The medal rush for India at the ongoing 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou continued on October 4 (Wednesday) morning after the pairing of Jyothi Surekha Vennam and Ojas Pravin hit the bullseye in Archery compound mixed team event and clinched a gold medal by beating the mighty Koreans in the final. The India duo edged the Koreans by the thinnest of margins 159-158.
India reached a historic milestone at the Asian Games by securing its 71st medal, surpassing the previous best of 70 medals achieved at the 2018 Jakarta Games. The country also matched its record gold medal count of 16 set four years earlier.
The duo, Jyothi and Ojas, played a pivotal role in India's recent success, delivering a thrilling gold medal performance. The early stages of their final match saw them leading their opponents 40-39 after End 1 and maintaining a narrow advantage with a score of 80-79 by the end of the second round. However, a score of 9 by Ojas in the third end saw them momentarily lose the lead.
With tensions running high and scores tied at 119-119, the outcome seemed uncertain. A pivotal moment came when South Korea's ace shooter, So, managed only a nine, handing India the advantage. Despite South Korea's subsequent two perfect shots, the determined Indian pair thwarted any chances of a comeback.
Jyothi and Ojas had set the tone for the day earlier by overcoming the Malaysian duo, Binti Mat Salleh Fatin Nurfatehah and Bin Muzuki Mohd Juwaidi, with a score of 158-155. Their victory over Kazakhstan's pair, Adel Zhexenbinova and Andrey Tyutyun, in the semi-finals, ensured a medal even before the finals.
Currently, at the Hangzhou Games, India boasts an impressive haul of 16 gold, 26 silver, and 29 bronze medals, with opportunities to increase the count. Dominating the medal tally is China with a staggering 164 gold, 90 silver, and 46 bronze medals. Following closely are Japan and South Korea, holding second and third positions respectively.
In summary, the Asian Games have once again underscored India's rising prowess in international sports, with athletes like Jyothi and Ojas leading the charge and setting new benchmarks for the nation.
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