Glorious 1-2 for Rocketmen at India's greatest Games yet

Neeraj Chopra delivered the most anticipated gold medal after a bonhomous yet intense battle with rising compatriot Kishore Jena as India enjoyed a glorious day at the Hangzhou Asian Games, zooming to the country's best ever tally that promises to swell further with lots of action still to come across key disciplines.

- SHANTANU SRIVASTAVA

The medals flowed in thick and fast for India in track & field and the country's archers toppled mighty South Korea, the biggest nation in the sport, to win the mixed doubles gold in compound discipline.

India's medal tally stood at 81, way past its previous record of 70 won in the 2018 Jakarta Games, with hockey, wrestling, squash and archery glory either expected or already guaranteed.

On the final day of track & field (except for the marathons on Thursday), Chopra, the biggest star at the Games as reigning Olympic and world champion, stepped up. His main rival Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan was out due to injury, but the event saw intense drama and a level of competition that can be credited to the heights Chopra's exploits have taken the javelin in India.

Chopra took the early lead with throws of 82.38m and 84.49, but Jena, who began with 81.26m, produced a sensational personal best of 86.77m to snatch the lead. The champion, who seemed to be going to the motions until then, responded immediately by sending the javelin to his season's best of 88.88m to regain the lead which he did not relinquish. Jena, however, thrilled fans at the Hangzhou Sports Park Stadium and the millions following the action back home by hurling another personal best 87.54m to inch ever closer to his idol.

It was exhilarating to watch two Indian athletes hit world-class distances in a battle for gold, but when Jena, 28, was asked how he felt after he took the lead, his reply summed up the pecking order. "Mujhe pata tha bhai saab maar hi denge (I knew my brother would definitely go farther)."