In Pics: PM Modi, Rathore Stage Grand Welcome for Asiad Heroes

While individual gold medal winners were given Rs 40 lakh, the silver and bronze received Rs 20 and Rs 10 lakh each.

PM Modi speaks to the Indian medallists at his residence during the felicitation ceremony on Wednesday, 5 September.

(Photo: PTI)

After a successful outing at the 18th Asian Games, the Indian athletes returned home amidst tremendous cheer, both from the administration and their respective families.

India clinched a record of 69 medals in this year’s Asian Games.

Men’s athletics contingent celebrate during the Asian Games winner felicitation ceremony, in New Delhi on Tuesday, 4 September.(Photo: PTI)

The government on Tuesday, 4 September, felicitated the medal winners with cash awards after the country registered its best-ever medal haul in the history of the continental mega sporting event.

While individual gold medal winners were given away Rs 40 lakh, the silver and bronze winners took home Rs 20 and Rs 10 lakh each.

The athletes also met with PM Modi in his residence on Wednesday, 5 September, for a separate felicitation ceremony.

Rajyavardhan Rathore and Indian women’s hockey team players pose for a photograph during the Asian Games felicitation ceremony.(Photo: PTI)

Union Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore promised "surgical" precision in distribution of funds to athletes preparing for the 2020 Olympic Games, asserting that centralisation of the process has made bureaucratic hurdles a thing of past.

Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat, poses for a group photo with the sportsmen from the army who won medals in the Asian Games 2018(Photo: PTI)

It was also a successful outing at the Asian Games for the army, who performed well at rowing and equestrian.

The army contributed 11 out of the 69 medals for the country, but chief of Indian Army, General Bipin Rawat, termed it as “only the trailer” adding that “the full length movie will be released during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Asian Games-2018 (Kabaddi Women) medal winners pose for a photograph on Wednesday.(Photo: PTI)

It was heartbreak for Kabaddi fans as India, for the first time in the history of Asian Games, returned without a gold. However, the teams managed to clinch silver and bronze, in women’s and men’s events respectively.

Indian athletes pose for photo before felicitation ceremony.(Photo: PTI)

Indian athletes were visibly super-happy at the ceremony and deservedly so after they returned with 19 of the total 69 medals at the Asian Games.

From left, Bajrang Punia, Jinson Johnson, Hima Das, Arpinder Singh, Pincky Balhara, Malaprabha Jadhav, Aman Saini and Rajat Chauhan were all present in Delhi on Tuesday evening to be felicitated by the government.

Archer Madhumita Kumari being welcomed in Ranchi(Photo: PTI)

While it was a starry night in Delhi on Tuesday, athletes also received a big welcome at their respective places.

Archer Madhumita Kumari was welcomed in a traditional santhal way at Birsa Munda airport, in Ranchi on Saturday, 1 September, 2018.

Madhumita won Silver in women’s compound archery at the 18th Asian Games 2018 in Jakarta.

(Photo: PTI)

Silver Medallist in equestrian Major Ashish Malik poses with his medal.(Photo: PTI)

Silver Medallist in equestrian Major Ashish Malik was welcomed by his family in Rohtak on Saturday, 1 September.

Indian paddler Achanta Sharath Kamal with his coaches, father Srinivasa Rao and uncle Muralidhara Rao.(Photo: PTI)

It was a successful outing for Indian ace paddler Achanta Sharat Kamal who clinched silver in men’s doubles and mixed doubles event.

(With inputs from PTI.)