India not a sporting superpower, but can make presence felt at Asian Games
India has not been a sporting superpower, but it can make its presence felt at upcoming Asian Games. The nation has won a total of 778 medals in Asian Games till now, with 183 being gold medals. China, on the other hand, has won 3,570 medals, with 1,674 of them being gold. A small, unassuming sauce-plate of a gift given to every athlete participating in the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games offers a metaphor for the significance of medals at the upcoming Asiad.
The Asiad medal, no matter how much hype it creates, is just the appetizer for the Olympic Games at Los Angeles in two years. India currently holds 20 Olympic quotas, which can help secure qualification for the L.A. Games. Many Indian athletes have the potential to win gold in various events such as archery, badminton, rowing, boxing, and kabaddi.
However, achieving this goal requires meticulous preparation and adaptability. For example, Indian weightlifters like Mirabai Chanu and wrestlers like Deepak Punia have had a history of low performances in Asiad, but Nagoya presents an opportunity to redeem themselves. Additionally, Indian athletes like Jasprit Bumrah and Shreyas Iyer can add to the excitement of the Games with their performances.
The final medals to be contested will revolve around shooting and baseball, both of which have the potential to generate buzz and excitement among Indian sports fans.
Written by urgent.news from The Indian Express's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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