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Aichi-Nagoya, Oct 3 : India concluded its Asian Games 2026 campaign in fourth place with 85 medals, including 21 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze, after a series of strong performances across sports. Around 500 Indian athletes competed at the 20th edition of the continental multi-sport event. India’s medal tally was the country’s second-highest at the Asian Games, behind the record 106 medals won at Hangzhou in 2023. At Hangzhou, India won 28 gold, 38 silver and 40 bronze medals. Athletics was India’s biggest contributor in Aichi-Nagoya with 24 medals, while shooting produced 15 medals, including three gold. Archery led India’s gold-medal tally in individual sports with five golds, while boxing also secured three. Historic Golds And Record Performances Lovlina Borgohain became only the second Indian woman after Mary Kom to win an Asian Games boxing gold. Aman Sehrawat and Sujeet Kalkal also won wrestling gold medals. Pranavi Urs created history by becoming the first Indian woman to win an Asian Games golf gold, while 17-year-old Kumkum Anil Mohod became the first Indian woman to win individual recurve gold. Mohod also formed part of the women's recurve team that won gold alongside Ankita Bhakat and Kirti Sharma. Neeru Dhanda won India's first individual gold of the Games in women's trap, while Kumkum and Suruchi Singh won gold in the mixed team 10m air pistol event. Strong Showing In Team Sports India successfully defended its Asian Games cricket titles in both men's and women's cricket. The men's team defeated Pakistan by 19 runs in the final, while the women's team beat Sri Lanka. Both men's and women's kabaddi teams also won gold medals. India's women's hockey team ended a 44-year wait for an Asian Games gold, securing the title in Japan. Also Read : Odisha Govt Announces Cash Awards for Indian Women’s Hockey Team After Asian Games Gold More Firsts For India Several other athletes added to India's historic campaign. Vithya Ramraj won bronze in the women's 400m hurdles while breaking a 42-year-old national record. Sawan Barwal won India's first marathon medal since 1982 and set a national record, while Sarvesh Kushare ended a 56-year wait for an Indian men's high jump medal. Baranica Elangovan became the first Indian pole vaulter to win an Asian Games medal. India also won its first Asian Games medals in mixed martial arts and soft tennis through Suchika Tariyal and Jay Meena respectively. Mirabai Chanu won silver in the women's 49kg weightlifting event, India's first Asian Games medal in the sport since 1998. Anahat Singh became the first Indian woman to win a singles silver medal in squash at the Asian Games. Olympic Quotas Secured India's campaign also secured Olympic qualification places for the Los Angeles 2028 Games in archery and hockey. India earned quotas in both men's and women's hockey, as well as in the compound mixed team and women's individual recurve events in archery. India's strongest medal haul came on Friday, when it won 12 medals, including six golds. On the penultimate day, the country added nine medals, including golds in men's cricket and women's hockey, along with individual golds for Kumkum Mohod, Aman Sehrawat and Pranavi Urs. Despite falling short of the Hangzhou tally, India's Aichi-Nagoya campaign was marked by 21 gold medals, several national records and a series of historic firsts across sports.

Bhubaneswar, Oct 3 : A fake gun that doubles as a lighter was allegedly used to threaten a 26-year-old woman during the Nayapally rape case, with police on Saturday saying the accused had entered her rented apartment intending to steal before allegedly sexually assaulting her. The accused in the Nayapally rape case was shot in the right leg during a police encounter in the Chandaka area of Bhubaneswar. The accused, identified as Sridhar Panda alias Santosh, from Odisha's Ganjam district, allegedly entered the rented apartment of the survivor with the intention of stealing before threatening her with a lighter gun and raping her. According to police, the accused had conducted a recce of the area before entering the house. He allegedly covered his face with a red towel while entering the apartment. It can be mentioned here that a 26-year-old woman had approached Nayapally police station on October 1 and alleged that an unidentified person entered her rented apartment in Bhubaneswar on the night of September 30 and raped her. According to her complaint, she alleged that the assault took place at gunpoint. Accused Allegedly Fled After Crime After the alleged rape, the accused reportedly left the area on foot and reached CRPF Square. From there, he allegedly travelled by 'Ama Bus' to Fire Station Square and then went to Unit-1 by auto-rickshaw. Police said he subsequently stole a motorcycle and travelled to his rented accommodation in Chakesiani. He later allegedly fled to Ganjam before returning to Kataka. Police traced him to the Chandaka area and began pursuing him. Police Say Accused Attacked Sub-Inspector According to police, the accused attempted to attack a Sub-Inspector with a screwdriver while officers were trying to apprehend him. Police said they opened fire in self-defence. Two rounds were fired and one bullet hit the accused in his right leg. He was subsequently injured and shifted for medical treatment. A lighter gun and the motorcycle were reportedly recovered from the encounter spot. Also Read : Nayapally Rape Case: Accused Injured In Police Encounter, Hospitalised Police Trace Accused Within 48 Hours The Police Commissioner Suresh Dev Datta Singh said the accused was traced after an intensive operation. "After 48 hours of intense operation, we were able to trace the accused. Within 12 hours of registering the case, we had the picture of the accused." Speaking about the accused, the CP said, "The suspect is identified as Sridhar Panda alias Santosh from Ganjam district. He resides in the Mancheswar area. He has a criminal history of stealing mobile phones. We have found that he has petty theft cases registered against him at Khandagiri and Tamando police stations in 2023. Even when we were following him, he stole a red-coloured two-wheeler." Police Say Theft Was Motive Describing the alleged crime, the CP said, "He went inside the victim's rented apartment to steal. He had already done the recce of the area. When he went inside, he terrorised the woman with a fake gun, mostly used as a lighter. Then, he raped her." On the encounter, the CP said, "When our team went to nab Santosh, he attempted to stab a Sub-Inspector. In self-defence, police shot him in the leg." The accused is currently undergoing treatment.