Shillong: India concluded the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games with 85 medals, consisting of 21 gold, 27 silver, and 37 bronze. This haul marks a decline from the 106 medals earned in Hangzhou. The country maintained fourth place in the standings, trailing China with 341 medals, Japan with 269, and South Korea with 150. A late surge of 11 gold medals in the final two days prevented a steeper drop in the rankings.
Performance dips in shooting and athletics drove the shortfall. The 30-member shooting team finished with 15 medals, down from their previous outing. High-profile athletes struggled with form and injury, while logistical hurdles, including transport delays and poor accommodation, disrupted preparations. Despite these issues, the report noted that logistical failures do not fully explain the shortfall, stating, "They do not fully explain the medal shortfall, but they exposed an athlete-support system here."
Archery emerged as a major success, with Kumkum Mohod becoming the first Indian to win individual recurve gold. The team earned five golds total in the discipline. Wrestling added two golds via Sujeet Kalkal and Aman Sehrawat, while Pranavi Urs secured India’s first individual women's golf gold. Parveen Hooda, Lovlina Borgohain, and Ankush Panghal delivered gold medals in boxing.
The hockey teams provided the most significant boost, with both the men and women winning gold. These victories secured direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Cricket mirrored this success, as both the men’s and women’s squads defended their titles. However, the tennis program failed to medal for the first time in 40 years, marking a notable low point for the delegation.

Comments