India's challenge in the Hangzhou Asian Games has a taste of historic feats. The 655-member Indian contingent is gunning for a record medal haul after bringing the highest-ever medal count in 2018. From Badminton to table tennis, Indians have created several firsts at the second-biggest multi-sporting spectacle.
Badminton team claims Silver for the first-ever time
The Indian Badminton clinched a historic Silver medal at the Asian Games when they agonisingly fell short of the Gold medal on Sunday, October 1. The men's team became the first team from the nation to play a final in badminton at the Asiad as India's best finish was a Bronze medal in the team event. This is India's first-ever entry into a Badminton team event at the Asiad since it debuted in sport in 1974. India had won only one Silver in the sport before this and that was a singles medal clinched by PV Sindhu in 2018. The Indian men were set for a Gold medal against the defending champions China as the team went 2-0 up in the best of five matches. But with HS Prannoy not playing due to injury and Kidambi Srikanth going down in the next one, India could not clinch the tie and lost 3-2.
Avinash Sable's first ever Gold in men's steeplechase
India's Avinash Sable also tasted history in the 3000m steeplechase event. The 29-year-old became the first from the nation to clinch a Gold medal in the men's 3000m steeplechase event at the Asiad. Sable clocked 8:19.53s and was in a race of his own in the race.
India in table tennis women's doubles semis for first time
Meanwhile, the women's table tennis also confirmed a historic feat for the nation with a first-ever semifinal appearance in the women's doubles event. The duo of Sutirtha Mukherjee and Ayhika Mukherjee stunned the Chinese world champions in the women's doubles quarterfinals with a superb four-game win. India has won two table tennis medals at the Asiad but none in the women's doubles which has now been confirmed.
Kiran Baliyan has a taste of success
India's Kiran Baliyan, the accidental thrower, scripted history for India when she won a Bronze in the women's shot put event on Friday. Kiran's 17.36m throw in the final was enough for her to take the podium. She became the first Indian woman to clinch a medal at the Asiad in 72 years.
Equestrian Gold after 41 years
The Indian Equestrian team was not short of anything other than magic. The team of Anush Agarwalla, Hriday Chheda, Divyakriti Singh, and Sudipti Hajela made a spectacular comeback in the dressage event to take the Gold medal earlier this week. The quartet and their horses gave India its first Gold medal in the sport after 41 years.
