Asiad 2026: Silver quality over gold count for India's sporting rise
· Sports · Indian Express, Times of India
At the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, India's sporting ambition focuses on medal quality rather than quantity, with 200 of every 500 athletes potentially returning with a medal — exceeding Hangzhou's tally. Weightlifting emerges as a key indicator of India's rise, while Olympic medallist Mirabhai Chanu has yet to podium in two shots at the Games. India's cricket teams are set to defend their gold, but their monopoly means the medal adds no upward mobility. The country's archers and wrestlers have struggled, with a wrestling gold elusive since 2018.
Why it matters
India's sporting superpower ambition hinges on athletes breaking new ground in competitive events beyond traditional strongholds like cricket, shooting and kabaddi, shifting focus to events where historical struggle meets intense competition.
Read the original report — Indian Express
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