The 20th Asian Games, which were held in Japan, concluded on Sunday with colorful and captivating artistic performances. India finished in 4th place in the competition with a total of 85 medals, including 21 gold, 27 silver, and 37 bronze.
China, which finished first for the 12th consecutive time, won a record 341 medals this time, the highest in its history. Host nation Japan took 2nd place with 269 medals, and South Korea took 3rd place with 150 medals. Only these three teams, which finished in the top 3 positions, reached triple digits in their medal count.
The sporting event, which began on September 19 last year in Nagoya city in Aichi prefecture in Japan, lasted for 16 days. Around 11,000 athletes from 46 countries took part in it. Competitions were held in 469 categories across 43 sports. Winners were awarded 483 gold, 483 silver, and 654 bronze medals. In the history of the competition, an unprecedented number of records were set this time, with around 350 records achieved.
On Sunday, the final day of the competition, the closing ceremony was held at the Paloma Sports Arena in Nagoya city, featuring music and artistic performances in dazzling colors. The performances were based on the theme of “One Asia.” Thousands of competitors and officials from various countries that took part in the competition attended the event.
In the closing ceremony, which lasted about 90 minutes, the Indian team of around 30 members marched in front, led by shooter Neeru Dhanda, who won three medals — 2 gold and 1 silver — and carried the national flag.
At the end of the event, in the presence of many prominent figures including Japan’s Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko, Asian Olympic Council President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani officially declared the Asian Games closed. Then, the Japanese event organizers handed over the Asian Olympic Council flag and the torch for the competition to Asian Olympic Council President Sheikh Joaan, who in turn handed them to Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, where the next event will be held (Doha 2030).
Except for issues in a few matters, including accommodation facilities and transportation between the competition venues, the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games concluded successfully.
India’s second-highest tally: As far as India was concerned, it took part in the competition with 495 athletes and finished in 4th place with 85 medals — 21 gold, 27 silver, and 37 bronze.
While this is India’s best-ever finish in the history of the competition, it has matched that feat again this time. Earlier, India had also finished fourth at the 2023 Hangzhou Games (which were to be held in 2022).
That year, India won 28 golds, 38 silvers and 40 bronzes, taking its total to 106 medals, which remains its highest in the history of the competition.
The number of medals won this year is its second-highest. In terms of total medals as well as the number of gold, silver and bronze medals, this is India’s second-best performance.
Five people, including Tamil Nadu athlete Vithya Ramraj, won three medals each, and 23 people, including Tamil Nadu’s Velavan Senthilkumar, Joshna Chinappa (squash), Vishal T.K. (athletics), and Ganesh Manirathnam (archery), won two medals each.
India concluded these Asian Games in a remarkable manner, with first-ever medals in several categories, title and medal retention in some others, and historic victories in sports including hockey.