The 17th Asian Games came to a close on Saturday, bringing an end to two weeks of intense competition, drama and controversy that shone a light on the best and worst of a region that will host the world's biggest events for the next decade.
Decorated Indian shooter Abhinav Bindra created a flutter on Monday by saying Tuesday will be his last day in professional shooting.
Anything less than the gold medal will be a disappointment for the Indian men's hockey team at the Asian Games in Indonesia, veteran midfielder Sardar Singh said on Friday.
India's biggest medal hope Jitu Rai got a wake-up call when he finished eighth in the finals as the much-fancied shooters drew a blank in the pistol events at the Olympics, in Rio de Janeiro, on Sunday.
P V Sindhu, will have to punch above its weight to salvage any hopes of a medal after being handed a tough draw in the badminton event at the 18th Asian Games.
Putting an end to the status of the bronze medal won by Indian woman boxer L Sarita Devi, the Olympic Council of Asia on Thursday re-instated her medal in the 60kg category after a hearing with the India's Asian Games contingent officials in Incheon.
Terming Yogeshwar Dutt's historic gold at the Asian Games as an "exceptional achievement", seasoned campaigner Sushil Kumar said the country's wrestlers have done justice to the sport by improving their medal count at the Asian Games. He was particularly impressed with Yogeshwar's semi-final performance against China's Katai Yerlanbieke at the Incheon Games. Yogeshwar Dutt's historic gold at the Asian Games as a "exceptional achievement", seasoned campaigner Sushil Kumar said that wrestlers have done justice to the sport by improving their medal count from the sport.
A high-intensity training for last three weeks has boosted his confidence and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Parupalli Kashyap says he is looking to maintain the rhythm as he sets out to achieve his dream of winning an Asian Games medal in Incheon.
After lending strong support to her cause, Indian cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar met Commonwealth Games silver-medallist woman boxer L Sarita Devi, who is serving a one-year ban for her emotionally-charged protest at the Asiad.
A top official of the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) said that the para-athletes were initially denied entry when they arrived at the Games Village as the Sports Ministry had not till then cleared funds to the tune of US$2.5 lakh.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Wednesday
Former Indian women's hockey captain Ritu Rani has reitered from international hockey after being deeply hurt following her axing from the Rio Olympics-bound squad. Ritu, who was controversially dropped from the team for the Rio Olympics citing "attitude" issues, however was included in the 29 probables for the National camp which began in Bhopal on Sunday.
India's Amit Kumar Saroha missed the bronze medal by a whisker in the men's F51 club throw competition at the Rio Paralympic Games on Friday.
The Sports Ministry dropped para-sports coach Satyanarayana from the list of this year's Dronacharya awardees due to a criminal case pending against him, but made no changes to the names recommended for the Khel Ratna and Arjuna awards.
Ganganjeet Bhullar ended a long trophy drought with a one-stroke victory at the Shinhan Donghae Open in South Korea on Sunday for his sixth title on the Asian Tour.
A bitter court battle almost forced Varsha Gautham to quit but perseverance helped her to tide over the crisis and clinch a silver medal in sailing at the ongoing Asian Games.
Seven-time champion India failed to reach the Asian Games men's kabaddi final for the first time after a shock 18-27 loss to Iran in the semi-finals.
Rahi Sarnobat, on Wednesday, became the first Indian woman shooter to win an Asian Games gold medal as she triumphed after prevailing in a double shoot-off in the 25m pistol event in Palembang.
The knee-injury which cut short her Rio Olympics campaign had left Vinesh Phogat writhing in pain, but the tears in her eyes on Monday after winning a historic gold medal at the Asian Games had a different meaning.
Zeeshan Ali, the captain and coach of the men's team, has no clue about Paes's arrival three days before the start of the competition on Sunday.
Indian athletics' great PT Usha's prodigy Tintu Lukka was leading the pack in women's 800m final at Incheon on Wednesday but had to settle for silver.
Livid with detractors for casting aspersions on her achievements because of a dope-tainted past, Asian Games gold medallist discus thrower Seema Punia said she has been 'ill-treated' by authorities, including the national federation, for many years now.
An international-level gymnast and a gymnastics coach, who are part of the Indian delegation that departed for the Incheon Asian Games on Tuesday, have been booked for allegedly passing obscene comments and making vulgar gestures at a woman player, police said on Wednesday.
A summary of sports events and persons who made news on Tuesday.
Dutee Chand qualified for Rio Olympics in the women's 100m event after meeting the qualification mark at XXVI International Meeting G.Kosanov Memorial in Almaty.
The proposals of six para-athletes, who are training in India and abroad ahead of the Asian Para Games that will take place between October 6 and 13 in Jakarta, were also cleared at the meeting.
Lalita Babar and Sudha Singh clinched a silver and a bronze under dramatic circumstances in women's 3000m steeplechase after a Bahraini runner was disqualified as India opened their medal account on the opening day of athletics competition at the Asian Games in Incheon on Saturday.
Some stellar performances by seasoned veterans and promising youngsters continued to raise the bar in Olympic sports but there was heartbreak in equal measure when corruption scandals blighted India's favourite obsession, cricket, in a see-saw year for the country's sportspersons.
Touching feet is the traditional Indian way of showing respect to someone but, as his numerous opponents would vouch, if it's on the wrestling mat and the outstretched arms belong to Yogeshwar Dutt, it normally means danger.
Lahiri was the first Indian to ever qualify for the President's Cup and had been thoroughly looking forward to representing the International Team.
Ankita Raina and top seeds men's doubles pair of Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan assured India of at least a couple of bronze medals in the tennis competition by progressing to the semifinals at the Asian Games, in Palembang, on Wednesday.
Swapna Barman's claim to fame before landing in Jakarta was as the athlete with 12 toes but the 21-year-old will return home having forged a new identity after winning India's first Asian Games gold in the heptathlon.
Pakistan Hockey Federation had sought a loan from the PCB to send the team to Bhubaneswar and clear the outstanding dues of players.
Dipika Pallikal and Joshana Chinappa both the glamorous Chennai girls are let their racquets speak.
Top doubles shuttler Jwala Gutta, who missed the Incheon Asian Games due to an injury, has said that keeping herself fit would be crucial for her to prepare well for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Sushil Kumar fades, Bajrang Punia rises
China's world and Olympic swimming champion Sun Yang served a three-month ban earlier this year after testing positive for a banned stimulant, the China Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) said on Monday.
All but one of its players entered the third round in the Asian Junior Badminton Championships' singles.
The IOA blamed Sports Minister Mani Shankar Aiyer for its failed bid to host the 2014 Asian Games, saying his remarks came handy for the Koreans, who won it.
Veteran boxer Sarita Devi, who is currently serving a provisional suspension, has found support from cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar who has written a letter to the Sports Minister urging him to support her and ensure that her career is not terminated prematurely.
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