India upbeat after becoming bigger fish in small Asian pool; country's best ever performance at the Asiad

India’s Kaur Parneet (centre), Aditi Gopichand Swami (right) and Jyothi Surekha Vennam compete against Taiwan in the archery compound team women's quarter-final match during the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, in China's eastern Zhejiang province on Thursday, October 5, 2023. India won the gold. - AFP

HANGZHOU, China (Reuters): India's modest Olympic achievements have long stood in contrast to its massive population but sporting officials say the sleeping giant has stirred at the Asian Games.

Five years ago at the continental showpiece in Jakarta, India finished eighth on the medal table with their best ever haul of 70 medals, including 16 golds.