Asian Games 2023 Highlights: Archers and squash players make it a hat-trick of gold for India; Saurav Ghosal settles for silver in men's singles

The young talent Antim Panghal secured a bronze medal by defeating Tokyo Olympics medallist Bolortuya Bat-Ochir 3-1 at the Asian Games in Hangzhou. However, it was a challenging day for other Indian wrestlers. Nineteen-year-old Antim made a remarkable comeback after her quarterfinal loss to two-time Japanese world champion Akari Fujinami. In the women's 53kg bronze play-off, Antim controlled the match well, preventing her Mongolian opponent from launching significant attacks.

In a disappointing turn of events, the favored Indian women's hockey team suffered a resounding 0-4 defeat at the hands of China in the semifinals of the Asian Games. This outcome not only eliminated India from the gold medal contention but also denied them a direct qualification spot for the Paris Olympics. Despite being the highest-ranked team in the tournament, sitting at the seventh spot in the world rankings, last edition's silver medalists India couldn't match the prowess of the Chinese team, ranked at number four globally and the bronze medalists from the 2018 Jakarta Games.

Veteran Saurav Ghosal lost to Malaysia's Eain Yow Ng 11-9, 9-11, 5-11, 7-11 in the squash men's singles final in just over an hour to settle for a silver at the Asian Games in Hangzhou on Thursday. Despite Saurav's loss, the Indian squash players recorded their best-ever performance at the continental event, where they bettered the country's effort in the Incheon Games 2014. India had won a historic gold in the men's team event nine years ago, with two silver and a bronze to boot with. However, in the ongoing Games, India have won two gold, a silver and a bronze.