The excitement is sky-high as India shines at the Asian Games 2023, with Indian athletes making their mark in various sporting disciplines. The nation is filled with pride as India has secured its place among the top four countries in the medals tally, showcasing its prowess on the international stage. In shooting, squash, sailing, wushu, women's cricket, equestrian, and athletics, Indian athletes have excelled, leaving a remarkable mark at the Asian Games 2023. As of now, India boasts an impressive tally of 82 medals, comprising 19 gold, 31 silver, and 32 bronze.
Athletics and shooting have emerged as the dominant forces in India's gold medal haul at the Asian Games 2023. However, what stands out is India's historic gold medal win in cricket, marking a significant milestone in the nation's sporting journey.
Let's take a closer look at some of the gold medal-winning moments:
Shooting, Men's 10m Air Rifle Team: Divyansh Singh Panwar, Rudrankksh Patil, and Aishwarya Pratap Singh Tomar not only won the gold medal but also set a new world record in the 10m Air Rifle Team event. Their combined score of 1893.7 points was a testament to their exceptional dedication, and it marked a fantastic start for India at the Asian Games.
The Indian Women's Cricket Team: Despite the absence of regular captain Harmanpreet Kaur in the initial matches, the Indian Women's Cricket Team displayed their dominance in the sport. They won the final against Sri Lanka, clinching India's first-ever Asian Games gold medal in cricket.
Equestrian, Team Dressage: After a long wait of 41 years, the Equestrian team comprising Anush Agarwalla, Hriday Vipul Chheda, Sudipti Hajela, and Divyakriti Singh secured a gold medal in the Dressage Team event. Their superb performance resulted in a score of 209.205, marking a historic moment in the sport.
Equestrian, Individual Dressage: Anush Agarwalla's outstanding performance earned India's first individual medal in Equestrian at the Asian Games. His contribution added to the Equestrian team's success, further highlighting India's prowess in this sport.
Shooting, Women's 25m Pistol Team: The trio of Manu Bhaker, Esha Singh, and Rhythm Sangwan delivered an excellent performance at the shooting range. Their combined efforts secured the gold medal in the Women's 25m Pistol Team event with a score of 1759.
Shooting, Women's 50m Rifle 3 Positions Individual Final: In a remarkable display of talent, Sift Kaur Samra clinched the gold medal with a World Record score of 469.6. Her incredible shooting skills set a new record in the Women's 50m Rifle 3 Positions Individual Final.
Shooting, Men's 10m Air Pistol Team: The trio of Sarabjot Singh, Arjun Singh Cheema, and Shiva Narwal continued India's shooting success by securing gold in the Men's 10m Air Pistol Team event.
Shooting, Men's 50m Rifle 3 Positions Team: Aishwarya Pratap Singh Tomar, Swapnil Kusale, and Akhil Sheoran obtained the Men's 50m Rifle 3 Positions Team event. Their outstanding performance resulted in a World Record score of 1769, setting a new standard in the discipline.
Shooting, Women's 10m Air Pistol Individual: India's Palak clinched the gold medal in the Women's 10m Air Pistol Individual Final with a score of 242.1, securing the top position and showcasing her impeccable shooting abilities.
Tennis: Rohan Bopanna and Rutuja Bhosale teamed up to win the gold medal in mixed doubles tennis. Their remarkable comeback from a set down in the final against En-shuo Liang and Tsung-hao Huang earned India yet another gold medal.
Squash, Men's Team: Abhay Singh, Saurav Ghosal, Mahesh Mangaonkar, and Harinderpal Singh Sandhu (who didn't play the final) displayed exceptional skills and teamwork in the Squash Men's Team event. Their victory against the arch-rivals Pakistan in the final secured the gold for India.
Shooting, Men's Trap Team: The men's trap team consisting of Zoravar Singh, Kynan Darius Chenai, and Prithviraj Tondaiman clinched gold with an Asian Games record score of 361. Their precision and consistency ensured India's dominance in shooting.
Athletics, Men's Shot Put: Tajinderpal Singh Toor delivered an exceptional throw of 20.36 meters to secure the gold medal in the Men's Shot Put event. His incredible strength and technique pushed him to victory.
Athletics, 3000m Men's Steeplechase Final: Avinash Sable set an Asian Games record timing of 8:19:50 to clinch the gold medal in the Men's 3000m Steeplechase Final. His exceptional endurance and speed made India proud.
Athletics, Women's 5000m: Parul Chaudhary displayed outstanding endurance to secure the gold medal in the Women's 5000m event with a time of 15:14.75.
Athletics, Javelin Throw: Annu Rani's remarkable throw of 62.92 meters earned her the gold medal in the Javelin Throw event. She achieved her season-best performance, highlighting her talent and dedication.
Archery, Mixed Doubles: Ojas Deotale and Jyothi Surekha Vennam showcased their archery skills by securing gold in the Mixed Doubles event. Their consistent and accurate shooting earned India its first gold medal in archery at the 2023 Asian Games.
Athletics, Javelin Throw: Neeraj Chopra engaged in a thrilling contest with compatriot Kishore Jena in the Javelin Throw event and successfully defended his gold medal, showcasing his skill and determination.
Athletics, Men's 4x400m Relay Team: The quartet of Anas Muhammed Yahiya, Amoj Jacob, Muhammed Ajmal Variyathodi, and Rajesh Ramesh broke the national record to clinch India's 18th gold medal at the Asian Games. Their outstanding teamwork earned them the top spot.
Archery, Women's Compound Team: The trio of Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Aditi Gopichand Swami, and Parneet Kaur secured gold in the Women's Compound Archery event, defeating Chinese Taipei with a score of 230-229.
Squash, Harinderpal Singh Sandhu, Dipika Pallikal - Mixed Doubles: Dipika Pallikal and Harinderpal Singh Sandhu combined their squash skills to secure a victory in the mixed doubles final, securing India's first-ever gold medal in the event at the Asian Games.
These remarkable victories, along with achievements in tennis, squash, and athletics, have made India proud on the international stage. The Asian Games 2023 has provided a platform for Indian athletes to shine and inspire the coming generations of sportspersons.