Asian Games: Boxing hat-trick, wrestling and hockey gold headline India’s medal rush

India enjoyed one of its biggest medal hauls of the Asian Games as the boxing contingent delivered a stunning three-gold sweep, while Sujeet Kalkal added a wrestling gold, and the women’s hockey team ended a 44-year wait for the continental title.

India’s boxers were the stars of the day, winning all three finals they contested. Lovlina Borgohain defeated China’s Bao Zi Yi by unanimous decision to claim the women’s 75kg gold, while Parveen Hooda edged Chinese Taipei’s Chen Nien-chin 3-2 in the women’s 65kg final.

Ankush Panghal completed the hat-trick with victory over South Korea’s Kim Min Seong in the men’s 80kg final. Lovlina became the first Indian woman boxer to win an Asian Games gold since Mary Kom’s triumph at the 2014 Incheon Games.

Sujeet Kalkal produced one of the day’s biggest comebacks in the men’s freestyle 65kg final. Trailing Tajikistan’s Abdulmazhid Kudiev 2-9, the Indian fought back to win 10-9 and secure India’s first wrestling gold at the Asian Games in eight years. He had earlier stunned Olympic champion Kotaro Kiyooka in the semifinals, winning on criteria after a 3-3 score.

The women’s hockey team then delivered another historic result, beating China 1-0 in the final to win Asian Games gold for the first time since 1982. Lalremsiami scored the decisive goal in the 10th minute of her 200th international appearance. China applied sustained pressure late in the match, including a penalty stroke and a pulled goalkeeper, but India held firm to secure the title and qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Archery also produced a golden moment as Ankita Bhakat, Kirti and Kumkum Mohod won India’s first-ever Asian Games gold in the women’s recurve team event. India added silver medals in the men’s recurve team and mixed recurve team events, with Dhiraj Bommadevara featuring in both finals.

There were more medals in sailing and sepak takraw. Nethra Kumanan won bronze in the women’s dinghy, while India’s men’s quadrant team secured a historic bronze, its first Asian Games medal in the event.

India also had a strong showing in golf, with Pranavi Urs taking a four-shot? No, four-under 66 in Round 3 to move into the sole lead at 15-under, while the Indian women’s team remained second in the standings.

In volleyball, India beat South Korea 3-1 in the 5th-8th place classification match and moved into contention for fifth place. Meanwhile, Dipanshi Phogat finished fourth in wrestling after losing her 50kg bronze-medal bout, while Rajat Ruhal and Priya Malik remained dependent on repechage after opening-round defeats.

It was a packed day for India in Aichi-Nagoya, with boxing, wrestling, hockey and archery combining to produce a memorable medal haul as the Games entered their final stretch.