The 19th Asian Games held in Hangzhou, the People’s Republic of China, from September 23,2023 to October 8, 2023, showcased a spectacular celebration of athletic prowess, cultural diversity, and international camaraderie, hosted by the Asian Games Federation, this edition of the games brought together 45 participating countries, exhibiting the best talents from across the continent, with over 40 sports, and a staggering 483 events.
But what has emerged as an undebatable truth for India that it has engraved it’s position of glory, determination, and the quest for excellence internationally. As one of the largest and most populous nations in Asia, India’s performance in the Asian Games holds great significance, not only in terms of sporting achievements but also in its impact on the nation’s sports culture and aspirations.
The Indian athletes participating amongst the cluster of over 12,500 athletes from diverse backgrounds, and outshining in their respective sports has for sure registered their names in golden letter in history of sports internationally.
Historical Perspective
It is pertinent to note that Indian Athletes have paved their way to reach the leader board of sports through their determination, undeterred hard work, zeal to be the first and off course basis their unhindered consistency in practice and efforts rendered backstage. The achievement of this glory is not a result of any overnight miracle, but rather it is the outcome of years and years of unstoppable practice and hard work contributed by the Indian Athletes and the Indian Sports fraternity.
The journey of India in the Asian Games began in 1951 when New Delhi hosted the inaugural edition. The nation immediately made its mark by winning 51 medals, including 15 Gold, 16 Silver and 20 Bronze, though ups and downs are part and parcel of any sports, but the intent, will and zeal to be the top scorer for Indian athletes has been an undefeatable factor driving them till date.
Indian athletes have consistently participated in various sporting disciplines and events winning numerous medals, particularly in sports like athletics, shooting, boxing, wrestling, and kabaddi. Athletes like Milkha Singh, P.T. Usha, Abhinav Bindra, and Mary Kom and Neeraj Chopra have become household names, and list of such sports gem in India is a never-ending one.
Indian athletes have consistently participated in various sporting disciplines and events winning numerous medals, particularly in sports like athletics, shooting, boxing, wrestling, and kabaddi. Athletes like Milkha Singh, P.T. Usha, Abhinav Bindra, and Mary Kom and Neeraj Chopra have become household names, and list of such sports gem in India is a never-ending one.
Asian Games 2023: India’s win recap
The Asian games 2023 were a melting pot of cultures, languages, and traditions.
Athletes from different nations came together, not just to compete but also to exchange ideas, learn from one another, and forge friendships that transcended borders.
India’s spirit of sportsmanship was evident in every competition, exemplifying the true essence of versatility which was evident from the effective participation in different and broad categories of sports.
With an unprecedented haul of 107 medals that included 28 gold, 38 silvers and 41 bronze medals, India has made a new benchmark for themselves at the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou, the People’s Republic of China.
India had sent 655 athletes to compete in 41 disciplines at the Asian Games 2023 held from September 23 to October 8. It was India’s largest representation at the Asian Games in the 19 editions held so far.
The Massive victory of India was boosted by numerous athletes including but not limited to;
Archery
Jyothi Surekha secured gold medal in women’s compound archery, triumphing over South Korea’s Chaewon with a score of 145-149, Ojas Deotale clinched gold, while Abhishek Verma settled for a silver medal in the men’s compound individual event, further adding to India’s medal count in archery.
Shooting
Indian shooters emerged as shining stars, winning a total of seven gold medals, making it the most successful sport for India at the games. Notably, four of these gold medals were achieved with world records. The men’s 10m air rifle team, comprising Rudrankksh Patil, Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, and Divyansh Singh Panwar, set a world record of 1893.7. Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar was part of the gold medal-winning men’s team in the 50m rifle 3 positions, setting another world record of 1769. Manu Bhaker, Esha Singh, and Rhythm Sangwan clinched gold in the 25m pistol with a world record of 1759. Sift Kaur Samra also smashed the world record in the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions with a score of 469.6 points.
Athletics
Indian athletics gave power packed performance, including Vithya Ramraj equalling PT Usha’s national record in the women’s 400m hurdles, Tejaswin Shankar winning silver and resetting a 12-year-old national record in men’s decathlon.
In Javelin, it was not just India’s ‘Golden Boy’ Neeraj Chopra, but also Kishore Kumar Jena who dominated in the competition. The duo scripted historic javelin 1-2 podium position. Indian athletes Parul Chaudhary and Avinash Sable’s double podium, while Tajinderpal Singh Toor defended his shot-put title, 4x400m relay team success and Tejaswin Shankar’s national record-breaking decathlon silver, were the spotlight moments in track and field.
India finished 3rd in Athletics at the Asian Games!
Badminton
In a historic achievement, India’s Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty secured the gold medal in men’s badminton doubles by defeating South Korea’s Solgyu Choi and Wonho Kim in two straight games (21-18, 21-16).
Squash
India’s squash team displayed outstanding performance, securing victory in the Squash Final against arch-rival pakistan, adding another gold to the nation’s medal tally.
Golf
Aditi Ashok made history by winning a medal in golf, a significant achievement for Indian golf on the international stage
Swimming
Though Indian swimmers did not win any medals, however, Indian swimmers set new national records in swimming, making their mark in the competition. Olympian Srihari Nataraj broke the national record in the men’s 200m freestyle, and five national swimming records were shattered in relay competitions.
Cycling
In cycling, the Indian men’s sprint team of Yanglem Rojit Singh, David Beckham Elkatohchoongo, Ronaldo Laitonjam and Esow Alben clocked 44.609 for a national record but could not make it to the medal rounds.
Sky is the limit
These milestones not only demonstrate India’s growing dominance in various sports but also inspire future generations of athletes to strive for excellence and represent the country with pride and determination. The Asian Games 2023 will be remembered as a momentous occasion in Indian sports history, marked by exceptional performances and historic victories.
And with continued investment, infrastructure development, and support for athletes, India has the potential to further shine at even greater heights, reinforcing its status as a sporting powerhouse in the world.
