GUWAHATI: ONGC sportspersons, both on roll and scholarship have displayed an outstanding performance by bagging 15 medals including 3 Gold , 7 Silver and 5 Bronze at the Asian Games 2018 in Jakarta.
This is the largest contribution by any corporate to the overall Indian medal tally of 69 at Asiad 2018 and also the highest number of medals won by ONGCians in Asian Games edition since 2006, an ONGC communiqué informed.
Sharing his immense happiness on this achievement, Shashi Shanker, CMD, ONGC said “Sports is an important indicator of a nation’s growth and development. ONGC, as a responsible corporate citizen has always been committed towards development of sports. It is heartening to see the dedication of our sportspersons who have overcome all challenges to succeed at the international level and ONGC is proud to be a part of this success story”.
“India has a huge pool of sporting talents and once nurtured properly, they become invincible. At ONGC we always support and nurture talents to ensure that the performance level is raised at the highest level” he added.
ONGC’s Apurvi Chandela opened India’s tally, with a Bronze in 10 m Air Rifle. She was followed by Ankita Raina, India’s No. 1 seed who secured Bronze in women singles tennis to become India’s second lady player to obtain a medal.
World Track Champion and ONGC’s scholarship athlete Hima Das secured Silver in Womens 400m. She also secured Silver in 4X400m Mixed Relay and Gold in 4X400m Women Relay along with ONGCian M R Poovamma. ONGC’s Dharun Ayyasamy bagged 2 Silver medals in men’s 400m hurdles and men’s 4X400 relay.
Fifteen-year-old Shardul Vihan, who is on ONGC scholarship put up a spectacular performance to clinch Silver in the Men’s Double Trap event. Ace shooter, Heena Sidhu secured Bronze in 10 m air pistol. In archery, ONGC’s scholarship stars, Jyothi Surekha and Rajat Chauhan clinched Silver in Women’s Compound Team & Men’s Compound Team events respectively.
In table tennis, ONGC trio of A Amalraj, G Sathiyan and Harmeet Desai won Bronze and scripted history with the first ever medal for India in the sport at the Asiad. ONGCian Arpinder Singh clinched India’s first Gold in Triple Jump after a span of 48 years, while 21-year-old ONGC scholarship heptathlete, Swapna Burman bagged Gold after a grueling seven events at the Asiad. ONGCian Mandeep Singh, who is part of the Indian Hockey Team rounded up ONGC’s heist with a Bronze in Mens Hockey.
Thirty-eight ONGC sportspersons were in the Indian contingent for the Jakarta Asiad, the biggest participation from corporate India.
Today, ONGC has 40 national awardees in the organisation (Padma Bhushan – 1, Khel Ratna – 1, Padma Shri – 3, Arjuna – 34 & Dhyanchand Award – 1).
In the recently held Common Wealth Games 2018 at Gold Coast, Australia, ONGC sports person bagged 13 medals including 5 Gold, 3 Silver and 5 Bronze, contributing to the 66 medal tally for India.