Asian Games: India breaks new ground with century of medals and highest-ever rank on tally
A Games replete with historic firsts, a strong return to podium in sports it had earlier missed, and memorable comebacks will end with another landmark moment – for the first time, India will breach the 100-medal mark at the Asiad.
The unprecedented medal haul will also ensure India’s best-ever rank at the Asian Games in over 60 years, with fourth place behind China, Japan and South Korea now secured.
On Saturday, the final day of events before Sunday’s closing ceremony, the Indian team has confirmed medals in archery (three), kabaddi (two), badminton and men’s cricket. More are possible in women’s hockey and chess. (READ MORE)
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How Indian men’s hockey team turned around the ship from World Cup debacle to Hangzhou 2023 gold
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy has a new name for Chirag Shetty. “Rafael Nadal,” Satwik laughs. “He never gives up. I could see it this week.”
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They joke about it now, nearly 30 minutes after winning the country’s first-ever badminton gold medal at the Asian Games. But when they were on court, Chirag feared he’d collapse if he stood still. Or at least Mathias Boe did.
Between almost every point during the final, the Danish doubles coach of the Indian pair kept reminding and urging Chirag to move around the court. “He was constantly asking me to keep moving and not stay still because I still am not physically 100 per cent,” Chirag says.
But at least he was fit enough to take the court. Chirag and Satwik won India’s first-ever badminton gold medal at the Asian Games, defeating the South Korean duo of Choi Solgyu and Kim Won Ho 21-18, 21-16.
The historic triumph very nearly did not happen.
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It was the shooters and archers who aimed their sights at the 100-plus medal target Team India had set themselves for the Hangzhou Asian Games. This, coupled with the dramatic improvement in both track and field, powered India’s sprint to a record tally of 107 medals that included 35 golds.
The previous best at 2018 Jakarta — 70 medals, 16 gold — had been well and truly relegated to a distant second.
At Sunday’s closing ceremony, India’s march will flag many positives: Team medals in shooting indicate a new depth of talent; gains in compound archery is good news since the event is likely to be included in the Olympics; the track-and-field domination, the mother sport, added to India’s image as a growing sporting nation. And, significantly, the badminton gold and table tennis bronze made China sit up and acknowledge India’s presence in a discipline they have made their own – and for long taken their domination for granted.
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To the beats of Dangal, Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy shook a leg on the court and the crowd joined them. To celebrate their historic men’s doubles gold medal, the two would rip their shirts and fling their racquets into the stands. The fans, mostly Chinese, reciprocated by humming the song, dancing with them and giving the warmest reception any Indian has received at these Games.
Hangzhou, for that brief moment, seemed like Haryana, until a tiny section of the crowd chanted, “Jiayou, Yindu!” Come on, India.
For the entire fortnight, India’s athletes have endured hostile surroundings, with the locals supporting anybody but them. In a dramatic turn of events, on the final night the mood changed.
Chirag and Satwik, with their power-packed entertaining brand game, regaled a hard-to-please nation that is so used to watching top quality badminton. So when the Indian pair showed the spectators some love, they got back a lot more.
READ MIHIR VASAVDA'S PIECE
For 15 years, Jyothi Vennam did not win much. In the last six months, she’s won ‘everything everywhere all at once’.
The Oscar-winning movie’s reference isn’t merely because of the South Korean opponent she overwhelmed on a cold, wet Saturday morning.
Instead, it is also to underline the stupendous rise of the 27-year-old archer. The record-breaking open water swimmer, whose archery career has been punctuated by near-misses and heartbreaks, has achieved almost everything she could – equalling the world record, winning medals at the World Cups, World Championships and now, the Asian Games.
And having won everywhere – from Antalya to Paris – Hangzhou is her moment of crowning glory. The 27-year-old won a hat-trick of gold medals after demolishing South Korea’s So Chaewon 149-146, adding to the mixed and women’s team titles she’d already won this week.
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Both India and Iran took turns to argue with officials. Federation mandarins got involved. There was a lot of arguing. Players sat on the mat in protest. The officials changed their decision at least three times. Finally India wrested the gold medal from Iran which they had lost at Jakarta 2018.
Read More about the final where officials changed their decision three times and the final was halted for an hour
Both teams took turns to argue with officials. Federation officials got involved. There was a lot of arguing. Players sat on the mat in protest. The officials changed their decision at least three times. Finally India claimed the gold. (READ WHAT TRANSPIRED)
Here's a look at where the biggest difference was between 2018 and 2023 for India as the tally went from 70 to 107.
And so India finish with 107 medals! 28 gold, 38 silver, and 41 bronze. The country's best ever showing at Asian Games comes to a conclusion. But don't leave us just yet, we will have more for you to reflect on.
