CM Saini Hails Haryana Shooters' Gold at Asian Games 2026
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Two shooters from Haryana — Suruchi of Jhajjar and Kamaljit of Rewari — brought home gold for India in the 10-metre air pistol mixed team event at the Asian Games 2026, and their Chief Minister made sure the country knew where they came from.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini took to X on Friday, September 25, congratulating the duo with characteristic pride: 'म्हारे धाकड़ खिलाड़ियों ने बढ़ाई तिरंगे की शान' — 'Our fierce athletes have raised the honour of the Tricolour.' He added that 'all of Haryana is proud of this magnificent achievement.'
Suruchi and Kamaljit: Two Districts, One Gold
The pair represent a pattern that has become almost a Haryana signature. Jhajjar and Rewari, two districts in the state's southern belt, have quietly built reputations as nurseries for competitive sport. Suruchi's gold is a moment for a district more often in the news for agriculture than athletics; Kamaljit's medal adds Rewari to the roll of honour.
The 10-metre air pistol mixed team format pairs one male and one female shooter, demanding not just individual precision but synchronised performance under pressure. Winning gold in this discipline at an Asian Games is among the sharper tests in international shooting.
Haryana's Long Habit of Owning the Podium
India's shooting team has been a consistent medal-getter at Asian Games since the 2018 Jakarta edition, where the country secured multiple podium finishes across pistol and rifle events. Haryana has been a disproportionate contributor to that national tally — a fact successive state governments have been eager to amplify. CM Saini's post follows that well-worn playbook: name the athlete, name the district, let the geography do the patriotic work.
The hashtags #AsianGames2026 and #Cheer4Bharat signal a deliberate attempt to tie Haryana's regional pride to a broader national moment — a small political calculation wrapped in a gold medal's glow.