In a First, India Wins 100 Medals in an Asia Games Edition
Sports

In a First, India Wins 100 Medals in an Asia Games Edition

Incredible India signed off Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games in China with a record 107 medals (28 gold, 38 silver, 41 bronze) to finish fourth on the medal tally. This is the nation’s biggest-ever haul in a single edition of the quadrennial games.

The feat of 100 medals was registered on October 7 as the Indian women’s kabaddi team won a gold medal beating Chinese Taipei at the 19th Asian Games 2023.

It is only the second time that India has won over 100 medals in any of the three international games — The Olympics, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. India won 101 medals at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. The latest record crossed this mark comfortably.

Among the major highlights of this year’s games, Olympic and world champion Neeraj Chopra defended his Asiad javelin title with a massive 88.88 m throw. Athletics fetched the highest number of medals among all disciplines, with 29 medals. Indian shooters also did better with 22 medals from their best count of 14 at Doha 2006 games; 12 of these medals have come in team events. The men’s and women’s cricket and kabaddi team did the double, picking gold medals in each of these sections.

The Indian duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty downed South Korea’s Choi Solgyu-Kim Wonho 21-18 21-16 to clinch a historic gold medal, becoming the first-ever Indian badminton doubles pair to win the Asian Games gold medal.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the momentous achievement of the Indian sportspersons.