Indian athletes’ preparations for the Asian Games 2023 are in full swing. Each competitor is eager to showcase their prowess with the aspiration of having the Indian national anthem resonate across China. Among the participants, 655 stalwarts including Neeraj Chopra, PV Sindhu, Mirabai Chanu, and Bajrang Punia will don the Indian colours in the 19th edition of the Asian Games. Delving into India's historic performance in this quadrennial event, the nation has clinched an impressive 672 medals across the past 18 editions. Out of these, 155 were gold, 201 were silver, and 316 bronze medals.
The golden editions
Remarkably, India's medal tally surpassed the 50-mark on six occasions: in 1951, 1982, 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018. During the inaugural Asian Games hosted in Delhi in 1951, India achieved a total of 51 medals, comprising 15 gold, 16 silver, and 20 bronze. This impressive feat placed India second overall. The nation continued its momentum in 1982 when Delhi once again became the host city, securing a total of 57 medals.
A notable spike
The period spanning the last four editions of the Asian Games, from 2006 to 2018, was particularly notable for India. The country consistently secured more than 50 medals. In the 2006 Doha Asiad, the nation clinched 53 medals: 10 gold, 17 silver, and 26 bronze. The 2010 Guangzhou Asiad saw India returning with 65 medals, broken down into 14 gold, 17 silver, and 34 bronze. Come 2014 in Incheon, the tally was 57 medals, including 11 gold, 10 silver, and 36 bronze.
The gold rush in the previous edition
The 2018 Jakarta Asian Games stands out as a special edition for India. The country secured its highest-ever medal tally in the Asian Games history, amassing 70 medals. This included an unprecedented 16 gold, alongside 23 silver and 31 bronze medals. Notably, the 16 gold medals marked the highest gold count the Indian contingent has ever achieved in the history of the Asian Games.
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