Harmanpreet, Manu and Pooja spearhead Panjab-Haryana challenge at Asian Games

By Asia Samachar  | India |

Harmanpreet Kaur will lead a strong Panjab-Haryana presence for India at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, with the cricket captain joined by six women athletes from neighbouring Haryana across shooting, athletics, boxing and wrestling.

The Games officially run from Sept 19 to Oct 4, with more than 500 Indian athletes competing across 36 disciplines.

For Harmanpreet, the campaign offers another opportunity to add to an already distinguished career. The 37-year-old from Moga, Panjab, captains the Indian women’s cricket team as it defends the gold won at Hangzhou in 2023. She also led India to its first Women’s Cricket World Cup title in 2025 and earlier produced one of women’s cricket’s most celebrated innings — an unbeaten 171 against Australia in the 2017 World Cup semi-final.

Haryana’s biggest name is shooter Manu Bhaker, who comes from Goria village in Jhajjar district. Bhaker made history at the Paris Olympics in 2024 by winning bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol and another bronze with Sarabjot Singh in the mixed team event, becoming the first Indian in the post-Independence era to win two medals at one Olympics. She also helped India win the women’s 25m pistol team gold at the previous Asian Games.

Another Haryana athlete attracting attention is Pooja Singh, the high jumper from Bosti village in Fatehabad district. The 19-year-old won the Asian senior title in 2025 before raising the Indian women’s high jump record to 1.93m while taking Asian Under-20 gold in Hong Kong in May. Raised in a farming family, Pooja’s rise began with rudimentary training facilities in her village.

Haryana’s representation also includes Suruchi Singh of Sasroli village, Jhajjar, who joins Bhaker in the pistol events; Bhiwani boxer Preeti Pawar, the reigning Asian and Commonwealth champion; Antim Panghal of Bhagana in Hisar, who competes in the women’s 53kg wrestling division; and hard-hitting India opener Shafali Verma of Rohtak.

Together, the seven underline the continuing contribution of Panjab and Haryana to India’s challenge on the Asian sporting stage.

CHECK OUT MORE FEEDBACKS FOR THIS REPORT AT FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM