2022 Asian Games: 15 medals on day 8 as India hit a half century; shooters sign off with a record haul of 22 medals

With this superlative show, India has now 53 medals; including 13 gold, 21 silver and 19 bronze medals as it continues to occupy the fourth spot on the medals table.

2022 Asian Games: 15 medals on day 8 as India hit a half century; shooters sign off with a record haul of 22 medals

Toor and Indian Badminton men's team (Image via SAI)

It was a super Sunday for Indian athletes as the competitors across various sports accumulated 15 medals, the most in a single day, at the 2022 Asian Games taking place in Hangzhou. With this India has also breached the 50-mark in the medals tally and currently has 53 medals to its name, including 13 golds. It was a record-breaking day in Indian sporting history as 3 gold, 7 silver, and 5 bronze medals came on day 8 of the quadrennial extravaganza.

On the last day of the competition, shooters brought home 3 more medals to sign off with a total of 22; the most in a single edition of the Asian Games. The men’s and the women’s trap team clinched gold and silver, respectively. Kynan Chenai then returned to win his second medal of the day as he finished third in the men’s individual trap final. The performance of the shooters has ensured that India has a very good chance to record its best-ever medal tally in the history of the Games.

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If shooting has provided India with 22 medals in this edition, the Indian athletics contingent is determined to surpass it and become the most successful sport for India in Hangzhou. This was evident today as a staggering 9 medals were won. India finished on the podium in each and every final that took place today and has already 12 medals from the sport with more than half of the events yet to begin. For a detailed list of medalists in athletics on day 8 of the 2022 Asian Games, Please lick here.

Besides this, Indian golfing sensation Aditi Ashok who dominated the field for 3 consecutive days and was having a healthy 7-stroke advantage over the second-placed athlete, fizzled out on the final day as a card of 5-over pushed her to the second spot. Nevertheless, Aditi, who finished an agonizing fourth in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, ensured that she is on the podium this time around as she became the first Indian female golfer to win a medal at the Asian Games. The men’s badminton team tried their level best, but eventually lost 2-3 to China in the final as H.S. Prannoy didn’t play because of a back injury. It was the first silver for the men’s team at the Games and the first medal in 37 years. 2-time defending world champion Nikhat Zareen’s dream of an Asiad gold ended when she lost to the Thai boxer 2-3 in a hard-fought semifinal match and settled for a bronze medal.

Read further: Historic day at the shooting ranges, Randhir Singh family legacy continues

Indian women’s basketball team reaches quarters; women’s hockey team drew with South Korea

After already securing a gold and a bronze medal in the men’s and women’s team events, respectively, Indian squash players were again up to the task as the mixed doubles teams won their first two matches in their respective groups with relative ease. Mahesh Mangaonkar also entered the last-16 stage in men’s singles after a straight-set victory in the opening round.

Avinash Sable
Avinash Sable (Image via SAI)

However, one of the significant results of the day came when the women’s basketball team entered the quarterfinals despite losing 53-111 to China. Their wins earlier against Indonesia and Mongolia ensured that they would finish second in their group and will now take on North Korea for a place in the semifinals. Similarly, the Indian women’s hockey team remained well on course to enter the last-four stage after a cagey 1-1 draw against South Korea. Blanking Singapore and Malaysia in the opening two matches, the women’s team faced a stronger and more resilient Korean team and despite wishing for a win over them, a draw may also be considered a satisfactory result for the Indian team.

In other results of the day, Parveen Hooda won her quarterfinal bout with a unanimous decision to ensure India’s fifth medal in boxing. However, Jaismine Lamboria’s race towards a medal ended with a loss in the last-eight stage. Both men’s and women’s chess teams remain in the hunt for medals after lodging impressive victories in the third round. The women’s volleyball team is out of medal contention after facing a straight-set defeat against China. Both men’s and women’s quadrant teams in Sepaktakraw faced defeats in their opening matches. Roller skaters gave a good account of themselves in men’s and women’s 1000m sprint and even made it to the final but eventually lost to stay out of medal contention.

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