In a historic moment for Indian sports, the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, concluded with India achieving a remarkable feat – a record-breaking haul of 107 medals. This marks a significant milestone in India’s sporting history as it’s the first time the nation has surpassed the 100-medal mark in the 72-year history of the Games. The Indian contingent displayed exceptional prowess, securing 28 gold, 38 silver, and 41 bronze medals.
Indian athletes left an indelible mark in track and field events and shooting, clinching 29 and 22 medals respectively. The athletics team brought home an impressive tally of six gold, 14 silver, and nine bronze medals. The shooters, with their exceptional performances, significantly contributed to India’s gold medal count. Notable mentions include rifle shooter Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and pistol shooter Esha Singh, each securing four medals.
This historic achievement reflects the dedication, hard work, and relentless determination of India’s athletes. It also sets the stage for a promising performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, igniting hopes of further glory on the global stage. The athletes have presented the nation with an early Diwali gift and demonstrated immense potential for future success.
One of the remarkable aspects of India’s campaign at the Asian Games is the astonishing 50-year age gap between the oldest and youngest medallists. Sanjana Bathula (15) and Anahat Singh (15) clinched bronze medals in roller skating and squash, respectively, while 65-year-old Jaggy Shivdasani secured a silver medal in bridge.
India’s fourth-place finish in the medals tally is the nation’s third-best performance in the history of the Asian Games, following their second-place finish in Delhi 1951 and third-place finish in Jakarta 1962. The Indian contingent, comprising 655 athletes, surpassed their medal count from the previous Games in Jakarta, where they secured 70 medals, including 16 gold.
Despite facing challenges in various sports, including last-minute changes in the football squad and legal issues in equestrian and boxing campaigns, the Indian team exhibited unwavering resilience and determination. The athletes triumphed over obstacles and represented their country with unwavering pride.
The 19th Asian Games also witnessed historic firsts for India. These include the team dressage gold, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty’s gold in badminton men’s doubles, and Sift Kaur Samra’s world record-breaking gold in the women’s 50m 3 Positions shooting event. The men’s hockey team also secured their place in the Olympics with a resounding 5-1 victory over Japan in the final.
While there were disappointments for a few athletes, such as wrestler Bajrang Punia returning without a medal and the women’s hockey team missing out on Olympic qualification, India’s overall performance at the Asian Games stands as an impressive achievement.
The success of Indian athletes at the 19th Asian Games underscores the nation’s growing prominence in sports and the government’s unwavering commitment to promoting sports and incentivizing athletes. With the aspiration of making India a sports superpower, the Indian Olympic Association is confident that these athletes will continue to excel and shine at the Paris Olympics in 2024.
As the curtain falls on the 19th Asian Games, Indian athletes return home, wearing their medals with pride, and eagerly anticipating future competitions, including the upcoming Paris Olympics.
