CM Saini Hails Kushal Dalal's Archery Gold at Asian Games
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
A golden arrow from Sonipat has found its mark on the continental stage. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday, 30 September 2026 congratulated archer Kushal Dalal and his teammates Sahil Jadhav and Ganesh Maniratnam after the trio claimed a gold medal in the team archery event at the Asian Games, hoisting India's tricolour higher with every shot.
Writing in Hindi on X, CM Saini called the win 'ek aur garv ka pal' — 'one more moment of pride' — for Haryana, singling out Kushal Dalal as the 'son of Sonipat' whose achievement raises the honour of both the state and the nation. 'This golden performance by the athletes is further elevating the glory of the country's tricolour,' he added.
Kushal Dalal: Sonipat's arrow on the continental podium
Kushal Dalal hails from Sonipat, one of Haryana's most storied sporting districts and a consistent producer of national-level talent across wrestling, boxing, and now archery. His place in the gold-winning team underscores the state's growing footprint in disciplines that once lay outside its traditional strengths. The podium finish alongside Sahil Jadhav and Ganesh Maniratnam signals an increasingly deep bench for Indian archery at the team level.
Haryana's long habit of winning — and celebrating loudly
Haryana punches well above its weight in Indian sport, routinely sending a disproportionate share of athletes to continental and global competitions. State leadership has made a practice of amplifying every major win on social media, a deliberate signal that the government sees athlete success as both a point of pride and a policy priority. CM Saini's post continues that tradition — fast, visible, and personal in its acknowledgement.
For Indian archery, a team gold at the Asian Games is a meaningful data point as the sport builds momentum toward future Olympic cycles. The tricolour flying over the archery range is exactly the kind of image the national programme has been working to make routine.