Nadda hails India's third Archery Gold at Asian Games 2026
Synopsis
Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda congratulated Kushal Dalal, Sahil Rajesh Jadhav, and Ganesh Maniratnam Thirumuru on winning the Compound Men's Team archery gold at Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya — India's third archery gold of the Games.
Key Takeaways
Kushal Dalal , Sahil Rajesh Jadhav , and Ganesh Maniratnam Thirumuru won gold in the Compound Men's Team archery event at Asian Games 2026 .
This is India's third archery gold at the Aichi-Nagoya Games , marking a standout campaign in the discipline.
Union Health Minister and BJP national president J.
Nadda posted his congratulations on 30 September 2026 .
India has been progressively building its compound archery strength across successive Asian Games cycles through national elite training programmes.
The Sports Ministry is expected to conduct a post-Games review of India's performance across disciplines.
India's compound archers struck gold again — and this time, Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda was among the first to salute them. On Wednesday, 30 September 2026, Nadda took to X to congratulate Kushal Dalal, Sahil Rajesh Jadhav, and Ganesh Maniratnam Thirumuru on clinching the Compound Men's Team gold at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan — India's third archery gold of these Games.
Three archery golds and a statement of intent
Three golds in a single discipline at one Asian Games is not routine. It signals a depth of talent across both recurve and compound formats that India's archery pipeline has been quietly building toward over successive quadrennial cycles. The Compound Men's Team event — where precision at 50 metres over a fixed-face target rewards consistency above almost everything else — is one of the most technically demanding team formats in the sport. Dalal, Jadhav, and Thirumuru delivered under that pressure.
Nadda's post put it plainly: 'India's third Gold in Archery at these Games. A proud moment for Bharat!' The use of 'Bharat' alongside 'India' in the same breath — a rhetorical choice that has become common in official congratulatory messaging — underlines the national pride the government is keen to attach to elite sporting success.
India's compound archery climb at successive Asian Games
India has steadily expanded its archery medal footprint at the Asian Games, building on earlier hauls in both disciplines through structured national programmes. Government support for elite training — channelled through existing sports development frameworks rather than any new health-ministry initiative — has helped produce archers capable of competing at the top of the Asian circuit. The 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Games appear to be a watershed moment for the compound format in particular.
The trio's gold adds to what is shaping up as one of India's stronger archery campaigns at any Asian Games. With other events still to conclude, the final tally could push even higher — a number worth watching as the Sports Ministry will likely conduct a post-Games review of what worked and where further investment is warranted.
What the champions do next
For Dalal, Jadhav, and Thirumuru, this gold is a career-defining result on one of Asia's biggest stages. The road from here typically runs through World Cup circuits and, for the compound discipline, the World Archery Championships — where India has increasingly been a podium contender. Champions forged at Asian Games rarely stop there. Watch this space.
Point of View
Where consistent investment in niche disciplines is beginning to yield multi-medal returns at the continental level. For the BJP-led government, high-profile sporting wins offer a natural platform to project national pride, and senior ministers like Nadda amplifying these moments on social media is now a deliberate part of that communications strategy. The real policy question the gold raises is whether the post-Games review will translate into sustained, increased funding for compound archery's international circuit preparation — or whether the celebration remains symbolic. Three golds in one discipline at one Games is the kind of data point that should, and likely will, inform that conversation.
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 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
How many archery golds has India won at Asian Games 2026?
India won at least three archery golds at the 2026 Asian Games , with the Compound Men's Team event being the third confirmed gold in the discipline.
Where are the Asian Games 2026 being held?
The Asian Games 2026 are being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan , continuing the quadrennial multi-sport series across Asia.
Why did JP Nadda post about the archery gold?
J. P. Nadda , Union Health Minister and BJP national president, posted on X to congratulate the Indian compound archery team on their gold medal, reflecting the government's practice of publicly celebrating elite sporting achievements.
What is the Compound Men's Team archery event?
The Compound Men's Team event is a precision archery format where teams of three shoot at a fixed-face target at 50 metres , with scores combined to determine the winner — widely regarded as one of the most technically demanding team formats in the sport.
