Asian Games 2023: In historic feat, India wins 100 medals for the first time

The Indian contingent on Saturday claimed the unprecedented 100th medal at the Asian Games as the women’s kabaddi team beat the Chinese Taipei 26-25 in a thrilling encounter.

India became only the fourth country to achieve the feat after China, Japan and Korea.

Calling it a “momentous achievement”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi annnounced that he will host the country’s contingent on October 10.

Ojas Pravin Deotale clinched Gold medal in Archery on Saturday, the day 14 of the 19th Asian Games at Fuyang Yinhu Sports Centre.

Skipper Harmanpreet Singh led admirably as the Indian men’s hockey team mauled defending champions Japan 5-1 to reclaim the Asian Games gold in Hangzhou in China, their fourth in the continental showpiece, after nine years.

Talented shuttler Ayush Shetty on Saturday assured India of a medal at the World Junior Championships after sailing into the men’s singles semifinals in Spokane, USA.

Tharushi Karunaratne, an auto-rickshaw driver’s daughter, became the toast of Sri Lanka as she clinched the 800 metres gold at the Asian Games in China, making it the island nation’s first gold in athletics at the Asian Games since 2002.

India’s Harmilan Bains won the silver medal, while China’s Chunyu Wang claimed bronze in Wednesday’s highly competitive women’s 800m race.

Tharushi clocked a time of 2:03.20 seconds to win gold.

Meanwhile, Neeraj Chopra on October 4 became the first Indian Olympic track and field gold medallist in the Tokyo Games in 2021.

In August 2023, Chopra scripted history yet again as he became the first Indian to win a gold medal at the World Athletics Championships with a big throw of 88.17m in the men’s javelin final in Budapest, Hungary.

India’s previous best came at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang when the country’s athletes returned with 70 medals, including 16 gold, 23 silver and 31 bronze.