Akash Yumnam
Akash Singh Yumnam (born 1996) is an Indian sepak takraw player from Manipur.[1][2] He is part of the Indian men's regu and quadrant teams at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, his fourth Asian Games.[3][4] He was part of the Indian team that won a bronze medal at the 2018 Asian Games.[1]
Early life
[edit]Yumnam is from Laipham Khunou village, Imphal district, Manipur. In 2013, his father, a school teacher died and Yumnam had to work as a daily-wage labourer earning Rs.300 a day, to support the family.[4] After struggling for a couple of years, he secured a job with the Sashastra Seema Bal, a border-guarding organisation of the India government.[1]
Career
[edit]He was part of the Indian quadrant team that entered the semifinals in the 2026 Asian Games along with Malemnganba Singh Sorokhaibam, Bobby Kumar, Ram Kumar Sharma, Lokhon Singh Elangbam and Arun Raju.[5][6][7] The Indian team beat Myanmar 10-15, 15-13, 15-7 and is assured of a bronze medal.[8] Earlier, India defeated Laos and Vietnam in their first two matches.[9]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 Selvaraj, Jonathan (16 September 2026). "Akash Yumnam wants one more Asian Games medal: From construction work to India's sepak takraw star". Sportstar. Retrieved 1 October 2026.
- ↑ "Football on a curved table, wrestling without groundwork: Five little-known sports India will compete in at Asian Games 2026". The Times of India. 17 September 2026. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 1 October 2026.
- ↑ "Asian Games 2026: Full schedule, India's contingent, venues and medal hopes; all you need to know". The Times of India. 18 September 2026. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 1 October 2026.
- 1 2 "Once a daily-labourer, fourth-time Asiad campaigner Akash leads Indian squad buoyed by talent pipeline from Manipur". The Times of India. 21 September 2026. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 1 October 2026.
- ↑ "India at Asian Games 2026: Sepak Takraw schedule, squad, & live streaming details". Khel Now. Retrieved 1 October 2026.
- ↑ "Asian Games 2026: Full list of India's contingent going to Aichi-Nagoya". www.espn.in. 17 September 2026. Retrieved 1 October 2026.
- ↑ PTI (19 September 2026). "India at Asian Games 2026 : Full Schedule for September 20". www.deccanchronicle.com. Retrieved 1 October 2026.
- ↑ "India assures medal in Sepak Takraw Men's Quadrant at Asian Games 2026 after Myanmar win". Sportstar. 1 October 2026. Retrieved 1 October 2026.
- ↑ "India Secures Sepaktakraw Medal At Asian Games". Rediff. 1 October 2026. Retrieved 1 October 2026.