India scored phenomenally at the 19th Asian Games held in Hangzhou, China, scooping up its best-ever medal haul with a grand total of 107, including 28 gold, 38 silver, and 41 bronze. This historic achievement is a testament to the dedication, hard work, and conviction of Indian athletes and their coaches. Among the standout performances, shooting led the charge, fetching 22 medals, followed closely by athletics with 29 medals. India also dominated in archery, squash, cricket, and kabaddi.
Notably, sports like badminton, tennis, equestrian, and hockey also added to the golden tally. India also demonstrated depth and versatility with medals in newer categories such as chess, boxing, wushu, and roller-skating. This splendid performance underscores the rising stature of Indian sports on the Asian front, reflecting the potential and prowess of its sportspersons in a diverse array of disciplines.
In the last nine years, the Centre has made considerable strides in elevating the stature and support for sportspersons in India. Nonetheless, it’s crucial to recognize that sports, being primarily a state subject, necessitates that the onus for the development of sports infrastructure, ensuring access to resources and training facilities, and establishing a thorough gradation and reward policy for emerging and high-performing athletes fundamentally rests with the state or Union Territory governments. The Union government supplements the efforts of the state government.
The Government has launched several comprehensive schemes to nurture and support sportspersons at various stages of their careers, ensuring that talent thrives and represents the country at the highest levels. The Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Fund for Sportspersons (PDUNWFS) offers financial aid to eminent sportspersons and their families suffering financial hardships, assisting them with medical treatment, sports equipment and other needs.