A record-breaking medal haul and a maiden top-of-the-table finish made the just-concluded 22nd Asian Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar a memorable one for India.
With a total of 29 medals, India trumped powerhouse China to register their best-ever win in the tournament. In comparison to India’s 12 gold, 5 silver and 12 bronze medals, China won just 8 gold, 7 silver and 5 bronze medals.
India fielded the highest number of athletes, 94, and bettered the 22-medal haul (10 gold, 5 silver, 7 bronze medals) in the 1985 edition in Jakarta.
With gold medals in the 5,000m and 10,000m events, Govinda Lakshmanan was India’s most successful athlete in the tournament. He became the first Indian to complete a 5,000-10,000m event at the Asian Athletics Championships and also qualified for the World Championships in London.
Junior world champ in javelin throw Neeraj Chopra broke the only meet record during the four-day championship, which began on 6 July and ended on Sunday. The 19-year-old also clinched his first senior gold.
Dutee Chand, who has recently been in the news for a ‘gender’ case, bagged two bronze medals – in the 100m event and the 4x100m relay.
Video Editor: Vivek Gupta
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