India finished its grand outing at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games (CWG) with an impressive total of 66 medals including 26 gold, 20 silver and an equal number of bronze medals.
Lauding their efforts, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to congratulate the Indian athletes for their stunning performance.
The Indian contingent signed off third on the tally behind Australia and England making it the country’s third most successful Games ever. Their best performance, however, was recorded on home turf during the 2010 Games in New Delhi when they scooped a total of 101 medals - 38 of which were gold.
In this edition, India shined brightest in shooting with 16 medals, closely followed by 12 in wrestling and a total of 9 in weightlifting events.
The Indian table tennis team put up their best show in the history of the Games with eight medals. The limelight was stolen by the women’s team that scripted history by winning its first ever CWG gold.
In another high point, 18-year-old Deepak Lather became the youngest Indian weightlifter to win a medal at the Games. The young lifter clinched a bronze in the men’s 69 kg event.
Indian women's Table Tennis team strikes gold at CWG Source: Phil Walter/Getty Images
The biggest surprise came from 15-year-old Anish Bhanwala who became the country’s youngest shooter to claim gold at the Games in the men’s 25m rapid fire pistol event.
Meanwhile, 21-year-old Neeraj Chopra from Haryana opened India’s account in javelin by clinching the first ever gold medal for the country.
One of India’s best hopes to win a medal in athletics ahead of the Games, Mr Chopra threw a season best distance of 86.47 to win the top spot.
India’s medal haul further swelled with ace shuttler Saina Nehwal’s golden touch in the singles badminton event.
Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra claims gold at CWG Source: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images
After defeating her compatriot P.V. Sindhu, Miss Nehwal became the first Indian to win two singles golds at the Games. She had won her first yellow medal at the Delhi Games.
With a total of seven medals, this was the Indian badminton contingent’s best ever performance at the Games.
While the young prodigies broke several records at the Gold Coast Games, the old guns were not far behind. The experienced members of the Indian contingent also took home gold.
Indian badminton contingent wins seven medals at the 2018 CWG Source: Michael Steele/Getty Images
MC Mary Kom won a gold in the women's 45-48 kilogram boxing event, while Sushil Kumar won a record third gold medal in the men's 74 kilogram wrestling event.
Amidst all these wins, the biggest disappointment, however, came from the Indian hockey teams which failed to win a single medal for the country.