Chess, men's team event: SILVER MEDAL ALERT! And for the last Indian medal from Hangzhou we go to D Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, Vidit Gujarathi, Pentala Hari Krishna and Praggnanandhaa. The Indian men's chess team finishes 2nd behind Iran.
Women's team event: SILVER MEDAL ALERT. Here's the official confirmation that at the end of Round 9, the Indian women's team of Koneru Humpy, Vantika Agrawal, Vaishali Rameshbabu, Savitha Sri Baskar, Harika Dronavalli finished 2nd in the standings behind China. In today's final round, they defeated Kore 4.0 - 0.0
So, almost all Indian events are done. We are waiting on confirmation of the chess team event Round 9 results but Indian men and women are in line to win silver each here, as per Chessbase India. We will wait for a confirmation once the matches are done.
Wrestling Men's Freestyle 86Kg:
The only silver from wrestling for Indian contingent, as Deepak Punia goes down only to the man who barely loses to anyone other than David Taylor of USA. A good day for Deepak, who came close to a medal in Tokyo and has had injury issues since.
Wrestling Men's Freestyle 86Kg Gold Medal Match: Deepak tries going on the attack, has a hold of Yazdani but the legend counters superbly. And gets the 2 points he needed for the technical superiority (VSU) win.
Men's Freestyle 86Kg Gold Medal Match: The first period ends just before Yazdani could make another move. Deepak just about hanging in there, but is 2 points away from a VSU loss.
Men's Freestyle 86Kg Gold Medal Match: This is dominance. A 6-0 lead for Yazdani who is treating Deepak almost like he is a wrestler from a lower weight category, lifting the Indian up and turning him over easily. Another takedown follows, and it is 8-0 still in the first perioid
Men's Freestyle 86Kg Gold Medal Match: Yazdani with a couple of pushout points and a caution against Deepak as well. Yazdani has a hold of Deepak but the Indian makes sure he doesn't concede any
Here's the official confirmation on why Ruturaj and Co were given gold – "India ranks to Gold Medal and Afghanistan ranks to Silver Medal based on the ICC ranking (Asian Countries only), India-Ranked 1st;
Coach Janneke Schopman in tears after India held on to win bronze. They came with hopes of winning hold. But manage to get onto the podium and a bronze that this team deserves.
Women's bronze medal match, IND 2-1 JPN: INDIA WIN! They are solid in defence under pressure and in the end, in pouring rain, there is an outburst of emotions too! The players hug each other. Coach Janneke Schopman is sobbing on the sidelines, leaning on the sideboards even as the members of staff and players pat her on the back. A quick handshake with Japan coach and former India player Jude Menezes too. This Indian women's team came for gold, so perhaps there is a tinge of disappointment still. But they do know how to bounce back from a setback. Did it at the World Cup. Did it at CWG. Have done it in Hangzhou.
Women's bronze medal match, IND 2-1 JPN: A massive save on the line by Japan after the goalkeeper is beaten. Keeps Japan alive and they are piling on the pressure with 70 secs to go.
Women's bronze medal match, IND 2-1 JPN: A massive save on the line by Japan after the goalkeeper is beaten. Keeps Japan alive and they are piling on the pressure with 70 secs to go.
INDIAN MEN'S KABADDI TEAM WINS GOLD MEDAL.
India have 28 golds.
India win that final 33-29 after a farcical finale that was interrupted for a long time. Finally, the ruling went in India's favour.
Women's bronze medal match, IND 2-1 JPN: GOAL INDIA! There it is, the lead again. Sushila with a rare goal. The women in blue have dominated proceedings in the last few minutes, attacking threat wise. And the pressure finally pays, a lovely worked variation from PC and the ball is cycled nicely before Sushila is found in space and she lifts it into the net.
Women's bronze medal match, IND 1-1 JPN: A big chance is not converted by India but the pressure is always from the women in blue. Another PC early in Q4.
Women's bronze medal match, IND vs JPN: End of Q3, it is still 1-1. Are we going to see a shootout here? Or can Janneke Schopman's side find a spark in the final quarter?
Cricket, Men's Team final, IND vs AFG: The Indian players are celebrating as the rain doesn't relent. The match has been abandoned. Afghanistan's innings hadn't been completed. And by virtue of being the higher-ranked team in the tournament, India are winners. Anti climactic finish to cricket.
They were denied at World Championships, and at Singapore and Malaysia this year. Low points they dealt with by returning to the board. But Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty bounced back every single time from disappointment in 2023. And on Saturday in Hangzhou, they won a historic Asian Games gold.
No Indian shuttler had ever won the Asian Games gold medal before this.
Satwik-Chirag beat pedigreed Koreans Choi Sol Gyu and Kim Won Ho 21-18, 21-16, blazing with their attacking play and holding their nerve when trailing to give India its finest shuttle moment at the Asiad.
