CM Bhajan Lal congratulates Narooka, Dhaliwaal on Asian Games bronze
Synopsis
Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma congratulated shooters Anantjeet Singh Naruka and Paranaz Dhaliwal on winning bronze in the skeet mixed team event at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, calling the feat an inspiration for India's emerging sporting talent.
Key Takeaways
Anantjeet Singh Naruka and Paranaz Dhaliwal won bronze in the skeet mixed team event at Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma publicly congratulated the duo on 24 September 2026 , calling Naruka 'Rajasthan ka lal' (son of Rajasthan).
Sharma praised the pair's coordination, focus, and sporting skill, describing the medal as a 'golden success.' The Chief Minister said the achievement will serve as inspiration for India's emerging sports talent.
India has historically been among Asia's strongest nations in shooting events across multiple Asian Games editions.
Results at Asian Games 2026 feed into the qualification cycle for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics .
A Rajasthan shooter and his partner brought home bronze from the Asian Games 2026 skeet mixed team event — and Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma was quick to salute the achievement, calling it a golden success that will inspire the country's emerging sporting talent.
Sharma posted his congratulations on Thursday, 24 September 2026, addressing both Anantjeet Singh Naruka — whom he pointedly described as 'Rajasthan ka lal' (son of Rajasthan) — and Paranaz Dhaliwal, praising the pair's 'remarkable coordination, focus and outstanding sporting skill' in clinching the medal. The message carried the unmistakable warmth of a home state claiming its own.
Naruka, Dhaliwal and the skeet mixed team podium
Skeet shooting demands that two athletes move and fire in near-perfect unison across a range of clay-target trajectories — a discipline where composure under pressure is as critical as technical accuracy. Naruka and Dhaliwal delivered exactly that, earning India a podium finish in one of the marquee shooting disciplines at the 21st Asian Games, being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The bronze adds to what has historically been one of India's strongest Asian Games departments: shooting has consistently been a medal pipeline for the country across multiple editions of the Games.
Rajasthan's stake in India's shooting story
State governments across India have made a habit of spotlighting regional athletes on national stages — part congratulation, part soft political messaging about investment in grassroots sport. For Sharma, who took office in December 2023, Naruka's bronze provides a concrete, feel-good data point in that narrative. His post explicitly linked the achievement to inspiring 'emerging sporting talents of the country' — a phrase that gestures toward ongoing government efforts to position sport as a credible career path for youth.
India's shooting contingent will have more events ahead at these Games, and each result feeds directly into the qualification cycle for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics — making every podium finish here worth watching well beyond the medal ceremony.
A state's son on an Asian Games podium, a Chief Minister's pride broadcast nationwide — and the next Olympic cycle already ticking in the background.
Point of View
Which has invested in sports infrastructure since the BJP government took over in late 2023, Naruka's bronze is a tangible symbol of that agenda bearing fruit. The broader significance, however, lies in the Olympic pipeline: Asian Games shooting medals sharpen India's qualification math for Los Angeles 2028, making this moment consequential beyond the headlines. Watch whether the state government follows the congratulation with any structured support announcement for the pair.
NationPress
24 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Anantjeet Singh Naruka and Paranaz Dhaliwal?
Anantjeet Singh Naruka is a competitive skeet shooter from Rajasthan who won a bronze medal alongside Paranaz Dhaliwal in the skeet mixed team event at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
What did India win in skeet shooting at Asian Games 2026?
India won a bronze medal in the skeet mixed team event at Asian Games 2026, with the pair of Anantjeet Singh Naruka and Paranaz Dhaliwal representing the country.
Where are the Asian Games 2026 being held?
The 21st Asian Games are being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Why did Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma congratulate the shooters?
CM Bhajan Lal Sharma congratulated Naruka and Dhaliwal because Naruka hails from Rajasthan, making the bronze medal a point of state pride, and to encourage emerging sporting talent across India.
Does the Asian Games 2026 result matter for the 2028 Olympics?
Yes. Asian Games shooting results feed into the international qualification cycle for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, making each podium finish at Aichi-Nagoya significant for India's Olympic planning.
