Asian Games 2023: Who are the medal contenders for India on Day 14, October 7?

India are guaranteed to breach the three-figure mark in what could be their final day in Hangzhou.

As the Asian Games 2023 write a new chapter in history, India's medal tally is poised to breach the three-figure mark for the first time ever. The nation witnessed a day filled with triumphs, disappointments, and remarkable performances.

India's crowning moment of the day came courtesy of the Indian men's hockey team, who dominated Japan with a resounding 5-1 victory in the finals. This not only secured India's fourth Asian Games gold in men's hockey but also guaranteed a ticket to the Paris Olympics in 2024.

In the archery men's recurve team event, the trio of Atanu Das, Tushar Shelke, and Dhiraj Bommadevara clinched a hard-fought silver. They faced relentless competition from South Korea, with the Koreans starting with a perfect 60/60 in the first set. Although the Indians had to win a shoot-off against Mongolia in the quarters and faced stiff competition from Bangladesh in the semis, they showcased remarkable resilience.

In the sport of Bridge, the Indian team elevated their 2018 bronze medal to a silver in the Asian Games 2023, marking a significant achievement.

On the wrestling front, India secured three bronze medals on the day, with Sonam Malik, Kiran Bishnoi, and Aman Sherawat finishing on the podium. Bajrang Punia, although missing out on the semis, displayed resilience in the bronze medal match despite a lack of practice in recent months.

Medal contenders for India on Day 14 of Asian Games 2023, October 7

As India inches closer to crossing the coveted 100-medal mark, several medal contenders remain in key events:

Cricket: The Indian men's team, led by Ruturaj, is set to face Afghanistan in the gold medal match. After a convincing win over Bangladesh in the semis, India aims to secure gold in this thrilling contest.

Kabaddi: Both the Indian Men's and Women's Kabaddi teams are in the gold medal matches. The men's team seeks to reclaim gold from Iran, while the women's team faces a strong challenge from Chinese Taipei, who defeated Iran in the semis.

Badminton: Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, the World No. 3 pair, are in the men's doubles finals, aiming to create history. They face the South Korean pair of Wonho Kim & Solgyu Choi.

Archery: India's prowess in archery continues with Abhishek Verma vs. Ojas Pravin Deotale in the Compound Men's Individual Gold Medal Match and Jyoti Surekha Vennam in the Compound Women's Individual Gold Medal Match. Aditi Gopichand Swami competes in the Compound Women's Individual Bronze Medal Match.

Chess: Both the Men's and Women's Chess teams stand strong contenders for medals, with a chance to vie for gold. The Men's team aims to surpass Iran, while the women's team seeks to challenge China for the top spot.

Hockey: The Indian women's hockey team will face Japan in the bronze medal match with both teams eyeing a strong finish to their campaign. India had lost the gold medal match to Japan in the 2018 edition of the Asian Games and will eye vengeance this time.