The Asian Games in Hangzhou will be remembered by India not just for the record number of medals its contingent brought from the showpiece but also for the athletes who explored the limits of their endurance to return home successful in disciplines which were hitherto out of their preserve.
Here are some of the athletes who covered the nation, and themselves, in glory by winning the first-ever medals in their disciplines or reclaiming glory after several decades. Athletics Avinash Sable (3000m steeplechase): A record-breaking Sable became the first Indian man to win a gold medal in 3000m steeplechase at the Games.
The 29-year-old national record holder, who earned India its first gold medal in athletics, completed the race in 8:19.50 seconds.
Sable also rewrote the previous Games record of 8:22.79 on way to the top podium finish. Parul Chaudhary (5000m): Parul pulled off a heist for a sensational women's 5000m gold and stamped her class to become the first Indian woman to win an Asian Games gold in 5000m race, adding to the 3000m steeplechase silver that she had won earlier.