualification round and the final.

### 2. Who is competing in the men's kumite -84 kg category for India?
Chetan Bhatt represents India in the men's kumite -84 kg semifinal and medal bout.

### 3. Which Indian boxers are scheduled to fight on Day 3?
Sakshi faces Aira Villegas in the women's 51 kg preliminary bout, while Jadumani Singh Mandengbam fights Chandra Bahadur Thapa in the men's 55 kg preliminary bout.

### 4. Who are the Indian shooters in the men's skeet individual qualification?
Mairaj Ahmad Khan, Anant Jeet Singh Naruka, and Bhavtegh Singh Gill compete in the men's skeet individual qualification.

### 5. Which athletes represent India in the women's skeet individual qualification?
Parinaaz Dhaliwal, Raiza Dhillon, and Maheshwari Chauhan feature in the women's skeet individual qualification.

### 6. What swimming events will Indian athletes contest on Day 3?
Indian swimmers feature in the men's 1,500m freestyle final B along with heat 2 and the final of the men's 4x100m medley relay.

---
_TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.. Machine-readable view; canonical HTML at the URL above._