India's brave new sporting world

How Indian sporting heroes, old and new, made a record haul at Asian Games and set new expectations

- Deepti Patwardhan

If Jyothi Surekha Vennam was a picture of stillness, then Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty were explosive energy personified. While the archer competed in sedate surroundings in the light of day, the Satwik-Chirag show took place in an indoor arena throbbing to music, with the spotlight squarely turned on them.

Vennam seemed in peak zen mode as she shot 14 of the 15 arrows in the 10-point circle in the final, finishing with a joint Asian Games record of 149 to win a gold medal in the women's individual compound archery event. Even as she won India's first-ever individual archery gold at the Asian Games, the only display of emotion from Vennam was an ear-to-ear smile.

A few hours later, Satwik-Chirag lunged, leaped and smashed their way to victory. The Indian duo defeated South Korea's Choi Solgyu and Kim Wonho 21-18, 21-16 in 57 minutes in the men's doubles final on Sunday. High on adrenaline after the win, Shetty took off his shirt, flexed his arm, and egged on a roaring crowd before joining his partner in a little celebratory jig. Not only was it India's first gold in badminton at the continental event, but it propelled Satwik-Chirag to No. 1 in the world rankings.

The two contrasting, breakthrough golds were the highlights of India's medal studded Saturday-the final day of competition for India at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou. In their own way, both triumphs were shining examples of India's growing might in a variety of sports, through a variety of champions.