Nagoya (TIP): India’s campaign at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games has gathered considerable momentum, with a growing medal haul across shooting, athletics, weightlifting, wushu, badminton, rowing, squash and kabaddi raising hopes of a strong finish.
India’s tally climbed to 27 medals – three gold, 11 silver and 13 bronze – on September 26, with the women’s kabaddi team providing the latest golden moment. India defeated Iran 37-34 in a closely fought final to successfully defend its Asian Games title. The victory was India’s third gold of the Games, following the women’s cricket triumph and the mixed-team 10m air-pistol gold in shooting.
The latest gold has transformed the mood around the Indian contingent. What initially appeared to be a cautious start has developed into a steady medal-winning run, with athletes and teams from a wide range of disciplines now contributing to the tally.
India had entered Aichi-Nagoya after its record performance at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, where it crossed the 100-medal mark for the first time. India won 106 medals in Hangzhou, including 28 gold, 38 silver and 40 bronze.
With the Games continuing until October 4, the Indian camp can now look forward to several more opportunities to add to its medal collection.
Kabaddi delivers another gold
The women’s kabaddi team produced the latest highlight of India’s campaign, overcoming Iran 37-34 in a tense final on Saturday, Sept 26. The victory completed an unbeaten campaign for the defending champions and gave India its fourth women’s kabaddi gold since the sport was introduced at the Asian Games in 2010. India had previously won the title in 2010, 2014 and 2022, while Iran had ended its run in the 2018 final.
The Indian team had remained unbeaten throughout the Aichi-Nagoya competition before overcoming Iran in the final. The victory also strengthened India’s hopes of adding further medals through team sports.
The men’s kabaddi team has also reached the gold-medal match, where it is scheduled to face Iran.
Cricket opens India’s gold account
India’s first gold of the Games came from the women’s cricket team, which successfully defended its Asian Games title. India defeated Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the T20 final, posting 216/3 before bowling Sri Lanka out for 69. Smriti Mandhana led the batting charge with 79, while Richa Ghosh struck an unbeaten 49 off 22 balls. The emphatic victory gave India its first gold of the Aichi-Nagoya Games and extended its dominance in women’s T20 cricket at the Asian Games.
Shooting provides the second gold
Shooting has once again emerged as one of the main pillars of India’s medal campaign. Suruchi Singh and Kamaljeet produced the country’s second gold by winning the mixed-team 10m air-pistol event with a score of 484.6.
The shooting contingent has also contributed several silver and bronze medals. Elavenil Valarivan has been among the standout performers, winning silver in the women’s 10m air-rifle team and individual events.
India added another shooting silver on September 26 when Ashi Chouksey, Tilottama Sen and Vidarsa Vinod finished runners-up in the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions team event.
The steady flow of medals from the range has made shooting one of the biggest contributors to India’s campaign.
Barwal ends 44-year marathon wait
Athletics has provided another historic moment.
Sawan Barwal won silver in the men’s marathon on September 26, clocking 2:11:37, a national record and personal best. His performance ended India’s 44-year wait for a men’s marathon medal at the Asian Games. The last Indian to win a medal in the event was Hosur Kukkappa Seetharan, who took bronze at the 1982 Asian Games in Delhi.
Barwal’s silver has added another memorable chapter to India’s athletics campaign.
Baranica Elangovan has also created history by winning India’s first Asian Games medal in women’s pole vault, while Gulveer Singh added silver in the men’s 10,000m. India has also secured silver in the mixed 4x400m relay.
Mirabai and Roshibina keep India on podium
Olympic medallist Mirabai Chanu finally added an Asian Games medal to her collection with silver in the women’s 49kg weightlifting category.
Wushu star Naorem Roshibina Devi also secured silver in the women’s 60kg sanda category, continuing India’s strong record in the discipline.
Their performances have demonstrated that India’s medal prospects extend well beyond its traditional strengths.
Badminton, rowing and squash add to tally
India’s men’s badminton team secured bronze after losing 1-3 to China in the semi-final. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty registered India’s only victory against the Chinese side.
India has also collected medals in rowing and soft tennis, while squash has added another podium finish.
Joshna Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar won bronze in mixed-doubles squash, further strengthening India’s medal count on September 26.
India has also made its mark in mixed martial arts, winning its first-ever Asian Games medal in the discipline.
Hockey remains a major medal hope
The medal momentum has also raised expectations from India’s team sports.
The women’s hockey team has been in formidable form in the preliminary stage, producing some huge victories. Against Thailand, India registered a 20-1 win, with Deepika once again scoring eight goals.
Deepika has emerged as one of the tournament’s leading scorers and the Indian women’s hockey team remains one of the country’s important medal prospects.
The men’s hockey team is also in action, while the men’s kabaddi team has the opportunity to join the women’s side on the top step of the podium.
From cautious start to medal momentum
The narrative around India’s Aichi-Nagoya campaign has changed significantly within a matter of days.
The early concern over a relatively modest medal count has given way to growing confidence as podium finishes have come from an increasingly wide range of sports.
India now has 27 medals – three gold, 11 silver and 13 bronze – with the women’s kabaddi team providing the latest gold on September 26.
(Prabhjot Singh is a Toronto-based senior journalist who writes on Sports, politics and community. He can be reached at prabhjot416@gmail.com)
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