India close Asian Games campaign with 85 medals after late gold rush

India finished its Asian Games campaign in Japan with 85 medals, including 21 golds, after the men’s hockey team defeated Malaysia 5-1 in Saturday’s final. The result secured India another top-five finish at the quadrennial event. The overall medal tally was 21 fewer than at the previous Games in Hangzhou, where India won 106 medals and crossed 100 for the first time.

India’s gold total was also seven below its 2022 figure. The campaign changed significantly during its closing stages. As recently as Thursday, India had 10 gold medals and was outside the top 10 in the medal table.

The country then won 11 more golds over the final two days. The late run included victories by the hockey and cricket teams, alongside strong results in archery, boxing and wrestling. India’s gold-medal winners also included athletes, shooters, golfers, squash players, weightlifters and wushu competitors.

The women’s hockey team, both cricket teams and men’s and women’s kabaddi teams were among the team champions. India also claimed gold in several archery events, including individual and team competitions. In athletics, gold medals came in events including the women’s 4x400m relay, mixed 4x400m relay, men’s 10,000m, marathon, 1,500m, shot put, high jump, long jump and javelin.

Shooting produced multiple golds across rifle, pistol and trap events. India also won bronze medals in badminton, rowing, table tennis, squash, sailing, athletics, boxing, wrestling, archery, shooting and other events. The final total gave the campaign a stronger finish than its position late in the Games had suggested.