India Asian Games medal rush gathered pace on Sunday as the contingent won seven medals across athletics and squash, taking its overall tally to 37. Ancy Sojan and Sarvesh Kushare came agonisingly close to gold, while Parul Chaudhary, Harita Bhadra and Tejaswin Shankar added bronze medals.
Athletics medals
Ancy Sojan produced a best jump of 6.53m in the women’s long jump and appeared set for gold until China’s Huang Yingying reached 6.55m on her final attempt. The two-centimetre difference pushed Ancy into silver. Shaili Singh finished just outside the medals after jumping 6.42m.
Sarvesh Kushare also won silver in the men’s high jump after clearing 2.25m. Chinese Taipei’s Chao Hsuan-Fu cleared the same height but took gold because he succeeded on his first attempt, while Kushare needed a second try.
Parul Chaudhary claimed bronze in the women’s 3000m steeplechase with a personal-best 9:08.67. Harita Bhadra earned bronze in the women’s 200m in 23.20 seconds, while Tejaswin Shankar completed India’s five-medal athletics haul with decathlon bronze.
Squash silver
India also collected two silver medals in squash, although the results ended hopes of direct qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics through the Asian Games singles titles.
Abhay Singh lost 11-9, 11-5, 11-5 to Malaysia’s defending champion Ng Eain Yow. Anahat Singh was beaten 11-4, 11-4, 11-7 by world No. 5 Sivasangari Subramaniam. The Malaysian champions secured Olympic berths with their victories.
Boxing medals
India’s medal count is set to grow further after Parveen Hooda, Ankush Panghal and Narender Berwal advanced to the boxing semifinals, guaranteeing at least bronze medals.
Parveen defeated Uzbekistan’s Navbakhor Khamidova 5-0 in the women’s 65kg quarterfinal, while Ankush recorded a 5-0 victory over Tajikistan’s Nekruz Salimov in the men’s 80kg division. Narender progressed in the +90kg category after his bout against Thailand’s Adthapong Saengtep was stopped. Sachin Siwach, however, exited in the men’s 60kg quarterfinal.
Hockey semifinal
India’s women continued their unbeaten hockey campaign with a commanding 7-0 win over Singapore. The victory completed five wins from five Pool B matches and secured top spot in the group.
India will face South Korea in the semifinal on September 30 as they chase another Asian Games hockey medal.
Badminton campaign
India’s individual badminton medal hopes ended after PV Sindhu and Unnati Hooda lost their women’s singles quarterfinals. Sindhu pushed Olympic champion Chen Yu Fei to three games before losing, while Unnati also went the distance against Akane Yamaguchi.
Doubles contenders also fell in the quarterfinal stage, leaving the men’s team bronze as India’s only badminton medal at these Games.
Sunday nevertheless proved productive for India. Seven confirmed medals lifted the total to 37, while guaranteed boxing medals and the women’s hockey semifinal offered further opportunities to strengthen the tally in the coming days.
