Mumbai, 18 th September, 2026: Sony Sports Network has brought together an exceptional line-up of Indian sporting greats for its coverage of the Asian Games 2026 helmed by six-time Grand Slam champion, Sania Mirza in her first official role as a television presenter.
Joining her are Olympic medallist and badminton champion Saina Nehwal, two-time Olympic medallist and former Indian hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, Olympic boxing medallist Vijender Singh, former Indian hockey captain Viren Rasquinha, World Championships medallist Anju Bobby George, and Olympian and former table tennis player Neha Aggarwal Sharma.
The distinguished panel will appear on Sony Sports Network’s flagship studio show, Sports Extraaa, offering viewers a rare insight into the preparation, pressure and mindset required to succeed at the highest level of international sport.
Together, the panel represents decades of experience across the Olympic Games, Asian Games, World Championships, and other major international competitions. Their first-hand perspectives will take audiences beyond the results and closer to the preparation, strategy, pressure and emotion behind India’s pursuit of medals at Aichi-Nagoya 2026.
Comments:
Rajesh Kaul, Chief Revenue Officer and Business Head, Sports and International, Sony Pictures Networks India:
“The Asian Games bring together an extraordinary range of sporting disciplines, each with its own demands, pressures, and defining moments. Our expert panel reflects that diversity and features athletes who have represented India and succeeded at the highest level. We are particularly delighted to welcome Saina Nehwal, Sania Mirza, PR Sreejesh, Vijender Singh, Anju Bobby George and the rest of our panel, who will give viewers an authentic understanding of what athletes experience while competing for the country on such a significant stage.”
Sania Mirza, Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open Grand Slam winner in doubles, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri, Arjuna Award and Khel Ratna Award winner & 8 times Asian Games medalist:
“The beauty of the Asian Games lies in bringing together athletes from so many different sports, all united by the same dream of representing their country with pride. Sports Extraaa is a wonderful platform to celebrate those stories, discuss the emotions behind every performance and offer viewers a unique perspective on what it takes to compete at the highest level.”
Saina Nehwal, Olympic bronze medallist, two-time World Championship medallist, two-time Asian Games medallist, five-time Commonwealth games medallist, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri, Arjuna Award and Khel Ratna Award winner:
“Having competed at multiple Asian Games, I know the level of intensity and competition that athletes face across every discipline. Every match is a test of preparation, strategy and composure. I’m looking forward to sharing my experiences, breaking down key moments and celebrating the performances of India’s athletes as they compete against the very best in Asia.”
PR Sreejesh, former captain of Indian hockey team, two-time Olympic bronze medallist, two-time Commonwealth Games silver medallist, three-time Asian Games medallist, Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Khel Ratna Award winner:
“The Asian Games have given me some of the most memorable moments of my career, and I know the emotions athletes experience every time they wear the Indian jersey. I’m excited to relive those moments from the studio while sharing my insight through the defining phases of competition and celebrate the spirit of India’s athletes at the Games.”
Vijender Singh, Olympic Bronze medallist, World Championship medallist, two-time Asian Games medallist, three-time Commonwealth Games medallist, Padma Shri, Arjuna Award and Khel Ratna Award winner:
“Every medal won at the Asian Games is the result of years of sacrifice, discipline and relentless hard work. While fans witness the final performance, there is so much that goes into preparing for moments like these. I look forward to analyse those challenges and bring the journey of Indian athletes closer to the viewers while discussing the intensity of high-performance sports.”
Anju Bobby George, World Championship medallist, Commonwealth Games medallist, two-time Asian Games medallist Padma Shri, Arjuna Award and Khel Ratna Award winner:
“The Asian Games are where years of hard work are put to the ultimate test, especially in athletics where every centimetre and every fraction of a second matters. As someone who has experienced the highs and challenges of competing at this level, I’m delighted to offer viewers a deeper perspective on the technical aspects of competition while celebrating the incredible performances and stories emerging from India’s athletics contingent.”
