Hyderabad, Oct. 5 -- Now that the dust has settled on the 2026 edition of the Asian Games in Japan, it is time to take stock of India's performance at the multi-discipline mega event. What did we do right, and what did we do wrong? For a start, let us examine the overall medal tally. India finished fourth with 85 medals, which comprised 21 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze. It was a creditable show.

However, it was behind the 106 medals won at Hangzhou in 2023. What made the Japanese campaign particularly interesting, however, was the emergence of a new generation of Indian stars. They are the Gen Z of Indian sports.

Among the many memorable performances, a few stood out above the rest. Perhaps the first name on the list of wonderfully tale...