It was at the Hangzhou Asian Games that India crossed 100 medals for the first time. Of this, 12 came from Kerala; six gold, five silver and one bronze.
Malayala Manorama Chief Editor Mammen Mathew felicitated most of them and coaches at the Manorama News Conclave 2023. The winners who were felicitated were Indian hockey goalkeeper P R Sreejesh, relay winners Mohammad Anas and Mohammad Ajmal, India's chief athletic coach Radhakrishnan Nair, silver medalist long jumper Ancy Sojan, silver medalist long jumper M Sreeshankar, 1500 metre bronze winner Jinson Johnson and M R Arjun (badminton).
Sreejesh said India should introspect why the country had limited itself to 100 medals even after becoming the most populous country. We still have inadequate facilities, but the increasing global exposure of sportspersons in the country would lead to better results, he said.
India's chief athletic coach Radhakrishnan Nair said the country could increase its medal share to 29 from 20 in the previous Asian Games.
