India’s journey at the recent Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games offered mixed results, as the country aimed to build on its previous achievements. While India held on to its fourth place in the overall medal tally, the total count dipped significantly to 85 medals—comprising 21 gold, 27 silver, and 37 bronze. This marks a decrease from the record-breaking 106 medals, including 28 gold, won at the last Games in Hangzhou.
With ambitions to secure a top-10 position by the 2036 Games and a top-five ranking by 2047, the results serve as a reminder that maintaining progress amid rising expectations is no easy feat.
China continued to dominate the event, finishing with a staggering 341 medals, which included 169 gold. Japan followed in second place with 269 medals and 83 gold, while South Korea took third with 150 medals, including 39 gold.
Despite India’s fourth-place finish solidifying its status as a leading sports nation in Asia, evident gaps still exist. A standout performance in the last two days, with India clinching 11 gold medals, was crucial to maintaining this position, without which a top-five finish might not have been possible.
Disappointingly, two key areas—shooting and athletics—failed to deliver as expected. Both disciplines came with high hopes but fell short, revealing struggles with consistency and pressure management.
Shooting, historically a strong suit for India, saw its medal count drop sharply. The previous Games yielded an impressive 22 medals from the 30-member team, but this time, the team could only secure 15 medals—3 gold, 8 silver, and 4 bronze. Prominent athletes, such as double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker, had underwhelming performances, contributing to a sense of disappointment.
An uplifting moment did come from Neeru Dhanda, who made history as the first Indian woman to win an individual Asian Games gold in trap shooting. She also contributed a silver in the women’s team event and a gold in the mixed team event alongside Kynan Chenai. Nonetheless, the fragile balance of the shooting squad highlighted issues in mental toughness and finishing under pressure.
Athletics mirrored this trend, struggling to meet expectations. The loss of javelin star Neeraj Chopra to injury before events even began was a significant blow. Other athletes, including Tajinderpal Singh Toor and Murali Sreeshankar, also fell short, with injuries impacting performance. The women’s 4x400m relay team, however, managed to secure the only gold for athletics, but overall results were well below those achieved in Hangzhou, where India won six gold medals.
Compounding these setbacks were logistical challenges faced by the athletes, such as housing issues and transport problems, which affected their preparations and routines. While these factors cannot fully account for the drop in medals, they certainly highlighted the need for a stronger support system for athletes.
On a positive note, the Games also showcased India’s expanding sports base. Archery saw a historic performance from teenager Kumkum Mohod, who earned the first individual recurve gold for India, contributing to a total of five golds in the discipline, which matched the overall medal tally from Hangzhou.
Wrestling also shone brightly, with Indian wrestlers securing six medals, including two golds. Athletes like Sujeet Kalkal and Aman Sehrawat defeated seasoned champions, reflecting a fearless attitude among competitors.
In tennis, however, the Indian squad faced an unexpected downturn, coming away empty-handed for the first time in four decades. Golf did bring joy, with Pranavi Urs winning gold, making her the first Indian woman to do so individually at the Asian Games.
Boxing highlights included strong performances from Parveen Hooda, who made a triumphant return, and Lovlina Borgohain, who secured gold after previously winning silver.
Team sports featured prominently as well, with India’s women’s hockey team ending a 44-year drought for gold by defeating China in the final, while also securing qualification for the 2028 Olympics. The men’s hockey team followed suit with a title defense of their own.
Cricket’s conclusion solidified a successful outing, with India’s men’s team capturing gold after beating arch-rivals Pakistan, while the women’s team also triumphed.
While the Asian Games brought several breakthroughs and historic individual achievements, the shortfalls in shooting and athletics underline areas in need of attention. The results show that while India has the potential to compete at the highest levels, consistent performance will be key to transforming promise into medals in future competitions.
