- By Manik Sharma
- Sun, 24 Dec 2023 03:56 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Year Ender 2023: In the history of Indian sports, the year 2023 will be inscribed in golden letters as the Indian contingent surpassed the three-digit mark in the medal tally for the first time, defying all odds.
With a record-breaking haul of 107 medals, comprising 28 gold, 38 silver, and 41 bronze, India set a new benchmark at the Hangzhou Asian Games.
A total of 655 athletes were dispatched by India to participate in 41 disciplines at the Asiad, making it the largest representation the country has ever fielded in the 19 editions of the Games thus far.
Here are the highlights of how India did across different disciplines:
Sharp Shooting
Indian shooters excelled at the Asian Games, clinching a total of 22 medals, out of which seven were gold.
The men's 10m air rifle team, featuring former world champion Rudrankksh Patil, along with Olympians Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and Divyansh Singh Panwar, secured gold with a world record score of 1893.7.
Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar played a crucial role in another gold medal-winning performance in the men's 50m rifle 3 positions, where India set a world record of 1769.
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Manu Bhaker, in collaboration with Esha Singh and Rhythm Sangwan, secured gold in the 25m pistol with a junior world record score of 1759.
Additionally, Sift Kaur Samra set a world record in the women's 50m rifle 3 positions with an impressive score of 469.6 points. Palak Gulia, at the age of 17, claimed gold in the women's 10m air pistol, setting an Asian Games record of 242.1.
Athletics Accolades
Athletics emerged as the most fruitful sport for India at the Asian Games 2023, contributing a total of 29 medals, including six gold, 14 silver, and nine bronze.
The men's javelin throw event witnessed a fierce competition between Neeraj Chopra and Kishore Jena. While Jena briefly led with a throw of 86.77m, Chopra unleashed his season's best of 88.88m in the fourth attempt, securing a 1-2 finish for India on the podium.
Vithya Ramraj equaled PT Usha's national record in the women's 400m hurdles, and she also contributed to the mixed 4x400m relay team, earning a silver medal. Tejaswin Shankar secured silver in the men's decathlon, resetting a 12-year-old national record.
Avinash Sable set an Asian Games record in the men's 3000m steeplechase, adding another gold to India's tally. Parul Chaudhary in the women's 5000m race and Annu Rani in the women's javelin throw secured historic gold medals for India in these events.
Ace Archery
India witnessed top-notch performances in archery as well. Led by Jyothi Surekha Vennam and Ojas Pravin Deotale, Indian archers secured nine medals, including five golds.
The outstanding achievement surpassed India's previous best of one gold, one silver, and one bronze at the Incheon 2014 Games.
Badminton Brilliance
Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, the men's doubles pair, claimed India’s maiden gold medal in badminton at the Asian Games.
Charismatic Cricket
Both men’s and women’s Indian cricket teams secured their maiden gold medals in the Asian Games on their tournament debuts.
Speed Skating and Bridge Milestones
Sanjana Bathula became the youngest Indian to win a medal at the Asian Games, securing bronze in the women's speed skating 3000m relay event at the age of 15 years.
On the other end of the spectrum, Jaggy Shivdasani, at 65 years, seven months, and 20 days, became the oldest Indian to win an Asian Games medal. He was part of the men’s bridge team that won the silver medal in Hangzhou.
Other Disciplines
While most golds were won in track and field, shooting, and archery, India excelled in 22 different sports. Rowers, squash players, kabaddi teams, and the men's hockey team performed well, and there were historic victories in equestrian, roller-skating, wind-surfing, wushu, and sepaktakraw.