India at Asian Games 2023: Athletics live up to expectations with record medal tally

Indian contingent have added nine medals from the previous edition of the Continental meet.

The Indian athletics contingent delivered a scintillating performance at the recently concluded Hangzhou Asian Games 2023 securing an impressive haul of 29 medals. India achieved the honorable third position in the overall athletics medal standings closely following China and Bahrain.

India has consistently proven itself as a powerhouse in the world of athletics where the nation's track and field stars have left an indelible mark. From the legendary Milkha Singh, often referred to as the "Flying Sikh," to iconic figures like PT Usha who brought glory to the country followed by the recent achievements of Neeraj Chopra, Dutee Chand and Hima Das.

Indian athletics has evolved into a captivating spectacle drawing the attention of a global audience. With a mix of thrilling finishes, intense competitions and occasional controversies, the sport has become a must-watch for enthusiasts and casual viewers alike. The emergence of exceptional talents, dramatic races, and record-breaking performances has added an exciting dimension to Indian athletics.

Factsheet

Key highlights

The Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou witnessed phenomenal achievements by Indian track and field stars. Kishore Jena achieved a significant feat by breaching the Paris 2024 qualifying standards. Moreover, the event saw Indian athletes rewriting three national records and a performance equaling the legendary PT Usha's national record in the women's 400m hurdles that had stood for nearly four decades.

In the men's decathlon, Tejaswin Shankar clinched the silver medal with a total of 7666 points resetting a 12-year-old national record in the process. Avinash Sable's outstanding performance set an Asian Games record in the men’s 3000m steeplechase which earned him a gold medal along with Parul Chaudhary in the women’s 5000m race and Annu Rani in the women’s javelin throw marked India's first-time victories in these three events at the Asian Games signifying a historic moment for Indian athletics.

List of Participants

The quadrennial extravaganza, witnessed the participation of a 68-strong Indian athletics squad featuring prominent figures like Neeraj Chopra competing in an impressive array of 37 events. Among the 37 athletics competitions featuring Indian athletes in Hangzhou - 16 were designated for men,19 for women and the final two were mixed team events.

Men's

• Neeraj Chopra (Javelin Throw)
• Kishore Jena (Javelin Throw)
• Tajinderpal Singh Toor (Shot Put)
• Sahib Singh (Shot Put)
• Sandeep Kumar (20km Race Walk)
• Akshdeep Singh (20km Race Walk)
• Murali Sreeshankar (Long Jump)
• Jeswin Aldrin (Long Jump)
• Praveen Chithravel (Triple Jump)
• Abdulla Aboobacker (Triple Jump)
• Ajay Kumar Saroj (1500m)
• Jinson Johnson (1500m)
• Krishan Kumar (800m)
• Mohammed Afsal Pulikkalakath (800m)
• T Santhosh Kumar (400m Hurdles)
• Yashas Palaksha (400m Hurdles)
• Karthik Kumar (10,000m)
• Gulveer Singh (10,000m, 5000m)
• Avinash Sable (3000m Steeplechase, 5000m)
• Sarvesh Anil Kushare (High Jump)
• Jesse Sandesh (High Jump)
• Tejaswin Shankar (Decathlon)
• Ram Baboo (Mixed Team 35km Race Walk)
• Man Singh (Marathon)
• Belliappa Appachangada Bopaiah (Marathon)
• Nihal Joel William (4x400m Mixed Relay)
• Rahul Baby (4x400m Mixed Relay)
• Muhammed Anas Yahiya (400m, 4x400m Relay, 4x400m Mixed Relay)
• Muhammed Ajmal (400m, 4x400m Relay)
• Arokia Rajiv (4x400m Relay)
• Amoj Jacob (4x400m Relay)
• Mijo Chacko Kurian (4x400m Relay)
• Rajesh Ramesh (4x400m Relay)
• Arul Rajalingam (4x400m Relay)

Women's

• Shaili Singh (Long Jump)
• Ancy Sojan (Long Jump)
• Ankita (5000m)
• Parul Chaudhary (3000m Steeplechase, 5000m)
• Annu Rani (Javelin Throw)
• Kiran Baliyan (Shot Put)
• Manpreet Kaur (Shot Put)
• Priyanka (20km Race Walk)
• Manju Rani (Mixed Team 35km Race Walk)
• Vithya Ramraj (400m Hurdles)
• Sinchal Kaveramma Ravi (400m Hurdles)
• Swapna Barman (Heptathlon)
• Nandini Agasara (Heptathlon)
• Harmilan Bains (800m, 1500m)
• Chanda (800m)
• Deeksha (1500m)
• Tanya Chaudhary (Hammer Throw)
• Rachna Kumari (Hammer Throw)
• Rubina Yadav (High Jump)
• Pooja (High Jump)
• Jyothi Yarraji (100m Hurdles, 200m)
• Pavithra Vengatesh (Pole Vault)
• Sheena Nellickal Varkey (Triple Jump)
• Nithya Ramraj (100m Hurdles)
• Soniya Baishya (4x400m Relay, 4x400m Mixed Relay)
• Florence Barla (4x400m Relay)
• Subha Venkateshan (4x400m Relay)
• Aishwarya Kailash Mishra (4x400m Relay, 400m, 4x400m Mixed Relay)
• Himanshi Malik (400m, 4x400m Relay)
• Jisna Mathew (4x400m Relay, 4x400m Mixed Relay)
• Seema Punia (Discus Throw)

