The Indian contingent ended its Asian Games 2018 on a high on Saturday. India defeated Pakistan 2-1 in their Bronze medal match in Hockey Men's category. With the Bronze medal win, India won a total of 69 medals at Asiad. This is India's best performance in Asian Games history in terms of total medals won!

Also, in terms of Gold Medals win, it has equalled its previous best record of most Gold medals win, which was recorded at 1951 Asian Games held in Delhi. As the 2018 Asian Games are about to end, the Indian contingent has won a total of 69 medals, in which they have won 15 Gold, 24 Silver, and 30 Bronze medals.

On Day 14 of the Asiad 2018, there were quite a happy moments for the Indian contingent. India Women's Squash team, comprising of Joshna Chinappa, Dipika Pallikal, Tanya Khanna, and Sunanya Kuruvilla, added a Silver medal to its tally. Indian duo of Pranab Bardhan and Shibnath Sarkar added a Gold medal in Men's Pair event.

Earlier in the day, it was boxer Amit Panghal who won the Gold medal after defeating Uzbekistan's Hasany Dustomov in Men's 49kg Flyweight category. India at the 2018 Asian Games held in Jakarta and Palembang has given a better performance than the last time. Asian Games Medal Tally 2018 Updated: India's Medal Tally in Current Table and Country-Wise Medal Standings.

Most of India’s medal winners have been from athletics with the likes of Swapna Barman, Neeraj Chopra, Hima Das, Dutee Chand among many. Their spirited performance made up for the lacklustre show in the shooting, kabaddi, weightlifting and wrestling, three sporting disciplines India had high hopes from at Jakarta Palembang 2018 Asian Games. India is currently placed at the eighth position according to updated Asian Games 2018 medal table and team standings.

Out of 69 medals, India has won 19 in athletics. Manjit Singh (Men’s 800m), Jinson Johnson (Men’s 1500m), Tajinderpal Singh Toor (Men’s Shot Put), Neeraj Chopra (Men’s Javelin Throw), Arpinder Singh (Men’s Triple Jump) and Swapna Barman (Women’s Heptathlon) and Hima Das-led Women’s Team bagged gold in 4x400m Relay. Dutee Chand bagged silver in women’s 100m and 200m. The total medal count in athletics is 7 gold, 10 silver and 2 bronze. They had won 12 medals including 2 gold, 3 silver and 7 bronze at the Asian Games 2014 in Incheon, South Korea.

India at Asian Games 2014 Medal Table: Overall Medal Tally and Count

Asian Games 2014 medal tally (File Photo)

After Athletics, shooting has got the most number of medals at 18th Asiad – 9 including 2 gold, 4 silver and 3 bronze. India had also won nine medals but more third-place finish – 9 including 1 gold, 1 silver and 7 bronze at the 17th edition of Asiad. Overall medal count of India at Asian Games 2014 was 57 with 11 gold, 10 silver and 36 bronze medals. They were ranked eighth at the end of the tournament behind China, South Korea, Japan, Kazakhstan, Iran, Thailand, North Korea. With 13 gold medals in the ongoing edition, India has a chance for an all-time performance at Asiad. In 1951 Asian Games, India had won 15 gold medals in Delhi and 14 gold medals at Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games.

India at Asian Games 2018 Medal Table: Overall Medal Tally and Count

Sport Gold Silver Bronze Total
Athletics 7 10 2 19
Shooting 2 4 3 9
Wrestling 2 0 1 3
Bridge 1 0 2 3
Rowing 1 0 2 3
Tennis 1 0 2 3
Boxing 1 0 1 2
Archery 0 2 0 2
Equestrian 0 2 0 2
Squash 0 1 4 5
Sailing 0 1 2 3
Badminton 0 1 1 2
Kabaddi 0 1 1 2
Kurash 0 1 1 2
Hockey 0 1 1 2
Wushu 0 0 4 4
Bridge 0 0 2 2
Table Tennis 0 0 2 2
Boxing 0 0 1 1
Sepak Takraw 0 0 1 1
Total 15 24 30 69

Check India's Ranking at Asian Games 2018 Country-wise Medal TableSeven-time defending champions, Indian Kabaddi Team could not win a gold in both men’s and women’s event. They were defeated by the same opponents, Iran, and the men’s kabaddi team had to be content with the bronze while the women’s team settled for the silver medal. In Hockey, reigning champs’ Indian men’s team who were winning pool matches by a margin suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Malaysia in semis and will now be contesting for a bronze medal. Eyes are on Indian eves who will take on Japan in the gold medal match.

Like any top international event, there is bound to be hits and misses, and Asian Games was no different for India’s 532 members in 36 sports. Most of the medal hopefuls were from shooting, wrestling, weightlifting, kabaddi, and hockey before the start of the tournament. After all, the contingent has succeeded in these disciplines in the past and importantly were coming off a great run at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. But it was not exactly the case.

Coming to individual performances, big names and past-winners such as Sushil Kumar and Sakshi Malik failed miserably in wrestling. Weightlifter Sathish Sivalingam ended up with an injury. Young shooters Manu Bhaker and Anish Bhanwala, winners at CWG 2018 could not repeat their success here in Indonesia. Nevertheless, all these disappointments were erased by a superlative show in athletics and also other little-known stars and in sports, many of us had not heard of before like Kurash and Sepak Takraw. India scripted history and had various first-ever records. Way to go Team India!

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 01, 2018 06:49 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).