Sports
oi-Swastika Sruti
Day 13 of the Asian Games 2026 was indeed memorable for India, which bagged ten medals, with six golds, two silvers and two bronzes. Some record-making incidents happened during the day, with India’s women’s hockey team breaking their 44-year-long streak without winning any Asian Games gold medal and qualifying for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
India secured 10 medals on Day 13 of the Asian Games 2026, including six golds, highlighted by the women’s hockey team’s historic gold after 44 years and qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, plus victories in archery, boxing and wrestling.
India also won gold medals in archery, boxing and wrestling categories.
Historic Gold In Women’s Archery
India’s day began with a historic gold medal in women’s recurve team archery.
The trio of Ankita Bhakat, Kirti Sharma and 17-year-old Kumkum Mohod defeated South Korea 5-3 in the final to win India’s first Asian Games gold in the women’s recurve team event.
The Indian archers maintained their composure despite difficult conditions and strong winds. They had earlier defeated China 5-1 in the semifinal.
Kumkum later teamed up with Dhiraj Bommadevara in the mixed recurve team event. The pair reached the final, giving India its first appearance in an Asian Games final in the event. However, they had to settle for silver after losing 3-5 to China.
THE GOLDEN GIRLS OF BHARAT!
Heartiest congratulations to the Indian Women’s Hockey Team on winning the #AsianGames2026 Gold and securing qualification for the Olympics.
After 44 long years, the Asian Games Gold is back with our women athletes, a magnificent achievement built… pic.twitter.com/T223FN1H9a
— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) October 2, 2026
Lovlina Borgohain Wins Gold On Her Birthday
Boxer Lovlina Borgohain added another gold to India’s tally on her birthday.
Competing in the women’s 75kg final, Lovlina defeated China’s Bao Ziyi 5-0 to claim the gold medal.
The victory also made Lovlina only the second Indian woman boxer to win an Asian Games gold medal. MC Mary Kom was the first Indian woman to achieve the feat when she won gold in 2014.
Lovlina had won silver at the previous Asian Games. Her victory in 2026 therefore marked a step up from silver to gold.
Parveen Hooda Makes A Strong Comeback
India’s second boxing gold of the day came from Parveen Hooda in the women’s 65kg category.
Parveen defeated Chinese Taipei’s Chen Nien-chin 3-2 in the final to secure the gold medal.
Her victory marked a significant comeback. Parveen had won bronze at the previous Asian Games, but that medal was later withdrawn following a whereabouts-related anti-doping rule violation.
She returned to the Asian Games and this time finished at the top of the podium, winning gold in the 65kg category.
Sujeet Kalkal Stages Stunning Wrestling Comeback
Wrestler Sujeet Kalkal produced one of the most dramatic victories of the day in the men’s 65kg freestyle category. Kalkal found himself trailing Tajikistan’s Abdulmajid Kudiev 2-9 in the final. With the match seemingly slipping away, the Indian wrestler launched a late attack.
He scored repeatedly in the closing stages and completed a stunning comeback to win 10-9, securing the gold medal.
Kalkal had earlier produced another major performance in the semifinal, defeating Japan’s Olympic champion Kotaro Kiyooka after their bout ended 3-3. Kalkal advanced on criteria.
Ankush Panghal Adds Another Boxing Gold
India’s third boxing gold of the day came from Ankush Panghal, who won the men’s 80kg title.
Panghal’s victory was significant as he became the first Indian male boxer since Amit Panghal in 2018 to win an Asian Games gold medal.
With Lovlina, Parveen and Ankush all winning their respective finals, Indian boxing delivered three gold medals on the same day.
Women’s Hockey Team Ends 44-Year Wait
The biggest moment of the day came from the women’s hockey team.
India defeated China 1-0 in the final at the Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium in Kakamigahara to win the Asian Games women’s hockey gold medal for the first time in 44 years.
Lalremsiami scored the only goal of the final, giving India the lead and ultimately the gold medal.
The victory was significant beyond the Asian Games podium. By winning the title, India also secured a direct qualification spot for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
A Golden Day For Indian Sport
India’s Day 13 featured six gold medals across four sports, along with two silver and two bronze medals. From the women’s recurve archery team’s historic victory to Lovlina’s birthday gold, Parveen’s comeback, Ankush Panghal’s boxing triumph and Sujeet Kalkal’s dramatic wrestling turnaround, the day produced several memorable performances.
The women’s hockey team’s 1-0 victory over China then capped the day with another historic achievement – Asian Games gold after 44 years and qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
