2. Team events
Kabaddi
The Indian men’s kabaddi team has won all the gold medals since the inclusion of the game in 1990. India has dominated the proceeding in the sport and it will be really tough for other teams to stop Ajay Thakur and his company eyeing yet another glory. The emergence of Iran and South Korea is a good sign for world kabaddi but unless its not an upset, India will always hold an upper hand to win its 6th gold in the sport.
Indian women’s kabaddi team will be another gold medal prospect. The women’s kabaddi was introduced in 2010 Asian Games at Guangzhou and since then India has won all the two golds. India is a supreme force in women’s kabaddi and they are expected to return home with yet another gold.
Indian men’s hockey team
After failing to bag a medal in the Commonwealth games this year, Indian men’s hockey team has made a scintillating comeback by winning the silver medal at the 2018 Champions trophy competing against the forces like Argentina, Belgium, Netherlands, Pakistan and Australia. Newly elected coach Harendra Singh has done wonders for the men’s team as India was recently awarded with 5th ranking in FIH charts.
At the Asian level, the challenge may come back from Malaysia who have troubled India in the recent times and low-lying South Korea and Pakistan are capable of upsetting any team on their day. But a resurgent Indian team have shown form in the recent times and they will be the favourite to defend their gold and directly qualify for the Tokyo Olympics
1. Neeraj Chopra
All eyes will be on Neeraj Chopra when he competes in the javelin throw at the Asian Games. The services man has allready bagged three gold medals in 2018, including a gold at Commonwealth Games. He has gone neck to neck with the Olympic and world championships medallist and is allready a top competitor in world javelin. The 20-year-old from Haryana first rose to prominence by winning the 2015 National Championships with 77.67 mark.
Chopra came into limelight in 2016 when he won the gold and broke the junior world record with a throw of 86.48m in the 2016 IAAF World Under-20 Championship held at Bydgoszcz, Poland. He has come a long way since then and has allready broke his own national record with a of throw of 87.43m, set at the Doha Diamond League in May 2018.
He may face the challenge from the Asian record holder Chao-Tsun Cheng of Chinese Taipie. However, the Taipie man had pity a ordinary season with best throw of 84.60m in comparison to Neeraj who had a season best throw of 87.43m.
Neeraj, who was recently named the flag bearer for India at the opening ceremony will be a tough competitor to beat and is almost certain of a medal.
