05 October,2026 09:05 AM IST | Mumbai | Rohan Koli
Pics/PTI, Instagram,
The Indian women's hockey team achieved a monumental milestone by securing the gold medal with a hard-fought 1-0 win over defending champs and reigning Olympic silver medallists China. The victory was special as it ended India's 44-year gold drought since their only Asiad title in 1982. The team showcased tremendous consistency by remaining unbeaten and scoring a massive 69 goals and conceding just three in seven matches. Securing the 2028 LA Olympics berth was the icing on the cake
[popcorn number="69" desc="No. of goals scored by India's women's hockey team in seven matches" class="Default"]
Long-distance runner Gulveer Singh emerged as one of India's standout athletes after delivering not one or two, but three extraordinary performances. The 28-year-old put on tactically brilliant displays to win silver medals in the 10,000m and 1500m events, besides a bronze in the 5000m race. Though he did not win a gold medal, his performances stood out as he became the only Indian male track-and-field athlete to win three individual track medals at a single Asian Games edition.
Neeru Dhanda, 26, overcame a severe viral illness that required hospitalisation just days before the multi-nation event began to clinch an impressive gold in the women's individual trap. She became the first Indian woman to win an Asiad shotgun gold with an Asian record score of 28. She also won silver in the team trap event alongside Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer. There was no stopping Dhanda, who also produced yet another gold-winning show the following day in the mixed team trap alongside Kynan Chenai.
[popcorn number="28" desc="No. of points scored by Neeru Dhanda in the women's trap final, an Asian record" class="Default"]
Long-distance runner Sawan Barwal clocked a National Record (2:11:37) over the 42.195km course to give India its first Asian Games marathon medal in 44 years. What makes this mark special is that he became the first Indian to achieve an Asian Games podium finish in this event on foreign soil. The Army man from Himachal Pradesh maintained a disciplined pace throughout the race, finishing just 48 seconds behind Japan's Ichitaka Yamashita.
[popcorn number="2:11:37" desc="Sawan Barwal's timing, a National record" class="Default"]
Golfer Pranavi Urs came up with a historic performance, winning India's first-ever gold medal in the women's individual event at the Asian Games. Pranavi delivered exceptional consistency across all four rounds despite facing stiff competition from elite golfers. Apart from her individual gold, Urs anchored the women's team to silver alongside teammates Aditi Ashok and Diksha Dagar.
Seventeen-year-old archer Kumkum Mohod etched her name into the history books by becoming the first Indian woman to win an individual recurve gold at the Asian Games after beating South Korea's Oh Ye-Jin in the final. Mohod showed remarkable consistency in high-wind conditions to also win the women's recurve team gold alongside Ankita Bhakat and Kirti Sharma. The Asiad debutante also produced a podium finish in the recurve mixed team event, clinching silver alongside Dhiraj Bommadevara.
