New Delhi: #Issbarsaupaar was the war cry when a 655-strong contingent was announced for the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou.
That dream has become a reality as India have hit a ‘century’ at the continental Games for the first time.
The men’s hockey gold, silver in men’s team recurve archery and men’s team bridge, and three bronze medals in wrestling on Friday took India’s official tally to 95 – comprising 22 gold, 34 silver and 39 bronze.
At least seven more medals are assured on Saturday as India will feature in men’s cricket final, men’s compound archery final (both Indians), women’s compound archery final, men’s and women’s kabaddi finals as well as badminton men’s doubles final.
That will take the overall tally to 102. And that number could swell further as the Indian women’s hockey team will play the bronze-medal match against Japan, a medal in chess is expected and also a one or two more in wrestling.
The previous best by India was 70 medals – comprising 16 gold, 23 silver and 31 bronze — at the previous edition of Asian Games – in Jakarta and Palembang five years ago.
Spearheaded by our athletics (29 medals) and shooting (22 medals) stars, India have pushed the bar much higher this time.
