Asian Games 2018: Hits and Misses from the Asiad

Top 5 Hits of the Asian Games

Indian men's team winning the Sepak Takraw Regu bronze was a surprise

1. Wushu Athletes - 4 Bronze Medals

Wushu is a full-contact combat sport which had been developed in China many decades ago but it never had any mainstream presence in India. A total of just five athletes were a part of the Indian Wushu contingent at the 2018 Asian Games and it was a pleasant surprise as four of them ended up on the podium.

The quartet of Santosh Kumar, Narender Grewal, Surya Bhanu Pratap Singh and Roshibina Devi Naorem won their medals in the Sanda category of the sport.

2. Kurash Athletes - 2 Medals (1 Silver, 1 Bronze medal)

Another combat sports at the Asian Games, Kurash originated in Central Asia and was introduced for the first time at the Asian Games in Indonesia. Like Wushu, it did not have any following in India but ended up giving two medalists in the Women's 52 kg category as Pincky Balhara and Malaprabha Jadhav won the silver and bronze respectively to bring the sport into the limelight in India.

3. Sepak Takraw - Men's Team Regu (Bronze Medal)

Sepak Takraw, or as it is popularly known as "Foot-volley" was a sport that some Indians played as a recreational activity as it required a high level of fitness and flexibility.

Thus, it came as a surprise when the men's team won the bronze medal in the Regu category when they lost in the semifinals against Thailand. This could prove to be the catalyst for the popularity of the sport in the country.

4. Sailing - 3 Medals (1 Silver, 2 Bronze)

Sailing was a major surprise sport where India won medals as there are not many people in India who are generally aware of the sport.

Indian pairings of Varsha Gautham/Sweta Shervegar and Varun Ashok Thakkar/K.C. Ganapathy ended up winning silver and bronze respectively in the 49er event. Harshita Tomar beat competition from men and women to clinch the bronze in Mixed Open Laser 4.7 race.

5. Equestrian - 2 Silver Medals

Equestrian is a sport that is generally considered to be restricted to the elite class in India and was never thought of something that could bring laurels to the country on the world stage. Indian riders proved themselves when they won silver medals in the individual eventing (Fouaad Mirza) and team eventing (Fouaad Mirza, Rakesh Kumar, Ashish Malik and Jitender Singh).