Viren Rasquinha, former captain of Indian hockey team, Asian Games silver-medallist, Arjuna Award winner:
“Success at a multi-sport event is never just about individual brilliance, it is built on preparation, tactical awareness and performing under pressure when it matters the most. Through Sports Extraaa, I look forward to offering viewers a thorough understanding of these aspects while following India’s campaign across a range of sporting disciplines.”
Neha Aggarwal Sharma, represented India in Table tennis at 2008 Olympics, three time Commonwealth Championships bronze medallist:
“The Asian Games showcase the remarkable growth of Indian sport across disciplines, and it’s inspiring to see so many athletes competing on one of Asia’s biggest stages. I’m excited to be part of Sports Extraaa, where we can simplify the finer aspects of competition, celebrate India’s achievements and help fans connect more deeply with the performances unfolding throughout the Games.”
Watch the Asian Games 2026 live and exclusive on Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV from September 19 to October 4, with cricket coverage beginning September 17, 2026.
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About Sony Sports Network:
Sony Sports Network is the premium destination for sports fans in India and comprises sports channels: SONY SPORTS TEN 1, SONY SPORTS TEN 1 HD, SONY SPORTS TEN 2, SONY SPORTS TEN 2 HD, SONY SPORTS TEN 3 HINDI, SONY SPORTS TEN 3 HINDI HD, SONY SPORTS TEN 4 TAMIL, SONY SPORTS TEN 4 TELUGU, SONY SPORTS TEN 4 KANNADA, SONY SPORTS TEN 5 and SONY SPORTS TEN 5 HD. Sony Sports Network has an enviable line-up of marquee sporting action across genres in its portfolio including international cricket boards :Asian Cricket Council (ACC), England and Wales Cricket Board, New Zealand Cricket Board and the Sri Lanka Cricket Board. Also a premiere destination for football, Sony Sports Network is home to the best of world class football with the UEFA EURO 2028 along with UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Nations League, FA Cup, Durand Cup and more. The sports broadcaster also brings other sports like 2026 Asian Games, 2026 Commonwealth Games, Australian Open, Roland Garros, UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship), WWE, LivGolf, Extreme H, Formula E, DP World Tour as well as domestic leagues like Hockey India League, Maharaja T20 League and more to Indian audiences through the year to deliver a distinct experience and engage viewers in a multi-sport milieu. Sony Sports Network provides English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada commentary for various sporting events and scales up with more regional language commentary for marquee sports events.
About Sony LIV:
Sony LIV is an Indian OTT platform by Sony Pictures Networks India’ (SPNI) providing multi-screen engagement to users on all devices. The digital streaming player is home to 30 years of rich content from the library of Sony Pictures Networks India’ (SPNI) with over 40,000 hours of programming. Sony LIV subscribers get exclusive access to key sporting events from across the globe, the latest Hollywood shows, Originals, 18,000+ hours of TV shows and LiveTV. With 100 million+ app downloads, the platform has original series and movies across languages like Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu. The platform’s recent originals include Freedom at midnight, The Hunt: The Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, Maharani, Tabbar, Avrodh, Your Honor, Undekhi, Scam 1992 – The Harshad Mehta Story, Gullak, Mayasabha amongst others and reality shows like Shark Tank India and Million Dollar Listing India.
Apart from being the official Indian streaming partner for key global sporting events, Sony LIV keeps its viewers entertained throughout the year with live cricket, football, tennis, Wrestling, Golf, esports, racing and fight sports. The platform has been offering its subscribers a host of premium international tournaments like the UEFA Champions League, Asia Cup, UEFA Euro, Australian Open, Roland Garros, UFC, FA Cup, UEFA Europa League to name a few. The platform also has exclusive rights to bilateral series of key cricket boards- Sri Lanka Cricket, New Zealand Cricket and England and Wales Cricket Board.
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