Parveen Hooda has lifted India to an incredible taste of gold the Asian Games 2026 with the women’s 65kg boxing gold medal on Friday, raising the gold medal tally of the nation to 13.
In a tight final, Parveen came through for her heroism by defeating Chinese Taipei’s Chen Nien-Chin on a split decision, (2:2). She had defeated China’s Li Shu in the semi 5-0 to win.
Sri Lankan boxer Jennifer Tamar was the second from the country this day to win gold in the 101kg boxing division at the Commonwealth Games. Lovlina Borgohain won the 75kg final of the women’s division by winning the first meet of China’s Ziyi Bao by 5-0. The triumph by the girl was the first Asian Games gold for Lovlina and only the second Indian woman to earn a gold medal in the same event after MC Mary Kom.
It was also the first time India has made history in women’s recurve archery. Ankita Bhakat, Kirti Sharma and Kumkum Mohod secured Indian’s first gold in the Asian Games women’s recurve team event defeating South Korea 5-3 in the process. The win was a notable one for India as it was a sport they had previously overseen by the South Koreans at the top.
A silver medal was also won by the recurve mixed team and the men’s recurve team. The men’s team went on to reach the final after beating Iran 6-0, thus securing India another chance at gold even though it had been beaten early.
In freestyle wrestling, Sujeet Kalkal went all the way to the men’s final, overcoming Olympic champion Kotaro Kiyooka of Japan on tie-breaks in the 65kg category. He will square off against Tajikistan’s Abdulmazhid Kudiev for gold in his clash.
The women’s hockey team of India will also play final against China for the other gold medal.
India goes up to 73 medals following a win for Parveen, to be followed by 13 gold, 25 silver and 35 bronze.