CM Samrat Choudhary Hails India's Skeet Bronze at Asian Games 2026
Synopsis
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary congratulated shooters Parinaz Dhaliwal and Anantjeet Singh Naruka on winning the historic first Skeet Mixed Team bronze medal for India at the Asian Games 2026, praising their coordination and precision on the range.
Key Takeaways
Parinaz Dhaliwal and Anantjeet Singh Naruka won India's first-ever Skeet Mixed Team bronze at the Asian Games 2026 .
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary publicly congratulated the duo on 24 September 2026 via X.
CM Choudhary praised the pair's coordination, patience, and precise shooting as a source of national pride.
The Skeet Mixed Team format combines male and female shooters and has gained prominence as it aligns with Olympic programme changes.
India has a strong history in shooting at Asian Games, having secured multiple medals across rifle, pistol, and shotgun events at the 2023 Hangzhou Games .
More shooting events remain at the 2026 Asian Games , offering India further medal opportunities.
India's shooting contingent added fresh lustre to the tricolour at the Asian Games 2026, and Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary was among the first to salute the moment — congratulating Parinaz Dhaliwal and Anantjeet Singh Naruka on winning the Skeet Mixed Team event's first-ever historic bronze medal on Thursday, 24 September 2026.
Posting in Hindi on X, CM Choudhary called it 'तिरंगे की शान में जुड़ा एक और गौरवशाली अध्याय' — 'yet another glorious chapter added to the pride of the tricolour.' He praised the duo's 'remarkable coordination, patience and precise performance on the shooting range' as a matter of pride for the entire nation, and wished them well for their upcoming competitions.
Dhaliwal and Naruka's Winning Partnership on the Range
The Skeet Mixed Team format — where a male and female shooter combine scores across rounds of clay-target shooting — demands not just individual marksmanship but split-second synchronisation between partners. CM Choudhary specifically highlighted the taalmel (coordination) between the two athletes, pointing to the teamwork at the heart of a mixed-team format that has grown in prominence as global shooting bodies align their programmes with Olympic event structures.
For Parinaz Dhaliwal and Anantjeet Singh Naruka, the bronze represents a landmark result — the first time India has claimed a podium finish in the Skeet Mixed Team discipline at the Asian Games. Naruka has been a consistent presence in Indian shotgun shooting, while Dhaliwal's rise through the national circuit has marked her as one of the sport's emerging names.
Shooting's Enduring Place in India's Asian Games Story
India has long leaned on shooting to anchor its Asian Games medal tally. At the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, the country's shooting contingent delivered across rifle, pistol, and shotgun disciplines, cementing the sport's status as a reliable source of international hardware. That performance was built on years of investment in world-class training infrastructure and sustained international competition exposure for young shooters.
The addition of mixed-team events to major international programmes reflects a broader shift in how shooting federations are structuring competition — and India, with its depth of talent across disciplines, is well-placed to compete in these newer formats. This bronze is exactly the kind of result that validates that positioning.
With shooting rounds still to be contested at the 2026 Asian Games, India's medal count in the discipline has room to grow. For now, Dhaliwal and Naruka have written the opening line of a new chapter — and the country is watching.
Point of View
Lending the tribute more substance than boilerplate. More broadly, this moment fits a pattern of Indian shooting punching above its weight at continental competitions, driven by structured government investment — a trend that incumbent leaders are eager to amplify as the country builds its sports-power narrative ahead of future Olympic cycles.
NationPress
24 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Parinaz Dhaliwal and Anantjeet Singh Naruka?
Parinaz Dhaliwal and Anantjeet Singh Naruka are Indian competitive shooters who won the Skeet Mixed Team bronze medal at the Asian Games 2026, marking India's first podium in that discipline at the Games.
What is the Skeet Mixed Team event in shooting?
The Skeet Mixed Team event pairs one male and one female shooter, combining their scores across rounds of clay-target shooting. The format was introduced in line with global shooting federations aligning their programmes with Olympic structures.
Where are the Asian Games 2026 being held?
The Asian Games 2026 are being held in Japan, with shooting among the core disciplines featuring Indian athletes.
Why did Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary congratulate the Indian shooters?
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary congratulated Parinaz Dhaliwal and Anantjeet Singh Naruka after they won the historic first Skeet Mixed Team bronze for India at the Asian Games 2026, calling it a proud moment for the country.
How has India performed in shooting at recent Asian Games?
India has been a consistent medal contender in shooting at Asian Games, securing multiple medals across rifle, pistol, and shotgun disciplines at the 2023 Hangzhou Games, underpinned by sustained investment in training and international competition exposure.
