India secured a bronze medal in sepaktakraw at the Asian Games 2026 after the men’s quadrant team lost 0-2 to hosts Japan in the semifinal at Nagoya City Mizuho Park Gymnasium on Friday. Japan won the closely contested sets 15-12 and 15-13.The Indian team featured Malemnganba Singh Sorokhaibam, Ram Kumar Sharma, Bobby Kumar and Akash Yumnam, with Lokhon Singh Elangbam and Tekong Arun as substitutes. The result gave India its third sepaktakraw medal in Asian Games history and its first-ever medal in the men's quadrant event.Key HighlightsIndia won bronze in the men’s quadrant sepaktakraw event.India lost 0-2 to Japan in the semifinal.Japan won the sets 15-12 and 15-13.India reached the semifinals unbeaten.The medal is India’s first Asian Games podium finish in the quadrant event.Akash Yumnam was part of the Indian quadrant team.India previously won sepaktakraw bronzes in the 2018 and 2023 Asian Games.India Lose Close Semifinal to JapanThe Indian men's quadrant team stayed competitive against Japan but narrowly missed out on a place in the gold-medal match.Japan took the opening set 15-12 before winning the second 15-13. Despite the straight-set defeat, India's semifinal appearance guaranteed the team a bronze medal.The Indian quadrant had produced an unbeaten run in the group stage before reaching the last four. India topped Group A after defeating Laos, Vietnam and World Cup champions Myanmar.India’s First Quadrant Medal at Asian GamesThe bronze is a landmark result for Indian sepaktakraw as it is the country's first Asian Games medal in the quadrant event.India had previously won bronze medals in sepaktakraw's regu events. The country secured a men's team regu bronze at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games and a women's team regu bronze at the 2023 Hangzhou Games.The latest result therefore adds a new event to India's medal record in the sport.Akash Yumnam and India’s Strong CampaignThe Indian team included Akash Yumnam alongside Malemnganba Singh Sorokhaibam, Ram Kumar Sharma and Bobby Kumar.India's unbeaten group-stage campaign included a notable victory over Myanmar, the World Cup champions. The team then secured its semifinal place before facing Japan.Although Japan ended India's hopes of reaching the final, the semifinal result confirmed a historic bronze for the Indian quadrant team.India Adds Another Medal at Asian Games 2026The sepaktakraw bronze was part of a strong medal-winning day for India at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. India also collected medals in archery, boxing and sailing on Friday.The result further strengthens India's medal tally while giving Indian sepaktakraw another podium finish on the Asian Games stage.
