India experienced its most electrifying day of the Asian Games thus far, as a relentless charge from the archery and shooting contingents propelled the nation’s medal tally to an impressive 60. With a haul now comprising 10 gold, 21 silver, and 29 bronze medals, the Indian contingent has surged to eighth place in the overall standings, signaling a statement of intent on the continental stage.
Compound Archers Complete Golden Sweep
The headlines were undoubtedly dominated by the compound archers, who transformed the field into a showcase of Indian dominance by successfully defending all three team gold medals. The women’s trio of Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Chikitha, and Prithika Pradeep ignited the gold rush with a breathtaking performance, edging out China’s Wunier, Yue Wang, and Fangyao Wei with a score of 238-234. Notably, the Indian score equalled the world record, underscoring the world-class caliber of the squad.
The momentum continued with the mixed team event, where Chikitha and Sahil Jadhav displayed nerves of steel in a high-stakes shoot-off, overcoming Korea’s Jungyoon Park and Choi Eun Gyu 158-157. This victory carried monumental significance, as it secured India an Olympic quota place for the 2028 Los Angeles Games, marking the first time a country has qualified for the debut of the mixed team compound event in the Olympic program.
The men’s team, comprised of Kushal Dalal, Sahil, and Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru, rounded off the perfect sweep by narrowly defeating China 238-237. For Chikitha and Sahil, the day proved historic, as both athletes walked away with two gold medals apiece, firmly cementing their status as the architects of India’s archery success.
Neeru, Kynan Overcome Early Setback
At the shooting range, the narrative was one of resilience. Neeru Dhanda and Kynan Chenai faced a challenging start in the mixed trap event but steadily found their rhythm, eventually finishing with a score of 34—a feat that established new Asian and Games records.
For Neeru Dhanda, the gold medal is the crowning achievement of an exceptional tournament. Having already secured individual trap gold and contributed to the women’s trap team silver, Neeru stands as the most decorated Indian athlete of the current Games. Her ability to handle the pressure of multiple high-stakes events has been nothing short of extraordinary.
Hockey and Boxing Breakthroughs
The Indian women’s hockey team further bolstered the nation’s morale by clinching a 2-0 victory over Korea in the semifinals. By securing a spot in the final, the team has guaranteed at least a silver medal, marking a significant improvement over their bronze-medal finish at the previous Asian Games.
In the boxing ring, the tally is expanding rapidly. India is now assured of six medals in the sport—surpassing the previous edition’s output. Lovlina Borgohain highlighted the day with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over reigning 70kg world champion Natalya Bogdanova, punching her ticket to the women’s 75kg final. While debutants Priya Ghanghas and Kapil faced tough exits in the semifinals, both leave the Games with bronze medals, alongside super-heavyweight contender Narender Berwal. The stage is set for a blockbuster Friday, with Lovlina, Parveen Hooda, and Ankush Panghal all vying for gold.
Wrestling and Squash Success
Greco-Roman wrestling saw a historic performance from Sunil Kumar. Securing a bronze in the men’s 87kg category with a dominant 9-0 technical superiority win over the Philippines’ Roberts Callum Johnston, Sunil became the first Indian Greco-Roman wrestler to claim two Asian Games medals. This adds to the bronze he won in Hangzhou, successfully breaking a 13-year drought for the nation in this discipline.
Meanwhile, the squash courts echoed with promise as both the men’s and women’s teams advanced to their respective semifinals, guaranteeing two more medals. The men’s team, led by Veer Chotrani and Abhay Singh, cruised past Kuwait 2-0, while the women’s side mirrored that performance against Singapore. Led by Tanvi Khanna and 18-year-old rising star Anahat Singh, the team proved their depth, leaving veteran Joshna Chinappa with a well-deserved rest.
A Mixed Bag in Tennis and Beyond
While the medal haul grew, the tennis courts presented a more bittersweet reality. Sumit Nagal continued his pursuit of gold by dispatching Uzbekistan’s Sergey Fomin 6-3, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals, where he faces the daunting task of third-seeded Yibing Wu of China. However, India’s doubles aspirations concluded on a difficult note, with both N Sriram Balaji/Anirudh Chandrasekar and Yuki Bhambri/Dhakshineswar Suresh suffering close losses.
As the Games progress, India’s athletes continue to demonstrate depth and grit across diverse disciplines. Though the day proved challenging for participants in canoeing, esports, sepaktakraw, and cycling, the overwhelming success in the archery and shooting arenas has firmly positioned India as a force to be reckoned with in the final stretch of the competition.
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