In a landmark moment for sports in Jammu and Kashmir, fencers Shriya Gupta and Vishal Thapar have been selected to represent India at the 20th Asian Games, to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4, 2026.

The duo are the first sabre fencers from Jammu and Kashmir to earn selection for the Asian Games. Shriya will compete in the Women’s Sabre Individual and Team events, while Vishal will represent India in the Men’s Sabre Team event.

Ahead of their departure, Tazayun Mukhtar Kawos, Secretary, J&K Sports Council, met the two athletes to wish them well and see them off.

Speaking after the meeting, Tazayun said, “Meeting Shriya and Vishal before they leave for Japan was a proud moment for all of us at the Sports Council. What they’ve achieved—becoming the first sabre fencers from J&K to reach the Asian Games—is the result of years of discipline and hard work. The whole of J&K is behind them, and we can’t wait to see them compete on that stage and bring laurels to the country.”

The J&K Sports Council also extended its heartfelt wishes to both athletes, saying, “Stand tall, stay focused and make J&K proud.”

J&K Police Officer Dushyant Sharma Named PMC Officer for Asian Games

In another development, Jammu and Kashmir Police officer Dushyant Sharma, of the rank of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), has been selected as a Prevention of Manipulation of Competitions (PMC) Officer for the Indian contingent at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

Sharma’s appointment has been approved by Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya and Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President PT Usha.

As PMC Officer, he will work to promote clean sport, fair play and integrity among athletes and officials. He will also create awareness about match-fixing, competition manipulation and suspicious approaches.

The Indian contingent is expected to comprise around 768 members, including athletes, federation representatives, officials and support staff.

A senior police officer, former international wrestler and sports administrator, Sharma previously served as Chef de Mission at the 13th South Asian Games in 2019 and participated in the IOC Observer Programme during the Paris Olympics in 2024.

Sharma said the focus should extend beyond medals to ensuring that Indian athletes compete with integrity and respect for sporting rules. His appointment has been welcomed as a matter of pride for the J&K Police.