The Asian Games 2026 will bring together some of the biggest names in Asian sport. But not every event in Japan will be familiar to Indian sports fans. Cricket, hockey, badminton, and wrestling usually get most of the attention. However, the Asian Games have many other sports too.

Some events on India’s schedule may make viewers wonder what exactly they are watching. Some sports look like familiar games but have different rules. Others have their own unique style and traditions.

So, before the action starts, here are five lesser-known sports at Asian Games 2026 that Indian fans should know about.

5 unknown sports to watch at Asian Games 2026

Here are the five lesser-known sports that the audience can see at the mega-event. 

1. Teqball – When football meets table tennis

Imagine playing football on a table with a curved surface in the middle. That is the easiest way to understand Teqball.

The sport uses a special curved table and a football. Players cannot use their hands or arms. They must use other parts of their body to control the ball and send it back to their opponent.

A player can use a maximum of three touches before returning the ball. Players can compete in singles or doubles.

Teqball combines skills that Indian viewers may already know. It has the ball control of football, the rally style of table tennis, and the creativity of freestyle football.

The sport started in Hungary and has become more popular in recent years. At the Asian Games 2026, Teqball will make its debut as a medal sport.

India will have three representatives: Mohamed Anas Imran Beg, Declan Marshall Gonsalves, and Quimcy Dsouza.

For viewers, Teqball could be easy to understand and enjoy. The basic idea is simple: control the ball, find space, and return it accurately.

2. Kurash – Wrestling, but without the ground fighting

If you watch Kurash for the first time, you may think of wrestling or judo.

The sport has some clear similarities. Competitors wear jackets and try to throw their opponents. But one major rule makes Kurash very different: Kurash does not allow groundwork.

The fight stays on its feet.

Players use their grip, balance, timing, and strength to throw their opponents onto their backs. They cannot use strikes, kicks, chokes, or joint locks.

This makes Kurash a fast and explosive combat sport. Competitors do not spend a lot of time fighting on the ground. Instead, they look for quick chances to make a big throw.

Kurash comes from Central Asian wrestling traditions and has strong links with Uzbekistan.

India already has an Asian Games Kurash history. Pincky Balhara won silver, and Malaprabha Jadhav won bronze in the women’s 52kg category at the 2018 Asian Games.

India’s Asian Games 2026 squad includes Vipin Kumar, Vishal, Yash Kumar, Bharti, Sangita Balhara and Pincky Chauhan.

For wrestling fans, the most important thing to remember is simple: in Kurash, the fight stays on the feet.

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3. Soft Tennis – It looks familiar, but the ball changes everything

At first glance, Soft Tennis can look just like normal tennis.

Players use a court, a net, and rackets. They try to hit the ball into their opponent’s side. But the ball makes a big difference.

Soft Tennis uses a light, air-filled rubber ball. It weighs around 30 to 31 grams. Traditional tennis uses a heavier ball covered with felt.

This lighter ball changes the speed, movement, and rhythm of the game.

The sport started in Japan in the late 19th century. It later became popular in many Asian countries. Soft Tennis has been part of the Asian Games sports programme since 1994.

The scoring system also differs from normal tennis. Soft Tennis uses simple numerical scoring instead of 15, 30 and 40.

India has played the event at previous Asian Games but is still waiting for its first medal.

At Aichi-Nagoya 2026, India’s six-member squad includes Yogesh Choudhary, Om Yadav, Jay Meena, Aniket Chirag Patel, Aryan Thakur and Aadhya Tiwari.

For a new viewer, Soft Tennis may be the easiest sport on this list to understand. The interesting part is seeing how much the lighter ball changes the game.

4. Sepak Takraw – Football skills on a volleyball-style court

Sepak Takraw may create the biggest “wow” moments on this list.

Think about volleyball, remove the hands and add football-style kicking, heading and acrobatic moves. That gives you a basic idea of Sepak Takraw.

Two teams play on opposite sides of a net. Each team has three players in a regu. Players can use their feet, knees, chest, and head. They cannot use their hands or arms.

Each team gets a maximum of three touches before it must send the ball back over the net.

Then comes the most exciting part.

Attackers can jump high and use scissor kicks and bicycle-kick-style shots. These moves can make the sport look like a mix of football and martial arts.

Sepak Takraw at Asian Games is not a new event. The sport has been part of the Games since 1990. You can read the history of the game HERE. 

India has also built a medal record in the sport. The men’s Team Regu won bronze at Jakarta-Palembang 2018, while the women’s Regu won bronze at Hangzhou 2022.

India will send both men’s and women’s teams to the Asian Games 2026. They will have another chance to add more medals to India’s tally.

For new viewers, one simple tip can help: watch the attackers. Their aerial skills can be amazing.

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5. Sport Climbing – Racing against gravity

Sport Climbing may be the most familiar sport among these five. Its popularity has grown around the world, especially among younger audiences.

At the Asian Games, athletes compete on artificial climbing walls with many coloured holds. But the sport involves much more than simply climbing a wall quickly.

There are three disciplines: Speed, Boulder and Lead.

In Speed, two climbers race side-by-side on identical 15-metre walls. The faster climber wins.

Boulder works more like a physical puzzle. Climbers try to complete shorter but difficult routes without ropes. They need strength, balance and good problem-solving skills.

Lead takes climbers much higher. Athletes try to climb a wall more than 12 metres high. Officials judge them based on how high they climb within the given time.

Each discipline tests different skills. Speed needs explosive movement. Boulder needs creativity and technique. Lead needs endurance, strength and good route reading.

Sport Climbing made its Asian Games debut in 2018. India has competed at the last two editions but has not won a medal yet.

At Asian Games 2026, India’s representatives include Deepu Mallesh in men’s speed and Joga Purty in women’s speed.

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Why these sports deserve attention

The beauty of the Asian Games 2026 is that they offer much more than the sports Indian fans already know.

Teqball shows how football can become a completely different game. Kurash gives fans a combat sport where the fight never goes to the ground. Soft Tennis shows how one change in equipment can create a new version of a familiar sport. Sepak Takraw brings incredible aerial skills, while Sport Climbing tests speed, strength and strategy on a wall.

These events also give Indian viewers a chance to discover new athletes and sporting cultures. These sports do not always get the same attention as cricket or badminton.

The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games will have many famous athletes and major events. But some of the most interesting moments could come from sports that many viewers will watch for the first time.

Once you understand the basic rules, these “unknown” sports may not feel so unknown anymore.

What are your thoughts on these five games? Let us know in the comments. 

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