Several Firsts For India At Hangzhou Asian Games

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.

The 28-year-old was behind Japan's Ririka Hironaka in the closing stage but produced a stunning dash in the final 40 metres to claim the yellow metal with a timing of 15:14.75.

Annu Rani (Javelin): The athlete conjured up her season-best performance to claim the top prize in women's javelin throw and become the first Indian woman to win an Asian Games gold in javelin throw with an effort of 62.92m. This was her second Asian Games medal as she had won a bronze in the 2014 edition.

Badminton

HS Prannoy, and the pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, won India's first singles and men's doubles medals after 41 years. It was Syed Modi who