Asian Games 2023 Highlights: Shooters take India's medal count to 33 on Day 6; Kiran Baliyan wins bronze in women's shot put

India's swimming campaign at the Asian Games in Hangzhou came to a close on Friday, with Sajan Prakash and Advait Page securing the fifth and seventh positions in their respective finals. Sajan participated in the men's 200m butterfly event and achieved a time of 1:57.44s, securing the fifth spot.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday congratulated the India's medal winners at the Asian Games, especially lauding the country's shooters for their remarkable achievements and podium finishes in multiple events. Congratulating Palak Gulia on winning the gold in the women's 10m air pistol event, Modi said her "precision and focus have brought immense pride to our nation".

The Indian men and women commenced their chess team event at the Asian Games with resounding victories over Mongolia and the Philippines, respectively in Hangzhou on Friday. In the first round, both teams secured impressive 3.5-0.5 victories, displaying their dominance in the competition. The team event at the Asian Games is being contested in the classical time format, distinct from the rapid format used in the individual events.

Kiran Baliyan on Friday achieved a historic feat, becoming the first Indian woman in 72 years to secure an Asian Games medal in the shot-put event on the opening day of the athletics competitions in Hangzhou. In her third attempt, the 24-year-old launched the shot put to an impressive distance of 17.36 meters, securing a well-deserved bronze and inaugurating India's medal tally.

Leading the charts for India in the team event of dressage, alongside Hriday Chheda, Divyakriti Singh and Sudipti Hajela, Anush first was part of the gold-medal winning quartet who ended a 41-year wait; and he then added a historic first individual medal for the country at the Asian Games in dressage -- a bronze.

Indian women's hockey team produced a commanding performance, thrashing Malaysia 6-0 to secure their second consecutive victory at the Asian Games in Hangzhou on Friday.

Two-time world champion boxer Nikhat Zareen secured a Paris Olympics berth and assured herself of a medal as she cantered to the 50kg semifinals of the Asian Games on Friday. Fighting in her third bout of the tournament, Nikhat needed less than three minutes to notch a facile RSC (referee stops contest) win over Nassar Hanan of Jordan in the quarterfinal.