• Sunday, April 28, 2024

ASIA

India go past medal haul of 80 at Asian Games 2023, their best ever

At one point, Chopra fell behind after the officials failed to measure his first throw due to a technical glitch.

India’s Neeraj Chopra (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

By: Shubham Ghosh

INDIA’s momentum continued in the ongoing Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou, China, on Wednesday (4) as their medal tally reached 81, their best-ever haul at the continental meet with four more days to go. Their previous best tally was 70 recorded at the Jakarta Games in 2018.

The day saw a high in javelin throw as the top two medals went to India with Neeraj Chopra clinching the gold and Kishore Jena taking the silver. The former defended his 2018 gold in Jakarta by clocking 88.88 metres as against his compatriot’s 87.54 metres.

Jena was leading the event when he threw the javelin at a distance of 86.77 metres in his third attempt. Chopra lagged behind after the officials failed to measure his first throw due to a technical glitch. It caused a 15-minute delay. The incident was criticised by many Indian fans.

It seemed the Olympic gold-medallist lost his rhythm for a moment as he fouled on his third attempt but regained himself quickly and took the lead with his fourth attempt that nobody, including Jena, could beat.

Prime minister Narendra Modi congratulated both Chopra and Jena on X.

 

India now have won gold in both men’s and women’s javelin throw at the Games after Annu Rani’s feat on Tuesday (3).

India now have 18 gold, 31 silver and 32 bronze and are at the fourth spot after hosts China (312 medals), Japan (145) and South Korea (145). It was also India’s best-ever gold medal haul at the continental tournament, bettering their previous best of 16 registered in Jakarta five years ago.

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