Asian Games: India Touches 100-Medal Tally

New Delhi: India has achieved an extraordinary milestone at the ongoing Asian Games 2023, reaching a historic total of 100 medals for the first time in its history. This remarkable achievement unfolded on the 7th of October when the Indian women’s kabaddi team secured the gold medal in the women’s team kabaddi event at the 19th Asian Games held in Hangzhou. Currently standing in fourth place in the overall medal tally, India’s impressive haul comprises 25 gold medals, 35 silver medals, and 40 bronze medals.

On a memorable Saturday morning, the Indian contingent won three back-to-back gold medals, including archery and women’s kabaddi, propelling the country’s medal count to 100. Archer Jyothi Vennam and Praveen Ojas triumphed in their respective individual compound events, while the women’s kabaddi team triumphed in a thrilling final match against Chinese Taipei, set India’s 100-medal feat.

Prime Minister Modi congratulated the athletes and called it a momentous achievement for India at the Asian Games. In a post on X, PM Modi wrote, “A momentous achievement for India at the Asian Games!  The people of India are thrilled that we have reached a remarkable milestone of 100 medals.  I extend my heartfelt congratulations to our phenomenal athletes whose efforts have led to this historic milestone for India.

Every awe-inspiring performance has made history and filled our hearts with pride. I look forward to hosting our Asian Games contingent on the 10th and interacting with our athletes.” India’s medal count includes 22 medals in shooting and 29 in track and field. The country has also secured 5 medals in rowing and 3 in sailing, with additional medals across a variety of disciplines in the Asian Games 2023.

Kabaddi Gold

The Indian women’s kabaddi team reclaimed their gold medal, a significant progress from their bronze finish in the 2018 edition of the event. The Indian women’s team dominated the first half of the match, establishing a 5-point lead (14-9). However, Chinese Taipei mounted a remarkable comeback in the second half, equalizing the score and staying competitive until the match’s conclusion. At one point, the Taipei side removed all of the Indian players from the court, gaining 2 extra points. Nevertheless, India displayed remarkable flexibility and ultimately secured victory with a score of 26-25.

Major Winners

Prominent among the major medal winners is the Indian men’s hockey team, which clinched their fourth Asian Games title by defeating Japan 5-1 in the final, contributing gold to India’s tally. In individual events, several female athletes brought glory to the nation by winning gold medals, including Sift Kaur Samra, Palak Gulia, Parul Chaudhary, Annu Rani, Parveen Hooda, Lovlina Borgohain, and Harmilan Bains.

The Indian women’s cricket team also made history by securing a gold medal in their inaugural appearance at the Asian Games 2023.

In the field of archery, Ojas Pravin Deotale and Jyothi Vennam emerged as champions, each claiming a gold medal in the men’s compound event and women’s individual compound event, respectively. Another noteworthy achievement came from the Indian athletics squad, which amassed 29 medals, including six gold, 14 silver, and nine bronze.

The Indian women’s recurve team secured a bronze medal in archery, while Vishal Kewat advanced to the final in Canoe slalom. The Indian women’s kabaddi team continued their winning streak by triumphing in the semifinals against Nepal, securing their place in the final.

In addition to these outstanding performances, several other athletes across various sports have made significant contributions to India’s impressive medal tally. This includes weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, badminton star PV Sindhu, and archery world champions Aditi Gopichand Swami and Ojas Pravin Deotale.