Asian Games 2023 Highlights: Sensational India signs off Asiad campaign with record 107 medals

The calm leadership of Harmanpreet Singh was the defining point behind the Indian men's hockey team's gold-winning effort at the Asian Games, a trait that reminded mercurial forward Dhanraj Pillay of 'Captain Cool' MS Dhoni. Dhanraj, who led India to the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games triumph, said Harmanpreet, who netted 13 goals to emerge as India's leading goal-scorer in Hangzhou, never buckled under pressure.

The Indian contingent claimed an unprecedented 100th medal at the Asian Games with a thrilling 26-25 victory over Chinese Taipei in the women's kabaddi final. This is the women's kabaddi team's third title triumph in the continental showpiece, doing one better than its runner-up finish in the last edition of the Games in Indonesia and fulfilling the country's expectations of touching the historic three-figure mark for the first time. It was a very difficult outing for the Indian women as Chinese Taipei pushed them to the limit in the final, missing out on the top prize by just a solitary point. The Indian team showed nerves of steel in the last two raids to seal the contest in its favour. India had a five-point lead going into half time, courtesy of a super raid from Pooja, who was one of the stars of the intense title showdown that also saw the team's coach being cautioned with a green card.

Congratulating the Indian men's hockey team for winning gold at the Asian Games, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced a cash award of Rs 5 lakh for each player and support staff member. The cash reward will be given in recognition of their stellar performance to win the coveted gold medal and seal a berth in the Paris Olympics 2024, an overwhelmed Patnaik said on Friday.