Yes, that’s right. Two days before the official opening ceremony in Aichi-Nagoya, our athletes will step onto the field; not in track spikes or wrestling mats, but with a unique paddle sport making its Asian Games debut. This year’s Games aren’t just about medals; they’re about Olympic qualification. Seven disciplines; from sailing to squash; offer direct tickets to LA 2028. India’s hockey teams, in particular, carry the weight of both national pride and Olympic dreams. We’re sending over 70 athletes in athletics alone, including shot put king Tajinderpal Singh Toor. PV Sindhu, Manu Bhaker, Mirabai Chanu, and Lovlina Borgohain will all be in action; a star-studded lineup fighting not just for gold, but for continental supremacy. And yes; cricket returns. Shreyas Iyer leads the men’s T20 side, while Harmanpreet Kaur captains the women’s team. With Neeraj Chopra sitting this one out due to injury, the spotlight shines brighter on our young guns and veterans alike. Catch all the action live on Sony LIV and Sony Sports channels. The Games may start quietly; but they’ll definitely end with fireworks.