"Chak De India!": Waris Pathan Hails Cricket Gold Over Pakistan
AIMIM leader Waris Pathan celebrates India's thrilling Asian Games 2026 cricket gold medal victory against arch-rivals Pakistan.
In a moment of high emotion and nationalistic fervor, AIMIM leader Waris Pathan celebrated India’s spectacular gold medal performance in men's cricket at the Asian Games 2026. The victory was made even more significant by the fact that it came against arch-rivals Pakistan, adding an extra layer of intensity to the triumph.
Reacting to the high-octane final, Pathan expressed that the win was a moment of immense pride for the entire nation. "It is a moment of immense joy; our hearts are swelling with pride, Chak De India! India has won the gold medal, and the gold is coming home," Pathan told ANI. He further emphasized the emotional weight of the rivalry, stating, "The atmosphere was already joyful, but the happiness is even greater when India defeats Pakistan to win."
A Golden Double in Cricket
The Indian men's team secured the top spot on the podium by defeating Pakistan by 19 runs in a nail-biting final. This victory ensured a "golden double" for India in the cricket arena, following an earlier dominant performance by the women's team, who defeated Sri Lanka by 147 runs to claim their gold.
The men's championship run was fueled by standout individual performances, with Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, and Axar Patel playing pivotal roles in securing the gold for the country.
Dominance in Kabaddi and Hockey
India's campaign at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games was characterized by absolute dominance in several key disciplines, achieving a clean sweep of gold medals in cricket, kabaddi, and hockey. The achievements included:
- Kabaddi: The women's team successfully defended their title by defeating Iran 37-34. The men's side also triumphed over Iran with a 40-34 scoreline, marking India's ninth gold in ten editions of the men's event.
- Hockey: A historic double was achieved as both the men's and women's teams won gold. The women's team ended a 44-year drought by beating China 1-0, thanks to a 10th-minute goal by Lalremsiami. The men's team defended their title with a commanding 5-1 win over Malaysia.
Crucially, these hockey victories have secured qualification for both the men's and women's teams for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Overall Medal Standings
India concluded its journey at the games with a total of 85 medals, consisting of 21 gold, 27 silver, and 37 bronze, placing the nation fourth in the overall standings. While this total was lower than the 106 medals achieved at the Hangzhou games in 2023, the current campaign was defined by historic firsts and record-breaking individual feats.
The final medal tally saw China leading the pack with 169 gold medals, followed by hosts Japan with 83 golds, and South Korea in third place with 39 golds.