When wrestler Sonam secured herself of a bronze medal in the women's 62kg freestyle event, by beating China's Jia Long 7-5, on Friday, it wasn't just any other medal that India had clinched at the ongoing Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
Sonam's bronze meant that India's final medals tally at the games will touch the 100 mark, signifying an epochal moment in the country's sporting history.
The tally rose by one when the men's hockey team beat Japan 5-1 in the final to clinch the gold medal and guarantee a spot at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
How India can finish with 100 medals at Asian Games 2023
While India's current medals tally stands at 92, athletes from disciplines such as archery and kabaddi are expected to lift the number further and help reach the century mark in the next few days.
In archery, India's Abhishek Verma and Ojas Deotale will face off in the compound event individual final on Saturday, which would mean the duo would split a gold and a silver medal, between themselves. On the same day, Jyothi Vennam will take part in the women's individual final and stands a chance to win a gold or a silver medal.
India are guaranteed to win two medals in kabaddi after both the men's and women's teams entered the final on Friday.
The men's cricket team has assured India of a gold or a silver medal after reaching the final on Friday. The men's bridge will also return home with one medal, following their final against Hong Kong on Friday.
The men's doubles pairing of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty are assured to win atleast a bronze medal, after entering the semifinals.
India's best performance at an Asian Games before the 2023 edition came in the 2018 edition, held in Jakarta, when the contingent won 70 medals.
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