India triumphs: Historic 100 medals in Asian Games defies traditional norms

Indian athletes at Hangzhou (File Image)

The Prime Minister's message, celebrating India's unprecedented achievement of winning a hundred medals in the ongoing Asian Games, underscores a momentous accomplishment. He has also announced that he will be hosting the entire contingent upon their return next week.

This statement proudly reflects India's success in not only increasing its overall medal count but also excelling in areas where it traditionally lagged behind. For instance, athletics has seen an increase in the number of medals compared to 2018. In shooting, India showed remarkable nerve, increasing the gold medal tally from two in 2018 to close to a dozen, both in team and individual events. In archery, where India had previously failed to secure a gold medal, they have now made their mark. Even in sports like table tennis and squash, India will be bringing medals back home. This has been a journey marked by relative success.

For a nation that has often seen success limited to cricket, any positive development in other sports is bound to bring a smile to the faces of millions. India reaching the hundred-medal milestone adds even more sparkle to this narrative.

While fans celebrate this success, there is more for India to gain from these aspirational achievements. The broader context of India's progress towards a future filled with hope and prosperity is often compared to China's trajectory – how it reached its current status and where it is headed in the future.

As India's subcontinental "big brother," it is advantageous for India to enhance its sports and social narrative, providing inspiration for others to learn from and aspire to. In the realm of South Asian politics, the headline of a hundred medals signals a noteworthy shift in soft power dynamics, where sports has traditionally been a catalyst for bilateral relations.

And there's more to come. Later this month, India will host the 141st session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and while we must wait and see what emerges from it, the atmosphere is already filled with aspirations. The possibility of India hosting the next IOC Youth Games and even raising its hand to host the Summer Olympics within the next decade is no longer just a dream but is closer to reality than ever before.

In this context, India's improved performance at the Asian Games and its determination to capitalize on the opportunities available in Paris next year (Olympic Games) adds further allure to the idea of India being prospective hosts in the future.

The Prime Minister has aptly labeled it a 'historic milestone,' and indeed, it is one. While the medal tally showcases India's achievements on many fronts, multiple other narratives in India's favor are rapidly emerging as well.

In the midst of a cricket World Cup, hosted by India, if the Asian Games medals tally can become a prominent talking point, the future of sports outside of cricket – at a time when the 'India only plays cricket' narrative remains loud – is certainly promising.

More power to these athletes who bask in the glory of what they have achieved and prepare to march even further.