Review of the Day at Asian Games: India’s Medal Hunt Gathers Pace as Hockey and Cricket Reach Finals

October 1 was another high-volume day for the Indian contingent at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, with medals coming across multiple disciplines and several teams reaching the decisive stages of their competitions.

India added silver medals in wrestling and sailing, collected bronzes in archery and squash, and secured final berths in both men’s hockey and men’s cricket. There were also several fourth-place and knockout finishes, making it a day of contrasting emotions across the Indian camp.

The biggest individual wrestling story belonged to Nitesh Siwach, who reached the men’s Greco-Roman 97 kg final and eventually finished with silver after losing the gold-medal bout to Japan’s Yuri Nakazato. In the women’s 62 kg category, Mansi Ahlawat also reached the medal rounds but ended the day without a podium finish.

Nitesh produced one of the standout runs of the day. After defeating Mongolia’s Gankhuyag Ganbaatar in the semifinal, Nitesh advanced to the 97kg gold-medal bout against Japan’s Yuri Nakazato. The final did not go India's way, with Nakazato securing the gold and Nitesh taking silver.

Nevertheless, reaching the final represented a significant achievement for the Indian wrestler and added another silver medal to India’s wrestling campaign. Mansi Ahlawat had a more difficult day in the women’s 62 kg category. She lost her semifinal 0-6 to Japan’s two-time world champion Nonoka Ozaki and subsequently entered the bronze-medal bout.

Mansi then lost that contest to Mongolia’s Altjin Togtokh, ending her campaign without a medal. In the men’s 77 kg category, Aman’s run ended in the quarterfinals, while Sumit also failed to progress from the 60 kg quarterfinal.

India also secured a silver medal in sailing, with Manu Francis and Prince Kurusinkal finishing second in the men’s skiff event. It was another medal for the Indian sailing contingent and added to a day in which Indian athletes continued to feature across several water sports. In canoe slalom, Shikha Chaouhan advanced to the women’s kayak single final after finishing 10th in the semifinal. She subsequently finished seventh in the final.

Squash produces two bronze medals

India secured medals in both team squash competitions, although neither team could reach the final. The women’s team lost 1-2 to Hong Kong in the semifinal and settled for bronze. The men’s team suffered the same fate against Malaysia, losing their semifinal 1-2 and also taking bronze.

The results meant India left the team events with two more medals, although both campaigns had ended one round short of the gold-medal match.

Thirumuru Ganesh Mani Ratnam continued his impressive Asian Games campaign by winning bronze in the men’s individual compound event. Ganesh had earlier defeated Chen Chieh-lun in the quarterfinal to reach the last four. He subsequently lost his semifinal to South Korea’s Kim Jongho, setting up the bronze-medal match against Vietnam’s Cong Duc Dang.

Ganesh produced a remarkably consistent performance, defeating Dang 149-144. He shot 14 10s and only one 9 across the five ends, securing his second medal of the Games.

The compound archery campaign therefore ended with India winning three gold medals and one bronze. There was disappointment in the women’s individual event, however. Chikitha Taniparthi lost 143-144 to Indonesia’s Nurisa Dian Ashrifah in the quarterfinals.

Hockey and cricket reach finals.

India’s men’s hockey team produced one of the day’s most dramatic results, beating Pakistan 4-3 in the semifinal. India had led 3-1 but Pakistan fought back to level the match at 3-3. With the contest heading towards a potential shootout, Abhishek scored with around 50 seconds remaining to send India into the final.

The men’s cricket team also booked a place in the gold-medal match after defeating Sri Lanka by 124 runs in the semifinal. India posted 169 for seven, with Ishan Kishan scoring an unbeaten 80 from 46 balls. Sri Lanka then collapsed for just 45 as India’s bowling attack took complete control.

India will now face Pakistan for the cricket gold.

Volleyball exits, while sepaktakraw confirms medal

India’s men’s volleyball team suffered a disappointing quarterfinal defeat to Pakistan, losing 0-3 and ending its medal campaign. Sepaktakraw provided a contrasting result. India defeated Vietnam 2-0 and Myanmar 2-1 in the men’s quadrant Group A, securing a semifinal place and confirming a medal.

Anish Bhanwala reached the men’s 25m rapid-fire pistol final after finishing ninth in qualification Stage 2. He subsequently finished seventh in the final. In tennis, Sumit Nagal’s singles campaign ended in the quarterfinals after he lost in straight sets to China’s Wu Yibing. India also endured difficult results in rugby sevens, losing to Hong Kong 7-33 before suffering another defeat against China, 5-43.

In cycling, Harshveer Singh Sekhon finished ninth in the men’s omnium, while Keerthi Rangaswamy Chikka and Celestina exited the women’s sprint at the 1/16 stage. Harshita Jakhar and Swasti Singh did not finish the women’s Madison final.

India continued to remain in contention in both golf events. After Round 2 of the men’s individual stroke play, Saptak Talwar was seventh, Veer Ahlawat 16th and Yuvraj Sandhu 22nd.

In the women’s competition, Pranavi Sharath Urs was second, while Diksha Dagar was tied 21st and Aditi Ashok tied 25th. Elsewhere, Yamini Mourya lost her judo repechage bout to Japan’s Shirakane. Inunganbi Takhellambam lost her 70kg quarterfinal but advanced through the repechage by walkover before losing her bronze-medal bout to Anujin Uran-Ulzii.

Rupa Bayor finished 15th in the women’s individual poomsae semifinal and was eliminated, while Deepu Mallesh failed to qualify for the men’s speed 4 quarterfinals.

It was therefore a day of both progress and setbacks, but the bigger picture remains significant. India secured medals in multiple disciplines, while men’s hockey and cricket reached their respective gold-medal matches.

With the business end of the Asian Games approaching, October 1 ensured that India’s medal campaign remains firmly alive across a wide range of sports.