Top three performers

With athletes delivering extraordinary performances and making headlines everywhere, selecting the best among them becomes a challenging task. Nevertheless, the following three standout performances left a lasting impression

Vithya Ramraj

Vithya Ramraj achieved a remarkable feat by matching the national record set by the legendary PT Usha in the women's 400m hurdles, a record that had stood for nearly four decades. Although she dominated the heats, she ultimately secured a bronze medal in the final. Vithya Ramraj's exceptional performances extended beyond the individual event as she also played a crucial role in the mixed 4x400m relay team and the women’s 4x400m relay team and contributed for both teams secure silver medals.

In total, Vithya Ramraj celebrated an impressive three podium finishes showcasing her versatility and contribution to India's success in athletics.

Tejaswin Shankar

Tejaswin Shankar shattered a 12-year-old national record in decathlon while securing a silver medal at the Asian Games. His achievement also made him the sole Indian athlete to hold national records in two distinct field events. As the national record holder in high jump, he faced the formidable challenges of cramps, dehydration and exhaustion owing to the humid weather to accumulate a total of 7666 points and surpassing Bhartinder Singh’s previous record of 7658 points set in 2011.

Throughout the competition, it was a spirited battle between Shankar and China’s gold medalist Qihao Sun as they continually exchanged the top position making for an exhilarating contest.

Parul Chaudhary

Securing silver in the demanding 3000m steeplechase is already a testament to Parul Chaudhary's determination considering it's one of the toughest events in athletics. However, what truly underscores her remarkable achievement is the fact that in less than 24 hours, she not only recovered but also managed to elevate her performance to clinch the gold in the grueling 5000m race.

During a significant portion of the race, Parul Chaudhary maintained pace with the leading group. However, as the event progressed and the race intensified, Parul made a decisive move alongside the Japanese athletes Ririka Hironaka and it was in the final 30 meters that Parul Chaudhary summoned an extraordinary burst of speed surging ahead to cross the finish line to secure the victory.

Underperformers

Here are the athletes who were expected to deliver exceptional performances but fell short of expectations. These individuals were entrusted with great hopes but their inability to shine on such a grand stage like the Asian Games failed to reach the mark.

Jeswin Aldrin

Jeswin Aldrin's performance in Hangzhou left much to be desired. He had set high expectations by leading the world with his national record jump of 8.41m earlier in the season. Unfortunately, inconsistencies plagued his performances throughout the season exacerbated by fitness issues that eventually led to his withdrawal from the Asian Championships.

Despite the ups and downs, he still holds the top position among Asian athletes and ranks third globally this season. The anticipation was palpable as both Aldrin and Sreeshankar advanced to the final. However, Aldrin's best jump of 7.76m ultimately placed him in the eighth position, a result that may not have lived up to the earlier-season promise.

Himanshi Malik

Himanshi Malik stands as the fastest quarter-miler in the country this year. At just 21, she delivered a performance of 51.76 seconds which ranks as the fourth fastest time in Asia this year during the Inter-State Nationals in Bhubaneswar.

However, in a surprising turn of events, she recorded a time of 57.82 seconds as she finished fourth in heat 3 of the women's 400m race which was unexpected considering her previous outstanding performance. Sources have revealed that Himanshi has been grappling with a knee injury which is believed to be the underlying cause of her sub-par performance.

Shaili Singh

Shaili Singh achieved a personal best jump of 6.76m to secure the gold medal at the Indian Grand Prix 2023 in Bengaluru. Her remarkable effort was only seven centimeters shy of the women's national long jump record of 6.83m established by Anju Bobby George during the Athens 2004 Olympics.

Following her success, she also clinched the silver medal at the Asian Athletics Championships in Bangkok. However, during the final of the Asian Games , the young athlete's performance fell short of expectations as she achieved a distance of 6.48m placing her fifth in the competition when a higher finish was anticipated.

What next for Indian athletics contingent after Asian Games 2023

There are some upcoming events in India that will be showcasing talents including the 62nd Open National Championships in Bengaluru, the Under 23 Open National Championships that will be held in Chandigarh , the Junior Nationals scheduled for Coimbatore and the National Games which are set to take place in Goa.