Despite historic hockey and archery triumphs, shooting and athletics drops dented India's medal count compared to Hangzhou.
India’s campaign at the 2026 Asian Games concluded with a fourth-place finish, securing 85 medals — 21 gold, 27 silver, and 37 bronze. The tally marked a significant drop from Hangzhou’s 106-medal total, with seven fewer golds and 21 fewer medals.
China dominated with 341 medals, including 169 gold, while Japan edged into second with 83 golds and 269 total medals. South Korea claimed third with 39 golds and 150 medals.
The decline was most evident in shooting, where India returned with just three golds, down from seven in Hangzhou. Double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker failed to deliver, and several shooters faltered under pressure. Neeru Dhanda stood out as the first Indian woman to win individual trap gold, also claiming mixed team gold and women’s team silver.
Athletics faced early setbacks: Neeraj Chopra withdrew due to injury, Tajinderpal Singh Toor missed a hat-trick, and Avinash Sable finished fourth after returning from a serious knee injury. Only the women’s 4x400m relay team. Kiran Pahal, M Poovamma, Prachi Choudhary, and Vithya Ramraj, secured gold.
Preparation issues compounded the challenges. Accommodation and transport problems disrupted recovery and routines.
Yet, there were bright spots. Archery delivered five golds, with teenager Kumkum Mohod becoming the first Indian to win individual recurve gold. Wrestling added six medals, including gold for Sujeet Kalkal and Aman Sehrawat. In boxing, Parveen Hooda, Lovlina Borgohain, and Ankush Panghal all struck gold.
Hockey was the biggest story. India’s women ended a 44-year drought by defeating China 1-0, earning direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The men’s team retained their title and also booked an Olympic berth.
Cricket capped the Games with a victory over Pakistan in the men’s final, completing a clean sweep after the women’s team had already won gold.
A late surge of 11 golds over the final two days kept India in fourth. While the results showed promise in expanding talent pools, the dip in core disciplines points to the gap between potential and consistency. For India’s long-term Olympic ambitions, turning moments of brilliance into sustained performance remains the key challenge.
The Games revealed both progress and persistent weaknesses. Proof that India can compete at Asia’s top level, but not yet dominate it.
Be the first to comment
Join the argument. No password, just your email or a passkey.