Asian Games: India Tighten Grip on 4th Spot With 81 Medals, Slated for Highest Ever Ranking Since 1962

October 4 2023 will forever go down in history as an iconic day for India at the Asian Games. The Indian contingent racked up 81 medals at the end of Day 11 in Hangzhou, surpassing their previous best of 70 medals at Jakarta 2018. India are currently placed 4th in the Asian Games overall standings and should they finish in 4th rank, it will be the best-ever finish by the Indian contingent at the Asian Games since 1962.

India best-ever show at the Asian Games came in Delhi, 1951, the inaugural edition of the continental spectacle wherein the hosts had finished second with a total of 51 medals, including 15 gold.

In the 1962 Jakarta Asian Games, India finished third in the overall ranking with 33 medals including 10 gold. In the 2018 Jakarta Games, India registered their biggest-ever medal haul at 70, which was surpassed by the Indian contingent on Tuesday, at Hangzhou.

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With four days still remaining the Indian contingent are well placed for their highest finishing if they can hold on to the 4th rank, even though they have recorded the highest-ever medal haul in the Asian Games history for the nation with 81 medals.

The 18 gold medals won by India are the highest ever by the nation at the Asian Games, and plenty more are expected to follow in the next four days.

Behind India are Uzbekistan on the fifth place who have a total of 54 medals including 16 gold.

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Chinese Taipei are further behind on sixth, but Uzbekistan will be the closest challenger to India’s fourth rank finish, although the Indian contingent will have chances to add more gold medals including in men’s hockey, as well as the women’s and men’s Kabaddi teams.

India squash icon Saurav Ghosal is also through to the final, he will be vying for a first-ever Asiad gold and there are plenty more events wherein the Indian contingent can add gold medals to keep clear daylight between themselves and Uzbekistan.