India Achieves Record Medal Haul at Asiad After 72 Years

India has won over 100 medals at the Asian Games 2023, surpassing their previous best of 70 medals. The exact color of the remaining nine assured medals is yet to be confirmed. This achievement marks the first time in history that India has crossed the 100-medal mark at the event. Notably, India has also set a new record by securing 21 gold medals, surpassing their previous record at the continental event.

India’s exceptional performances in shooting, athletics, and equestrian have contributed significantly to their success at the Asian Games 2023. In shooting, the Men’s 10m Air Rifle Team consisting of Divyansh Singh Panwar, Rudrankksh Patil, and Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar not only won the gold medal but also set a ‘world record’ score of 1893.7 points.

The Indian Women’s Cricket Team, despite missing their regular captain Harmanpreet Kaur in the first two matches, reached the final and defeated Sri Lanka by 19 runs to claim their first-ever Asian Games gold medal in cricket.

In equestrian, the Team Dressage event brought India a gold medal after a long wait of 41 years since the 1982 Asian Games. The quartet of Anush Agarwalla, Hriday Vipul Chheda, Sudipti Hajela, and Divyakriti Singh showcased a superb performance, securing the top spot with a score of 209.205. Anush Agarwalla also earned a bronze medal in the Individual Dressage event, marking India’s first individual medal in Equestrian.

The Women’s 25m Pistol Team in shooting, comprising Manu Bhaker, Esha Singh, and Rhythm Sangwan, clinched the gold medal with a score of 1759. Sift Kaur Samra set a new World Record score of 469.6 in the Women’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions Individual final to claim another gold medal for India in shooting. The Men’s 10m Air Pistol Team, represented by Sarabjot Singh, Arjun Singh Cheema, and Shiva Narwal, also secured a gold medal.

In the Men’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions Team event, Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Swapnil Kusale, and Akhil Sheoran broke the previous World Record with an overall score of 1769, earning India’s fifth gold medal in shooting at the Asian Games 2023.

Palak topped the Women’s 10m Air Pistol Individual final, while the tennis duo of Rohan Bopanna and Rutuja Bhosale won the mixed doubles gold medal. The Men’s Squash Team, consisting of Abhay Singh, Saurav Ghosal, Mahesh Mangaonkar, and Harinderpal Singh Sandhu, emerged victorious against Pakistan in the final, securing another gold for India.

The Men’s Trap Team in shooting, including Zoravar Singh, Kynan Darius Chenai, and Prithviraj Tondaiman, set an Asian Games record score of 361 to claim the gold medal. In athletics, Tajinderpal Singh Toor won gold in the Men’s Shot Put event, and Avinash Sable set an Asian Games record in the Men’s 3000m Steeplechase Final. Parul Chaudhary triumphed in the Women’s 5000m event, and Annu Rani achieved her season-best throw to win gold in the Javelin Throw.

Ojas Deotale and Jyothi Surekha Vennam secured archery’s first gold medal of the Asian Games by defeating a Korean pair in the final. Neeraj Chopra defended his gold medal in the Javelin Throw event, emerging as the winner in a thrilling competition against Kishore Jena.

The Men’s 4x400m relay team, comprising Anas Muhammed Yahiya, Amoj Jacob, Muhammed Ajmal Variyathodi, and Rajesh Ramesh, broke the national record and clinched India’s 18th gold medal at the Asian Games. The Women’s Compound Team in archery, featuring Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Aditi Gopichand Swami, and Parneet Kaur, defeated Chinese Taipei to claim the gold medal.

Lastly, Dipika Pallikal and Harinderpal Singh Sandhu won the mixed doubles final in squash, earning India their first-ever gold medal in the event at the Asian Games.

India’s exceptional performance across various sports disciplines highlights their growing prowess in international competitions and their commitment to achieving sporting excellence.