Asian Games 2023, Day 11 in Hangzhou marked a historic day for India as Neeraj Chopra successfully defended his javelin gold medal. This victory, along with other outstanding performances, pushed India’s medal tally to a record-breaking 81, including 18 gold medals, making it the highest medal count for India in a single edition of the Asian Games.
Athletics Highlights:
- Neeraj Chopra’s Javelin Triumph: Neeraj Chopra, the reigning Olympic and world champion, once again showcased his exceptional talent by securing the gold medal in the men’s javelin throw. His remarkable performance delighted Indian fans as he repeated his 2018 Asian Games success.
- Avinash Sable and Men’s 5000m: Avinash Sable clinched the silver medal in the men’s 5000m final, adding another medal to his tally after his gold in the men’s 3000m steeplechase earlier in the competition.
- Women’s 4x400m Relay Team Shines: The Indian women’s 4x400m relay team, comprised of Vithya Ramraj, Aishwarya Mishra, Prachi, and Subha Venkatesan, secured the silver medal. Despite setting a new Asian Games record time, they were narrowly beaten by Bahrain, who claimed the gold with a new record of their own.
- Harmilan Bains’ Double Silver: Indian athlete Harmilan Bains continued her impressive run, clinching the silver medal in the women’s 800m race. This marked her second silver medal in Hangzhou, having also won silver in the 1500m earlier.
- Sheena Nellickal Varkey in Triple Jump: Sheena Nellickal Varkey represented India in the women’s triple jump final, finishing sixth with a best leap of 13.34m.
Bridge and Squash:
- Bridge Men’s Team Advances: India’s men’s bridge team outscored China in the semi-finals. Earning their spot in the final at the Asian Games. They will face Hong Kong China in the gold medal match.
- Saurav Ghosal’s Squash Victory: Saurav Ghosal secured at least a silver medal for India in squash. By winning the men’s singles semi-final. He aimed to capture his first Asian Games gold in the upcoming final against Malaysia’s Ng Eain Yow.
Badminton:
- Kidambi Srikanth’s Ouster: Former world No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth was eliminated. In the men’s singles round of 16, he lost to Japan’s Kodai Naraoka.
- PV Sindhu and HS Prannoy Advance: PV Sindhu and HS Prannoy made it to the quarter-finals. In their respective singles events keeping India’s badminton hopes alive.
Wrestling and Chess:
- Sunil Kumar’s Greco-Roman Bronze: Sunil Kumar secured the bronze medal in the Greco-Roman 87kg category, defeating Kyrgyzstan’s Atabek Azisbekov.
- Indian Chess Teams Perform: The Indian chess teams had mixed results, with the men’s team drawing against China. The women’s team won against Uzbekistan.
Kabaddi and Other Highlights:
- Men’s Kabaddi Dominance: The Indian men’s Kabaddi team continued their strong performance. Defeating Thailand and moving closer to securing a spot in the semi-finals.
- Lovlina Borgohain’s Boxing Silver: Lovlina Borgohain won the silver medal in the women’s 75kg boxing final. Adding to India’s boxing medal tally.
- Archery Gold in Compound Mixed Team: Indian archers Jyothi Surekha Vennam and Ojas Deotale won gold in the compound mixed team event.
- Record-Breaking Medal Tally: India’s stellar performances across various sports at the Asian Games 2023. Pushed the nation’s total medal count to a historic 81 including 18 golds, surpassing its previous record.
Conclusion:
Asian Games 2023, Day 11 was a historic and memorable one for India. Highlighted by Neeraj Chopra’s javelin gold, outstanding performances in athletics, and India’s record-breaking medal tally. The nation’s athletes continue to shine on the international stage, bringing pride and joy to their fellow countrymen.
