Gadkari hails India's 3rd Archery Gold at Asian Games 2026
Synopsis
India's compound men's archery trio of Kushal Dalal, Sahil Rajesh Jadhav and Ganesh Maniratnam Thirumuru beat China to claim gold at the 2026 Asian Games, giving India its third archery gold of the tournament. Minister Nitin Gadkari led the congratulations on X.
Key Takeaways
Kushal Dalal , Sahil Rajesh Jadhav , and Ganesh Maniratnam Thirumuru won gold in the Compound Men's Team archery event at the 2026 Asian Games .
India defeated China in the final, making the victory especially significant on the continental stage.
This is India's 3rd archery gold at the 2026 Asian Games, marking a new high-water mark for the discipline.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari congratulated the trio on 30 September 2026 , highlighting their 'precision, composure and teamwork'.
India's compound archery programme has shown a consistent upward trajectory at recent Asian Games editions.
Three gold medals in archery at a single Asian Games — that is the statement India's compound archers are writing at the 2026 Asian Games, and Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari was among the first to mark the moment on Wednesday, 30 September 2026.
Gadkari took to X to congratulate Kushal Dalal, Sahil Rajesh Jadhav, and Ganesh Maniratnam Thirumuru on clinching gold in the Compound Men's Team event — a victory that came against none other than China, the host nation and perennial powerhouse of Asian sport. 'Their thrilling victory over China showcased incredible precision, composure and teamwork,' the minister wrote, calling it 'a proud moment as India secures its 3rd Archery Gold at these Games.'
A win that demanded nerves of steel
Compound archery at the Asian Games is not a format that forgives lapses. Archers shoot at a 50-metre target with a compound bow — a weapon engineered for maximum accuracy — meaning margins between gold and silver can come down to a single point, sometimes a single arrow. Beating China in a team final, on the continent's biggest multi-sport stage, requires exactly the composure Gadkari described. The trio of Dalal, Jadhav, and Thirumuru delivered it.India's archery arc — from also-ran to Asian force
India's compound archers have steadily transformed the country's standing in Asian archery over recent editions of the Games. The discipline, once dominated by South Korean and Chinese squads, has seen Indian compound teams punch with increasing authority at continental level. Securing three archery golds at a single Asian Games edition is a marker of that shift — not a fluke, but a trajectory. Ministers across portfolios routinely amplify such moments on social media, but the underlying story here belongs to the athletes and the coaching infrastructure that has quietly built toward results like this.What the third gold signals for Indian archery
Each gold in archery carries World Archery ranking points and, crucially, qualification momentum toward future Olympic cycles. A dominant showing at the Asian Games can reshape a nation's seeding at world championships and sharpen the pipeline of competitive archers at the junior level. For India, three golds in a single edition sends a signal to rival federations: this is no longer a country that celebrates participation in archery — it is one that expects podiums. The arrows have landed. The scoreboard reads gold. Now the question is how many more India adds before the closing ceremony.Point of View
But the result it celebrates is anything but routine. Three archery golds at a single Asian Games edition reflects a structural deepening of India's compound archery programme — not just individual brilliance. It fits a broader pattern of India converting sporting investment into continental dominance in disciplines that were once conceded to East Asian rivals. The political class's eagerness to associate with such wins also signals how sport diplomacy and national pride have become integral to the ruling party's public communication playbook.
NationPress
30 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won gold in Compound Men's Team archery at Asian Games 2026?
Kushal Dalal , Sahil Rajesh Jadhav , and Ganesh Maniratnam Thirumuru won gold for India in the Compound Men's Team archery event at the 2026 Asian Games.
Who did India beat in the Compound Men's Team archery final?
India defeated China in the Compound Men's Team archery final at the 2026 Asian Games.
How many archery golds has India won at Asian Games 2026?
India has won three archery golds at the 2026 Asian Games, with the Compound Men's Team event being the third.
What did Nitin Gadkari say about India's archery gold?
Minister Gadkari congratulated the trio and said their victory showcased 'incredible precision, composure and teamwork,' calling it 'a proud moment' for India.
Where are the 2026 Asian Games being held?
The specific host city of the 2026 Asian Games is not confirmed in available verified information, but the event is a quadrennial multi-sport competition for Asian nations.
