India has won two silver medals at the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou, the People’s Republic of China. The 19th edition of the continental multisport event began on September 23 and will conclude on October 8. The quadrennial meet was originally scheduled for 2022 but was postponed due to COVID-19. At the last edition of the Asian Games in Jakarta 2018, India achieved its best-ever haul of 70 medals, including 16 gold, 23 silver, and 31 bronze medals. This year, with a larger contingent of 655 athletes, India is expected to increase its medal count.
Among the sports, athletics has been the major contributor to India’s medal tally at the Asian Games. Out of the total 672 medals won by India, 254 have come from athletics. In Hangzhou 2023, India’s largest contingent of 68 athletes is competing in track and field events. The squad includes top athletes like Neeraj Chopra, Avinash Sable, and Jyothi Yarraji.
Apart from athletics, India is participating in various other sports like cricket, football, hockey, boxing, wrestling, shooting, weightlifting, badminton, and archery. This edition marks the first time India is fielding cricket teams at the Asian Games. The boxing and wrestling teams, featuring world champions and Olympic medalists, are strong contenders for medals. The shooting squad, including Manu Bhaker and Rudrankksh Patil, is also expected to perform well.
Furthermore, Olympic medal winners Mirabai Chanu and PV Sindhu, along with archery world champions Aditi Gopichand Swami and Ojas Pravin Deotale, will be competing in their respective events in Hangzhou. The Asian Games 2023 also provides an opportunity for athletes to secure Paris 2024 Olympic quotas. A total of 74 Olympic quotas will be awarded in sports such as archery, artistic swimming, boxing, breaking, hockey, modern pentathlon, sailing, tennis, and water polo.
As of now, India has secured two silver medals in shooting and rowing events. Ashi Chouksey, Mehuli Ghosh, and Ramita won silver in the women’s 10m air rifle shooting event. Arjun Lal Jat and Arvind Singh secured silver in the men’s lightweight double sculls rowing event. The overall medal tally for India stands at two silver medals.
In the medals table, China currently holds the top position with six gold medals. Uzbekistan and India are tied at the second position with two silver medals each. The Asian Games 2023 showcases top-level performances from athletes across the continent and serves as a platform to promote sports and sporting talent in Asia.
