Hangzhou, China has been hosting the Asian Games 2023 for the past few weeks. With only a few days away from the Asian Games 2023 to conclude, India has already surpassed its previous record of medals in the intercontinental tournament.
In total, 655 participants from 40 sports are representing India in the Asian Games 2023. This Indian contingent includes some of Asia’s greatest athletes from a variety of sporting disciplines. The number of Indian athletes competing has also increased significantly since the previous edition of the international sports meet. India had sent 570 competitors to the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, where they competed in 36 sports.
India’s record-breaking medal tally at the Asian Games 2023
India has already topped its record medal hauls at the major quadrennial athletic event, with 86 medals collected so far in the ongoing Asian Games 2023. This includes 21 gold, 32 silver and 33 bronze medals. The previous record was 70 medals won by India at the 2018 Asian Games.
Shooters and track and field athletes have led India’s medal rush in Hangzhou, earning 22 and 29 medals, respectively. In various events, the shooters have won seven gold medals, nine silver medals, and six bronze medals. The rest of India’s 14 gold medals came from athletics, women’s cricket, equestrian, squash, archery, and tennis. Aside from athletics, India has five rowing medals and three sailing medals. Medals were also won in equestrian, squash, boxing, roller skating, and tennis. Golf, cricket, table tennis, canoe sprint, and wushu have also bagged a medal each so far.
Gold-winning events at the Asian Games 2023
India’s gold-winning events so far - 10m Air Pistol Team Men, 10m Air Rifle Team Men, 50m Rifle 3 Positions Team Men, 10m Air Pistol Women, 50m Rifle 3 Positions Women, 25m Pistol Team Women, Women’s Cricket, Equestrian Dressage Team, Tennis Mixed Doubles, Squash Men’s Team, Trap Team Men, Men’s 3000m steeplechase, Men’s shot put, Women’s 5000m, Women’s Javelin Throw, Archery Compound Women’s Team, Squash Mixed Doubles and Archery Compound Men’s Team respectively.
India ranks fourth in the medal count at the Asian Games 2023
India has improved in more ways than one, not just in terms of overall medals won. As of October 6, India is fourth in the medal count for the Asian Games 2023, trailing only China, Japan, and South Korea. India finished eighth in the medal count at the 2018 Asian Games, trailing China, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Chinese Taipei. This marks the development of India as a worldwide sporting powerhouse.
There is still plenty of time before the Asian Games 2023 concludes on October 8, which means India has the opportunity to add a few more medals to its tally.
Image source: Mint Lounge, Sportstar, TOI