India’s medal tally rises as Hockey and Cricket teams enter finals.

Six medals secured on October 1, with more assured in sepak takraw.

India’s campaign at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya on October 1 was a mix of triumphs, heartbreaks, and historic progress in team sports. The contingent added six confirmed medals — three silver and three bronze-  while also securing another in men’s sepak takraw. The day’s highlight came as the men’s hockey and cricket teams stormed into their respective gold-medal matches.

The morning began with success in wrestling, where Nitesh Siwach clinched silver in the men’s Greco-Roman 97kg category. His strong run included dominant wins in the quarter-final and semi-final before falling to Japan’s Yuri Nakazato in the final. Sailing added further glory, with Manu Francis and Prince Kurusinkal Noble securing silver in the men’s skiff, while Harshita Tomar and Shital Verma claimed bronze in the women’s skiff. Squash contributed two bronzes, as both the men’s and women’s teams reached the semi-finals before bowing out. In archery, Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru earned bronze in the compound men’s individual event.

Despite these successes, several athletes came close but fell short. Wrestler Mansi Ahlawat lost her bronze-medal bout in the women’s 62kg category, while judo competitors Inunganbi Takhellambam and Yamini Mourya fell short. Shooting, cycling, and rugby also ended without medals, and India’s tennis campaign concluded with Sumit Nagal’s quarter-final defeat, marking the first time since 1986 that the nation failed to secure a medal in the sport.

The evening, however, belonged to team events. In hockey, India edged arch-rivals Pakistan 4-3 in a thrilling semi-final. After racing to a 3-0 lead, India saw Pakistan claw back to level the score, only for Abhishek to strike the decisive goal in the final minute. Harmanpreet Singh and Sukhjeet Singh also found the net in a pulsating contest.

Cricket delivered a more emphatic result. India crushed Sri Lanka by 124 runs in the men’s T20 semi-final, powered by Ishan Kishan’s unbeaten 80 and a disciplined bowling attack that dismissed Sri Lanka for just 45 runs. The victory set up a high-voltage India-Pakistan clash in the final.

With six medals confirmed, another assured in sepaktakraw, and two major finals secured, India ended October 1 with momentum and promise, keeping alive hopes of a golden finish in Aichi-Nagoya.