Sony Sports Network holds exclusive India rights to the Asian Games 2026, with live coverage starting 17 September 2026 — two days before the opening ceremony. You can watch on TV via Sony Sports 1 to 5, stream on SonyLIV, or watch free on DD Sports through DD Free Dish.
The Games run from 19 September to 4 October 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. But Indian athletes are in action before that.
Where to watch in India
- TV: Sony Sports 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
- Streaming: SonyLIV app and website (subscription)
- Free option: DD Sports, available on DD Free Dish
The DD Sports route is the one worth knowing about if you do not hold a SonyLIV subscription. It will not carry everything Sony's five channels do, but it is free to air.
Competition starts before the opening ceremony
This trips people up every Games. Several events begin ahead of the ceremony:
- 17 September — teqball events begin; Sony's India coverage starts
- 18 September — soft tennis and women's cricket begin
- 19 September — opening ceremony
India's women's cricket team begins its title defence against hosts Japan in the quarter-final on 18 September at 10:30 AM IST — the day before the Games are formally opened.
Opening ceremony timing in IST
The opening ceremony is on Saturday 19 September at Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya, from 18:00 to 20:00 Japan Standard Time.
Japan is 3 hours 30 minutes ahead of India, so in IST that is 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM — an afternoon watch, not a late night.
What time do events run in IST?
Because of that 3.5-hour gap, most Asian Games sessions land in the Indian morning and afternoon. The broad window is 5:30 AM to 7:30 PM IST, with a few early exceptions:
- Golf — from 3:00 AM IST
- Surfing — from 3:30 AM IST
- Archery — from 4:30 AM IST
To convert any JST start time yourself: subtract 3 hours 30 minutes.
India at these Games
India is sending 496 athletes — 264 men and 232 women — across 36 sports. That is a notably smaller contingent than recent editions, because the Sports Ministry applied a stricter selection bar: broadly, athletes ranked inside the top six in Asia in their event.
The squad includes Olympic medallists Manu Bhaker, Aman Sehrawat and Mirabai Chanu, alongside PV Sindhu, the men's and women's hockey teams, and the cricket and kabaddi squads. A record 73 Indian athletes are competing in athletics.
India won 107 medals at the last edition, including 28 golds — the benchmark this contingent is chasing with a smaller team.
FAQ
Which channel is showing Asian Games 2026 in India?
Sony Sports Network, across Sony Sports 1 to 5. DD Sports also carries coverage free on DD Free Dish.
How can I watch Asian Games 2026 live streaming?
On the SonyLIV app or website, which holds the exclusive India streaming rights. Coverage began on 17 September.
Can I watch the Asian Games 2026 for free in India?
Yes, on DD Sports via DD Free Dish. Coverage there is more limited than Sony's five-channel spread, but it costs nothing.
What time is the Asian Games 2026 opening ceremony in IST?
2:30 PM to 4:30 PM IST on 19 September, which is 18:00 to 20:00 JST at Paloma Mizuho Stadium, Nagoya.
When does India first compete at the Asian Games 2026?
Before the opening ceremony. Women's cricket begins on 18 September, with India's quarter-final against Japan at 10:30 AM IST.
How many athletes is India sending to the Asian Games 2026?
496 athletes — 264 men and 232 women — competing across 36 sports.
How far ahead is Japan of India?
Japan Standard Time is 3 hours 30 minutes ahead of IST. Subtract 3:30 from any JST start time to get the Indian time.