READ SHIVANI NAIK'S PIECE
Men's Team final, IND vs AFG: While the Kabaddi gold medal match is suspended for goodness why (well, more on the blog below), the cricket match is suspended because of the most obvious reasons. Rain.
Women's bronze medal match, IND vs JPN: Nearly at the stroke of half time, Japan equalised and the third quarter begins with the score at 1-1.
With just over one minute left in the final, both teams are deadlocked 29-29 and there's mayhem!
Pawan Sehrawat goes in for a raid and strays outside the lobby. So he should be out regardless. An Iranian player Bastami goes over the end line, which is why he's should be out as well. Those bits are what everyone agrees with.
But there are four Iranian players who have joined Pawan out of the lobby. But there is a clash over the rule interpretation. One rule says only Pawan should be out. Indians are asking for four players to be sent out. Iran saying just the one player should be out.
Initially, the score after review is one player each going out. India protest. The officials review once more. And then after a lengthy watching of replays, they says Iran should have four players out and India one player out.
That leads to more protests from Iranians. They say just the one Iran player should be out.
An AKFI official shows up, and there is another review. This time, after another lengthy argument between everyone involved, the officials say one player each has gone out. Massive protests from the Indian camp once more.
The officials have been confused all game and another long discussion happening. Indians have planted themselves on the mat.
"We don’t fear Chinese, Koreans or Japanese; they might be thinking, ‘Oh sh*t, we are playing Chirag and Satwik’"
After Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty won the prestigious Indonesian Open earleir this year, the then World No 3 Indian pairing from Amalapuram and Mumbai said that at The Indian Express' Idea Exchange. They certainly walked the talk at the Asian Games.
READ THE FULL INTERVIEW
Satwik-Chirag 17-14
Indians pull away with an out of position scramble. But they GET.THE.POINT. at 16-13.
Satwik-Chirag 14-12
Chirag mouths a few aggressive nothings after a kill down the centre to restore 13-11 lead. Satwik error in net follows. Kim return from backcourt limps low as Satwik sets him up. (From Shivani Naik)
Satwik-Chirag are up 12-11
Chirag's swivel serve is a gentler swivel. Slight confusion on forecourt as Chirag return in net. (From Shivani Naik)
Women's bronze medal match, IND vs JPN: India have the early lead thanks to a penalty stroke. Deepika scores
Satwik-Chirag 21-18, 11-7 in second
Choi being put under pressure on the low defense. But Kim gets Korea to 7-10 pulling it back a tad with his net intervention. Error flows out of Choi as he floats one out for India to lead. (From Shivani Naik)
Satwik-Chirag 8-4 up
Satwik has been working flanks well with the corner straight shots both semis and final day. (By Shivani Naik)
Hockey, Women's bronze medal match, IND vs JPN: After their disappointment against China can Savita Punia and Co pick themselves up?
Captain Pawan comes in for a do-or-die raid, and he's brought down.
INDIA 28-28 IRAN
Naveen is brought down, but it looks like three Iranian players have picked up injuries
Chinese spectators enjoying MD badminton in the only way they can - appreciating attacking doubles skills as neutrals. MD is fun that way - pulls you in with breathless exchanges (From Shivani Naik)
Men's Team final, IND vs AFG: RAIN STOPS PLAY! 112/5 after 18.2 overs. It has been drizzling for a while now, but it finally gets significant enough for the players to walk off.
Satwik-Chirag take the opener 21-18 vs Kim-Choi with late offense
Kim won-ho has two crucial points to pull away at 15-13 after Indians level at 13-13. Defends well on 3 sharp attacks and rushes to net for scythe. A sharp winner moments later. Kim is dangerous from the net. Frenzied fast rally at 18-15 with midcourt attacking exchanges that goes Korean way. Indians pull back. It doubled in intensity with Kim defending sitting down, but Indians prevail for 18-18 rally. Chirag sends a monster down the middle to take lead at 19-18. No change of shuttle allowed, yellow card for Choi. Indians play the last big points perfectly and calmly, as Satwik kill gives them the set 21-18. (from Shivani Naik)
Men's doubles final: Another stunning rally, won by the Indians to make it 18-18.
IRAN HAVE LEVELLED AT 25-25
With just under 10 mintues left, the scores are level. India were cruising with a five-point lead. But then, Amirhossein Bastami lulls a raider down with an incredible ankle hold. Then, with just three Indian defenders on the mat, Mohammadreza Shadlouchiyaneh manages to get two out in one raid. And finally, the Iranians effect an all out!
Men's Team final, IND vs AFG: OH, WOW! Naib sends another one into the trees beyond the fence, this time off Arshdeep. AFG 109/5 after 18 overs. The 50-run stand comes up.