♦ Asiad will be opened in the evening in a colorful ceremony
♦ India sends most players ever: 481 players from 45 countries compete to win gold medals: 655 players from India in 39 sports
Guangzhou Dated 23rd
With the slogan ‘Ab Ki Baar 100 Par’, the Asian Games starting today in China will be on the field. Led by Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra, India has sent the largest number of athletes to the Asian Games this time and will be involved in the race for 481 different gold medals.
The Asian Games have been delayed by a year due to the covid period. This evening, the Asiad will be opened by Chinese President Xi Jinping in a dazzling opening ceremony. On behalf of India, Lovelima and Harmanpreet are included with the Indian flag.
India, which is set to host the Olympics in the next decade, has sent the largest number of athletes to the Asian Games this time and is confident of winning the highest number of medals ever.
Even if the dream of 100 medals cannot be realized, a target has been set to win more medals than last time. Athletics is expected to get the highest number of medals. Last time track and field players won 20 medals. This time the number is expected to reach 25.
For the first time in the history of the Asian Games, five Olympic medal winners from India have been included in the javelin throw, with world champion Neeraj Chopra leading the Indian team. India won 16 medals in 2018. With five Olympic-winning players, the hope of winning more medals is bound to rise. Apart from Neeraj Chopra, Mirabai Chanu, PV Sindhu, Bajrang Punia and boxer Lovely are in the Asiad race.
Neeraj Chopra’s focus is to win a second gold medal in a row. If he succeeds in winning the gold medal, he will become the first player to achieve such an achievement after 65 years. Before this, Pakistani player Mohammad Nawaj achieved the achievement of becoming champion twice in a row by winning gold medal in javelin throw in Manila in 1954 and Tokyo in 1958. This record is still unbroken.
For 37 years, India has not been among the top-5 countries in winning medals
For the last 37 years, India has not been among the top-five countries in winning medals in the Asian Games. The last time India finished fifth in the medal tally was in 1986 Asiad held in Seoul, South Korea. The best finish was in 1951 while the second was 8th in 2018 Asiad held in Jakarta.
However, he did his best by winning 70 medals including 16 gold medals. With the maximum number of players sent this time and confident of a better performance, India can make it to the top-five. India has won a total of 672 medals in the Asian Games so far, including 155 gold, 201 silver and 376 bronze medals.
Look at these Indian players…
♦ Bajrang Punia ♦
Bajrang Punia, the champion in the 65 kg category last time, will be in the fray to repeat. There was widespread controversy over his inclusion in the team without a trial.
♦ Mirabai Chanu ♦
Chanu is eager to win a medal in the Asian Games, eager to win a medal in his name for the first time and achieve the glory of being an Indian athlete.
♦ Final Panchal ♦
In the 53 kg category, India is heavily dependent on the finalist, who will be participating in the Asian Games for the first time. The two-time junior world champion won bronze at the senior championships and has qualified for the Olympics.
♦ Nikpet Jarin ♦
The two-time world champion boxer is eager to win a medal at the Asian Games as he steps into the Asian Games. The performance so far in the 51 kg category has been overwhelming.
♦ Borgehen of Lovely ♦
Having become the Asian and World Champion in the 75 kg category, Lovelin’s morale is at its peak. They will easily win the medal by defeating their Chinese rivals.
♦ Manu Bhakar ♦
Manu Bhakar is a strong medal contender in the 25m pistol event. Couldn’t do well in Jakarta which is keen to avenge.