As the 18th edition of the Asian Games draws closer, the 572-member Indian contingent has been preparing in all earnest for the tough task ahead as the athletes will look to improve from the performance in the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon where India finished with 57 medals, five of which came through the wrestlers.
In this edition, a vast proportion of the medal hopes has landed on the shoulders of the wrestling contingent which comprises of the likes of Sushil Kumar, Bajrang Punia in the men's category while the women's category will be boosted by the presence by 2016 Rio Olympics bronze medallist Sakshi Malik (62kg), Vinesh Phogat (50kg), who will be looking to improve from her bronze medal finish in the 2014 Asian Games.
While the grapplers put on a dominating show in the 2018 Commonwealth Games as the contingent collectively won 12 medals, the contest will be of a greater contumacy in the Asian Games, with Japan set to enter the tournament with the favorites tag with the likes of Daichi Takatani (65kg), Yuki Irei (50kg) in the squad.
As we countdown to the commencement of the Asian Games, here are some standing wrestling-based records from the history of the Games.
#1 Most Number of Gold Medals - 66 [Japan]
It is no small talk that Japan will walk into the tournament as the favorites to run away with a majority of the spoils, having dominated the wrestling arena for a long time now.
Out of the 241 gold medals that have been won so far, 66 of them have gone to the Japanese, a whopping 27.38% while Japan also holds the record for the most number of medals won overall, with 154 medals from 16 editions so far.
#2 Most Number of 'Best Nation' Titles in a Row - 6 [South Korea 1986-2006]
Post-Japan's dominance from 1954-1966, Iran won consecutive titles in 1970 and 1974 before South Korean wrestling came to the fore as they clinched the most number of medals in 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2006 before Iran claimed the title in 2010.
#3 Most Gold Medals in a Single Edition - 13 [ Iran (1974)]
Iran's most dominating performance came in 1974 at home in Tehran, Iran when the Iranian wrestlers picked up a total of 13 gold medals and added five silver and one bronze medal to pocket 19 medals in all, more than one-fourth of the 60 medals in that edition.
The men's freestyle event witnessed Iran claim a total of five gold medals while an authoritative show in the Greco-Roman event, where the Iranian wrestlers picked eight out of the ten medals on offer capped off a fabulous edition for them.
#4 Most Silver Medals - 47 [Japan]
Not only has Japan stamped its authority to amass the most number of gold medals in the history of the competition, the Japanese wrestlers have also finished second on the most number of occasions, having picked up 47 silver medals in the history of the Asian Games.
#5 Most Bronze Medals - 52 [South Korea]
South Korea is one of the most successful teams, having finished as the country with most medals in an edition six times, highlighted by the 52 gold medals they have amassed, the third most for any country, behind South Korea and Iran.
However, they stand in the first position for the most number of bronze medals won through the sixteen editions of wrestling with 52 medals while Japan comes second with 41 bronze medals to their credit.
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