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Haryana, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh combined to account for nearly 47% of India’s medals in individual events

CHANDIGARH: Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh together accounted for nearly 47% of India’s medals in individual events at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, with Haryana emerging as the region’s biggest contributor.While the three states accounted for 22 of India’s 47 individual-event medals, Haryana alone won 32 of India’s 85 medals as the country finished fourth in the overall standings with 21 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze medals.The state produced five of India’s eight gold medallists in individual events, with athletes winning titles in boxing, wrestling and shooting. Neeru Dhanda won the women’s trap individual gold, Parveen Hooda the women’s 65kg boxing title, Ankush Panghal the men’s 75kg boxing gold, and wrestlers Aman Sehrawat and Sujeet Kalkal won the 57kg and 65kg freestyle titles respectively.Haryana’s contribution extended well beyond individual events. Its athletes won 14 gold medals overall — five in individual events and nine as members of teams. Women athletes accounted for two individual and six team golds.Shooting emerged as Haryana’s biggest medal-producing discipline, with its shooters accounting for eight medals, compared with six from wrestling. Haryana had a presence in all three shooting events in which the state won gold — the 10m air pistol mixed team, women’s trap individual and mixed team trap.Wrestling, meanwhile, produced a clean sweep, with Haryana wrestlers accounting for all six medals won by India in the discipline.Hockey, kabaddi boost team haulHaryana’s contribution was also significant in team events. Four members of India’s women’s hockey team — Neha, Jyoti, Sakshi Rana and Shilpi Dabas — were from Sonipat. The men’s team featured three players from the district — Sumit, Abhishek Nain and Yashdeep Siwach.In kabaddi, India won gold in both the men’s and women’s competitions, with Haryana supplying eight members of the men’s team and six of the women’s squad.Punjab had one individual medallist, but a major presence in hockey. Tajinderpal Singh Toor won silver in the men’s shot put, while eight members of the men’s hockey gold-winning team were from Punjab, including captain Harmanpreet Singh.Rajdeep Singh Gill, president of the Punjab Basketball Association, said Punjab needed sustained investment to rebuild its sporting ecosystem.“Punjab needs a major push to match Haryana, recruit coaches every year, build at least one major academy for every sport, and create a district-to-academy talent pipeline,” he said, calling for better sports infrastructure in schools, more coaching and physiotherapy support, regular govt jobs and career pathways for athletes.“Punjab once led India in sport; it can regain that position,” Gill said.Himachal Pradesh had two individual medallists — Seema Kumari, who won bronze in the women’s 10,000m, and Sawan Barwal, who took silver in the men’s marathon.Haryana Medal Haul

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