85 medals later, India’s Asian Games reality check

Nagoya, Japan: India's performance at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games revealed a significant disparity between their ambitious expectations and the actual outcomes. While India secured a fourth-place finish in the overall medal standings with 85 medals, this was a stark contrast to their record-breaking haul of 106 medals in Hangzhou.

India's medal count consisted of 21 gold, 27 silver, and 37 bronze, which was 21 medals and seven gold fewer than the previous edition. China led the medal table with 341 medals, including 169 gold, while Japan and South Korea secured the second and third places, respectively. Despite these setbacks, India remains among Asia's leading sporting nations.

The campaign faltered primarily due to the underperformance of shooting and athletics, two traditionally strong medal pillars for India. Shooting, in particular, suffered a sharp decline, losing 15 medals from the 30-member team that had won 24 medals in Hangzhou. The biggest breakthrough came in mixed team events, with Suruchi Singh and Kamaljeet winning gold in the 10m air pistol mixed team event, while Neeru Dhanda became the first Indian woman to win an individual Asian Games gold in trap shooting.

However, the broader concerns remained evident as several shooters faltered under pressure, losing winning positions at crucial moments. Athletics also presented a major disappointment, with Neeraj Chopra withdrawing due to injury, and other athletes failing to deliver expected performances. Injuries further complicated matters, with Avinash Sable returning from a serious knee injury and Jyothi Yarraji withdrawing from the women's 100m hurdles.

Despite these setbacks, the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games showcased some positive developments, such as archery and wrestling delivering multiple medals, and tennis and golf providing a glimpse of potential for future success.