Games-India upbeat after becoming bigger fish in small Asian pool

HANGZHOU, China : India's modest Olympic achievements have long stood in contrast to its massive population but sporting officials say the sleeping giant has stirred at the Asian Games.

Five years ago at the continental showpiece in Jakarta, India finished eighth on the medal table with their best ever haul of 70 medals, including 16 golds.

In Hangzhou, Team India soared past 80 medals on Wednesday with four days' competition to spare, soaking up glowing reports in national media and praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

After being topped by the likes of Taiwan, Uzbekistan and Indonesia in Jakarta, India were fourth on the medal table on Thursday behind the dependable top three of China, Japan and South Korea.

With 45 nations, the Asian Games offers far weaker competition than the Olympics and features plenty of medals in sports that have little prospect of making the Olympic programme.

India managed seven medals, including one gold, at the Tokyo Olympics, the nation's record haul only putting them 48th on the table.

POSITIVE TRAJECTORY

Yet the trajectory is positive and results in Hangzhou show that increased funding and more targeted sports investment in recent years is paying dividends, India team officials told Reuters.

"It’s because of our prime minister (is) wishing that India should become a sporting power, so the government is doing incentives and coaching and (using) foreign coaches," Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President P.T. Usha said.

"The government is doing it in a systematic way.

"That system started three, four years ago. But it is good now. We started getting the results now."

Indian athletics has made strides in Hangzhou, claiming 29 medals, nine better than Jakarta.

Athletes have surprised in a number of