New Delhi: The year 2023 has become iconic in the history of Indian sports, as India has managed to secure the top spots at the Asian Championships in four different sports in the last four months.
Indians are now the Asian Champions in kabaddi, hockey, football and cricket.
And with the Asian Games 2023, around the corner. This will work as a huge confidence boost for the Indian contingent.
Way to go 🎉 pic.twitter.com/2Jdo6pq6tT
— Manoj Naravane (@ManojNaravane) September 18, 2023
Asian Kabaddi Championship, 2023
India’s journey of the year of Asian supremacy, started when the Pawan Sehrawat-led Indian kabaddi team defeated Iran by 42-32 in the finals of the Asian Kabaddi Championship 2023 concluded in Busan, Republic of Korea, on June 30.
India had a flawless tournament as they finished at the top of the table in the six-team tournament. India ousted every team they faced in the tournament, including Iran twice, who defeated India in the 2018 Asian Games finals.
SAFF Championship, 2023
India’s hunt for Asian supremacy moved forward when the Indian football team lifted the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) championship, for a record-extending ninth time after defeating the invitee team, Kuwait, by 5-4 in the penalty shoot-out after both the teams finished with 1-1 on the board after the end of regulation time in the finals on July 4.
This was the Indian football team’s second multination trophy in two months, as they were also crowned the Intercontinental Cup champions, a month prior.
The Hero Asian Champions Trophy, 2023
The third in the series was India’s national sport, hockey. Manpreet Singh led the team to defeat Malaysia by 4-3 in the finals to win the Men’s Asian Champions Trophy for a record fourth time, edging out Pakistan, who have won the title three times. India, at one point, was trailing by 1 goal to 3, but with the help of goals by Harmanpreet, Gurjant and Akashdeep, India made a scintillating comeback and won the game by 1 goal margin.
Asia Cup, 2023
The latest addition to the list is the Indian cricket team who walked right over the Sri Lankan cricket team to lift the Asia Cup title for a record-extending eighth time. India defeated Sri Lanka by a comfortable margin of 10 wickets and 263 balls to spare, after Indian pace spearhead Md. Siraj shell-shocked the Sri Lankan batting order with his magical bowling figures of 6 for 21 in 7 overs. This was also India’s first multination tournament trophy in the last 4 years.
Notably, Indian athletes will be taking part in the Asian Games 2023, later this month and India’s record in the Asian tournaments this year will definitely boost their confidence for the tournament. India is sending their largest-ever contingent of 655 athletes this year.
