Indian pair Dipika Pallikal Karthik and Harinder Sandhu made history by becoming the first mixed doubles champions at the Asian Games.
Gold came against Aifa Azman and Mohd Syafiq Kamal to prevent a Malaysian clean sweep on a thrilling final day.
Top seeds Pallikal Karthik and Kamal were tested severely by the No.2 seeds in a tight contest, which was played at a hectic and crowd-pleasing pace.
The Indian pairing – as they did in their quarter-final and semi-final – made a slow start to the final, with Azman’s attacking instincts and Kamal’s coverage combining well as the Malaysians earned three game balls at 10-8.
Pallikal Karthik and Sandhu, however, clung on brilliantly to save the first two to level and then converted the sudden death game ball at 10-10 to take a vital 1-0 lead.
In a see-saw second game, the Indian pair were once again pushed to the brink by the Malaysians.
The contest looked effectively over when Pallikal Karthik and Sandhu went 6-1 up, only for a tremendous rearguard action by Azman and Kamal to earn the No.2 seeds game balls at 10-9.
Yet again, however, the Indian pair held firm, drawing level before Sandhu fired the ball into the corridor of uncertainty in the middle of the court, which both Azman and Kamal left, to the roars of the Indian bench.
“My mum was crying, my husband, my sister and my best friend – they were all watching together. I think the whole family was… I’m just happy to be going back with a gold,” Pallikal Karthik said afterwards.
Sandhu added: “I was playing for [Pallikal Karthik], nothing for me. I just wanted to make sure I do as much as I can for her on court.
“She just kept backing me. I was like a kid in school when you’re not doing well and the teacher is constantly behind you. I played like that on court!”
Result: 19th Asian Games Mixed Doubles Championship, Final
[1] Dipika Pallikal Karthik & Harinder Pal Sandhu (IND) bt [2] Aifa Azman & Mohd Syafiq Kamal (MAS) 2-0: 11-10, 11-10 (34m)
Medal Winners: 19th Asian Games
Women’s Team Championship
Gold: Malaysia
Silver: Hong Kong, China
Bronze: India & Republic of Korea
Men’s Team Championship
Gold: India
Silver: Pakistan
Bronze: Hong Kong, China & Malaysia
Mixed Doubles Championship
Gold: Dipika Pallikal Karthik & Harinder Sandhu (IND)
Silver: Aifa Azman & Mohd Syafiq Kamal (MAS)
Bronze: Anahat Singh & Abhay Singh (IND) & Ka Yi Lee & Chi Him Wong (HKG)
Women’s Individual Championship
Gold: Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS)
Silver: Sin Yuk Chan (HKG)
Bronze: Satomi Watanabe (JPN) & Tomato Ho (HKG)
Men’s Individual Championship
Gold: Eain Yow Ng (MAS)
Silver: Saurav Ghosal (IND)
Bronze: Abdulla Al Tamimi (QAT) & Henry Leung (HKG)