Asian Games Day 13: India Storms Into Hockey And Cricket Finals As Medal Tally Hits 65

India had another eventful day at the Asian Games on Thursday, with the men’s cricket and hockey teams reaching their respective finals while the country added medals in sailing, wrestling, squash and archery. Several athletes also suffered exits as India’s campaign entered its final stages.

The biggest result came in men’s hockey, where India survived a dramatic fightback from Pakistan to win 4-3 in the semifinal. Harmanpreet Singh scored twice and Sukhjeet Singh added another as India built a 3-0 lead. Pakistan then scored three goals to level the match, but Abhishek struck with just 49.2 seconds remaining to send India into the gold-medal match. India will face the winner of Malaysia and South Korea.

In men’s cricket, India produced an equally emphatic performance, defeating Sri Lanka by 124 runs in the semifinal. Ishan Kishan smashed an unbeaten 80 off 46 balls, while 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made 38 as India posted 169 for seven. Sri Lanka were then bowled out for only 45, with Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel and Abhishek Sharma leading the bowling attack. India will meet Pakistan in the gold-medal match.

India also collected two silver medals. Manu Francis and Prince Noble finished runners-up in the men’s skiff sailing event, giving India its first sailing medal of the Games. In Greco-Roman wrestling, Nitesh Siwach won silver in the 97kg category after losing 0-3 to Japan’s Yuri Nakazato in the final. Nitesh had earlier beaten Mongolia’s Gankhuyag Ganbaatar 9-0 in the semifinal.

Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru added a bronze in men’s individual compound archery, beating Vietnam’s Cong Duc Dang 149-144. However, double-gold medallist Chikitha Taniparthi exited in the quarterfinals after a narrow 143-144 defeat to Indonesia’s Nurisa Dian Ashrifah.

Both Indian squash teams ended their campaigns with bronze medals. The women lost 1-2 to Hong Kong, while the men suffered a 1-2 semifinal defeat against Malaysia. Sumit Nagal also exited the tennis competition after losing his quarterfinal to China’s Wu Yibing. India’s men’s volleyball team was eliminated after a 0-3 quarterfinal loss to Pakistan.

Wrestling produced mixed results beyond Nitesh’s silver. Mansi Ahlawat reached the 62kg semifinal but lost to Japan’s Nonoka Ozaki and remained in the bronze-medal race. Aman was eliminated in the 77kg quarterfinals, while Sumit exited in the 60kg quarterfinals. In judo, Yamini Mourya was eliminated after losing in the quarterfinal and repechage, while Inunganbi Takhellambam progressed to the 70kg bronze-medal contest.

India also remained in contention in golf, sepaktakraw and other disciplines, while shooting ended with 15 medals after Anish Bhanwala finished seventh in the 25m rapid-fire pistol final.

With the latest results, India’s tally has risen to 65 medals - 10 gold, 23 silver and 32 bronze. The country remains eighth in the standings, with the cricket and hockey teams now carrying major gold-medal hopes into the final stretch of the Games.