India's shooting contingent added another gleam to the Asian Games 2026 medal tally on Thursday, 24 September — and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel was quick to mark the moment, congratulating Parinaaz Dhaliwal and Anantjeet Singh Naruka on claiming the Bronze Medal in the Skeet Mixed Team event at the continental showpiece being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

A bronze forged under pressure in Aichi-Nagoya

Shooting a Skeet Mixed Team event demands synchronised precision — two athletes, one range, each clay target a split-second decision. Dhaliwal and Naruka delivered exactly that, combining composure with the kind of seamless teamwork that separates medal rounds from near-misses. CM Patel captured it simply: 'Your skill, composure and outstanding teamwork have brought another medal home for Bharat.'

The win adds to a proud lineage. India has fielded shooting teams at every Asian Games since the 1980s, and shooting remains one of the disciplines where Indian athletes return most reliably with hardware. The 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou reinforced that trend, and the 2026 edition in Aichi-Nagoya is already continuing it.

Dhaliwal and Naruka: names the range will remember

Parinaaz Dhaliwal has steadily built her profile on the international skeet circuit, bringing both technique and mental steadiness to the plate. Anantjeet Singh Naruka is no stranger to big stages on the skeet range either, having represented India at international level with consistent results. Together, they formed a partnership that held its nerve when the competition demanded it most.

National sports infrastructure — training facilities, selection pipelines, and support from bodies governing shooting — has played a quiet but critical role in producing athletes who can compete and win at this level. The medal in Aichi-Nagoya is, in part, a dividend on that sustained investment.

What the Skeet bronze means for India's Asian Games campaign

Shooting has long been one of India's most reliable medal-producing disciplines at continental multi-sport events, and every bronze, silver, or gold from the range strengthens the case for deeper investment in the sport. With other shooting events still to conclude at Asian Games 2026, the contingent will look to build on this momentum — and athletes like Dhaliwal and Naruka now carry the weight of expectation alongside the medal.

State leaders acknowledging individual sporting achievements is more than courtesy; it signals political and institutional visibility for disciplines that often operate outside the mainstream spotlight. When a chief minister calls out names by name, those names travel further.

India aimed, India fired, India scored — the range at Aichi-Nagoya just got a little more Indian.