Asian Games 2023: Who are the medal contenders for India on Day 12, October 5?

PV Sindhu and HS Prannoy set for action-packed day.

In a historic moment, India surpassed its previous medal tally record, achieving a remarkable 81 medals at the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou, China. The impressive haul includes 18 gold, 31 silver, and 32 bronze medals, firmly establishing the Asian Games 2023 as a new benchmark in India's sporting history.

One of the standout performances came from the reigning Olympic and World Champion, Neeraj Chopra, who lived up to expectations by defending his Asian Games title in the javelin throw. Chopra's extraordinary throw of 88.88m not only secured gold but also surpassed his winning throw at the Tokyo Olympics.

The day's achievements began with a bronze in the 35km walk team event, setting the stage for more glory. India's relay teams continued to excel, with the women's 4x400m relay squad breaking the games record, although they settled for silver as Bahrain clinched gold. On the other hand, the Indian men's 4x400m relay team redeemed the miss and secured gold by defeating defending champions Qatar.

In boxing, Lovlina Borgohain earned a silver medal, while Parveen Hooda (57kg) and Sunil Kumar (87kg) won bronze in women's boxing and men's Greco-Roman wrestling, respectively.

The athletics contingent made significant contributions as well, with Harmilan Bains securing silver in the women's 800m finals and Avinash Sable claiming his second medal with silver in the 5000m finals.

As India's medal count continues to rise, achieving their target of 100 medals remains a possibility. In the coming days, India looks forward to more podium finishes from various sports, including:

Medal contenders for India on Day 12 of Asian Games 2023, October 5

Hockey: Women's team semis

In the exhilarating semifinals of the Asian Games 2023, the confident Indian women's hockey team faces a formidable challenge against the hosts and three-time champions, China. With India holding the highest world ranking at No. 7 and China ranked 12th, the stage is set for an epic clash.

China, backed by a vocal home crowd, aims to secure the coveted gold, making it a significant test for India. India's forward line and midfield have consistently created goal-scoring opportunities through field play and penalty corners, and they are determined to maintain their momentum in pursuit of the gold.

Squash: Dipika Pallikal Karthik/Harinder Pal Singh - Mixed team gold medal match

In a thrilling journey, Dipika Pallikal Karthik and Harinder Pal Sandhu triumphed over Hong Kong's Ka Yi Lee and Chi Him Wong, securing their place in the mixed doubles final and guaranteeing India at least a silver medal in squash. The best-of-three match unfolded in a gripping 38 minutes, with scores of 7-11, 11-7, and 11-9.

While India initially fell behind at 5-8 in the first game, they displayed resilience, narrowing the gap to 7-8. However, Hong Kong clinched the first game. Sandhu and Dipika rallied brilliantly, securing victory in the following two games. The final game was an intense battle, tied at 9-9, but India secured the next two crucial points, thanks to Sandhu's heroic performance.

Squash: Saurav Ghosal - Men's individual gold medal match

Saurav Ghosal showcased sheer dominance in his semifinal match against Hong Kong’s Chi Hin Henry Leung, securing his place in the men's Individual Squash Gold medal match. Ghosal left no room for his opponent to gather momentum, concluding the semifinal with a commanding scoreline of 11-2, 11-1, 11-6.

Already an Asian Games Bronze medalist in the 2018 Jakarta Games, the World No. 19 is now poised to aim for gold on Thursday.

Wrestling

• Pooja Gehlot - Women's freestyle 50kg category
• Antim - Women's freestyle 53kg category
• Mansi - Women's freestyle 57kg category
• Narinder Cheema - Men's Greco-Roman 97kg category
• Naveen - Men's Greco-Roman 130kg category

The young and talented Antim entered the Asian Games with momentum, having won bronze in the World Championships and successfully defended her World U-20 championship. Although she is the second-best wrestler in India's competitive 53 kg division, her quarterfinal opponent is Japan's Akari Fujinami, a 19-year-old two-time World and Asian champion with a remarkable winning streak of over 100 matches.

Mansi, Naveen, and Narinder have received byes in their first rounds, setting the stage for potential bronze medal wins. However, these determined wrestlers aspire to achieve even more in their respective weight categories.

Badminton

• PV Sindhu - Women's Singles Quarterfinals
• HS Prannoy - Men's Singles Quarterfinals
• Satwiksairaj Rankireddy / Chirag Shetty - Men's Doubles Quarterfinals

After clinching silver in the men's team event, India is well-positioned to secure medals in the men's singles and doubles events. HS Prannoy faces a challenging match against Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia, who stunned world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand in a remarkable round of 16 battle.

The fifth-seeded Indian faces a tough task but aims to secure a medal. In men's doubles, the formidable pair of Chirag and Satwik looks to extend their impressive run and add another medal to India's tally.