NEW DELHI: With 52 medals in the tally so far, the Indian contingent has performed exceptionally well in 51 medals at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. The impressive medal tally included 13 gold, 20 silver and 19 bronze led mostly by shooting events followed by athletics, women’s cricket, tennis, squash and equestrian, securing the country fourth place in the total medal ranking so far. 

By the end of the eight day, India’s impressive shooters had bagged seven gold, nine silver and six bronze in various events, while in athletics India won eleven medals so far, five medals were won in rowing, and three in sailing. Two medals each have came in equestrian, squash and tennis which included a gold each. Golf, cricket and wushu have fetched a medal each so far in the events for India. 

The 29-year-old, Avinash Sable who holds the national record, made history as he earned India’s first track and field gold medal with a dominant performance in the men’s 5000-meter steeplechase. Just a few minutes later, shot putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor added to the total by successfully defending the gold medal he had earned in Jakarta in 2018 with a mighty throw of 20.36 metres on his sixth and last attempt to beat back the challenge from his Saudi Arabian rival.

In the women's 100m hurdles event at the Asian Games in Hangzhou Jyothi Yarraji's bronze medal was swiftly upgraded to silver as the Athletics Federation of India immediately filed an official protest for pointing out Jyothi's erroneous start.

People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Korea and Japan are leading in the first three places in the medals tally so far with nearly one more week to go for the continental multi-sport event currently being held from 23 September to 8 October 2023 delayed by one year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  With close a week more to go the Indian contingent is expected to improve tally.