Key facts
- India won 85 medals at the Asian Games in Japan: 21 gold, 27 silver, and 37 bronze.
- Neeru Dhanda won gold in trap shooting and a mixed team trap silver.
- Vithya Ramraj won a 4x400m relay gold, a mixed relay silver, and a bronze in 400m hurdles.
- Sahil Jadhav secured gold medals in the compound mixed archery team and men's compound team events.
- Lalremsiami Hmarzote scored the winning goal for the women's hockey team in their final against China.
- Ancy Sojan won a silver medal in long jump with a throw of 6.53 meters.
India achieved a significant medal haul of 85 at the recent Asian Games in Japan, with 21 gold, 27 silver, and 37 bronze medals, highlighting the nation's diverse sporting talent beyond cricket.
Athletes like Neeru Dhanda, who won gold in trap shooting using a borrowed shotgun and recovering from illness just before the games, and Vithya Ramraj, who won gold in the 4x400m relay and broke PT Usha's 400m hurdles record, exemplify the struggles and triumphs behind these victories. Many athletes and their families faced financial difficulties, trained with limited facilities, and often lacked institutional support.
Sahil Jadhav, a gold medalist in archery, contemplated quitting the sport due to slow progress and borrowed equipment before his mother sold jewelry to buy him professional bows. The women's hockey team secured a gold medal after a 44-year wait, with forward Lalremsiami Hmarzote scoring the decisive goal. Ancy Sojan, who won silver in long jump, battled polycystic ovarian syndrome and managed medication-related weight gain. Aslam Inamdar, a member of the gold-winning kabaddi team, came from humble beginnings, working odd jobs to fund his training.
Sports broadcaster Siddharth Pandey noted the importance of seeing diverse athletes succeed, particularly those from the often-overlooked northeastern states, believing it will inspire future generations to pursue non-cricketing sports. Vidya Pillai, the first Indian woman to win a snooker world championship, also spoke about the lack of recognition her sport receives.