Mandaviya Hails India's Historic Skeet Mixed Team Bronze
Synopsis
Parinaaz Dhaliwal and Anantjeet Singh Naruka clinched India's first-ever Bronze Medal in the Skeet Mixed Team event at the 2026 Asian Games. Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya hailed the result as historic, calling it a landmark moment for Indian shooting.
Key Takeaways
Parinaaz Dhaliwal and Anantjeet Singh Naruka won the Bronze Medal in the Skeet Mixed Team event at the 2026 Asian Games .
This is India's first-ever medal in the Skeet Mixed Team category at the Asian Games.
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya congratulated the pair on 24 September 2026 via a post on X.
India has competed at the Asian Games since 1951 , with shooting historically among its top medal-producing sports.
The result reflects the Sports Ministry's broader push to build competitive depth in non-cricket and shotgun disciplines.
India has never stood on this particular podium before — and on Thursday, 24 September 2026, that changed. Parinaaz Dhaliwal and Anantjeet Singh Naruka shot their way into the history books by clinching India's first-ever Bronze Medal in the Skeet Mixed Team event at the 2026 Asian Games, a milestone that drew immediate congratulations from Union Labour and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.
India's first Skeet Mixed Team medal at the Asian Games
The Skeet Mixed Team discipline demands both technical precision and partnership — two shooters working in synchrony across a demanding clay-target format. For India, reaching the podium in this event at the Asian Games is a first, marking a new frontier for a shooting programme that has grown steadily more competitive on the continental stage. Mandaviya posted his congratulations under the hashtag #Cheer4Bharat, calling the result 'Historic Bronze for Bharat!'
Dhaliwal and Naruka: the pair behind the breakthrough
Parinaaz Dhaliwal and Anantjeet Singh Naruka are among India's trained shotgun specialists who have logged significant competitive mileage on the international circuit. Their partnership in the mixed-team format reflects the Sports Ministry's push to build depth across non-cricket disciplines — combining established individual talent into team formats that offer fresh medal opportunities. This bronze is both a personal career landmark for the two athletes and a structural proof-of-concept for that approach.
Shooting's growing role in India's Asian Games tally
India has competed at the Asian Games since 1951, and shooting has long been among the country's most reliable medal-producing disciplines. The 2026 edition offers another opportunity for the Indian contingent to push its all-time tally higher, with the shooting squad carrying high expectations after years of investment in national academies and overseas exposure. A maiden medal in any event at this level adds tangible proof that those programmes are broadening India's competitive range beyond its traditional strongholds.
With more shooting and other discipline events still to come at the 2026 Asian Games, the Sports Ministry will be watching closely — and this first-ever Skeet Mixed Team bronze sets the bar exactly where India wants it.
Point of View
Quick public acknowledgement of such firsts is consistent with the Sports Ministry's strategy of amplifying non-cricket achievements to sustain political and public investment in the broader sports ecosystem. The result also feeds into a longer arc: as India's Olympic ambitions grow, first-time continental medals in technical disciplines validate pipeline investments. Watch whether this pairing is fast-tracked into the next Olympic qualification cycle.
NationPress
24 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won India's first Skeet Mixed Team bronze at Asian Games 2026?
Parinaaz Dhaliwal and Anantjeet Singh Naruka won the Bronze Medal in the Skeet Mixed Team event at the 2026 Asian Games , making it India's first-ever medal in this category.
What is the Skeet Mixed Team event in shooting?
The Skeet Mixed Team event is a shotgun shooting discipline where one male and one female athlete compete together as a pair, firing at clay targets launched at varying angles and speeds. It is part of the Olympic shooting programme.
What did Mansukh Mandaviya say about the Asian Games 2026 bronze?
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya called the result 'Historic Bronze for Bharat!' and posted heartiest congratulations to the pair on 24 September 2026 under the hashtag #Cheer4Bharat.
How has India performed in shooting at the Asian Games historically?
Shooting has been one of India's most consistent medal-contributing sports at the Asian Games, where India has competed since 1951 . The 2026 Skeet Mixed Team bronze is a new category milestone in that long tradition.
Is Anantjeet Singh Naruka an experienced shooter?
Anantjeet Singh Naruka is among India's established shotgun specialists with significant international competitive experience, making the partnership with Parinaaz Dhaliwal a combination of proven individual talent in a team format.
