Rijiju Salutes India's 3rd Archery Gold at Asian Games 2026
Synopsis
India's compound men's archery trio — Kushal Dalal, Sahil Rajesh Jadhav and Ganesh Maniratnam Thirumuru — won gold at Asian Games 2026, securing the country's third archery gold of the Games. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju hailed the champions and their coaches on 30 September 2026.
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 gold medal in archery at this edition of the Asian Games.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju publicly congratulated the athletes and their coaches on 30 September 2026 .
The compound team format has become one of India's most consistent medal-producing disciplines at continental level.
Rijiju's post specifically named all three archers individually, also extending praise to the coaching staff.
Three arrows. One gold. India's compound men's archery team — Kushal Dalal, Sahil Rajesh Jadhav, and Ganesh Maniratnam Thirumuru — struck bullseye when it mattered most at the Asian Games 2026, and Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju was among the first to salute them on Wednesday, 30 September 2026.
India's Compound Men's Team Claims the Gold
The trio clinched the Compound Men's Team gold — India's third gold medal in archery at this edition of the Games. It is a result that underlines the quiet, consistent rise of Indian archery on the continental stage, where compound teams have increasingly delivered when the pressure is highest. Rijiju's post captured the mood precisely: 'Our archers continue to hit the bullseye with brilliance and consistency.'
Rijiju's Golden Salute and What It Signals
The minister's congratulations extended not just to the three athletes but explicitly to their coaches — a detail worth noting. Behind every podium finish at a major multi-sport event is a support structure that rarely makes the headlines, and Rijiju's acknowledgement of that ecosystem reflects a broader governmental push to credit the full chain of sporting excellence. Indian ministers have made a habit of amplifying medal wins on social media, but the specificity here — naming all three archers individually — lifts it above routine protocol.
Archery's Steady Climb in India's Asian Games Story
Archery has evolved into one of India's more reliable medal-hunting disciplines at the Asian Games. The compound format, in particular, has seen Indian teams grow in technical precision and competitive temperament over successive editions. Three golds in a single discipline at one Games is not a fluke — it is a pattern, and one that the national coaching set-up will be keen to sustain heading into future global competitions.
For Kushal Dalal, Sahil Rajesh Jadhav, and Ganesh Maniratnam Thirumuru, the gold is more than a medal — it is a statement that Indian compound archery has arrived at the very top of Asian competition. The target is already set for what comes next.
Point of View
A messaging strategy that has grown sharper around multi-sport events since 2014. The explicit naming of coaches alongside athletes signals an evolving official narrative — one that credits institutional investment in sport, not just individual talent. Three archery golds in a single Asian Games edition also strengthens the case for continued government funding of compound archery infrastructure. If this medal haul holds, it will be cited in future sports policy discussions as evidence that targeted discipline-level investment yields continental dominance.
NationPress
30 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Compound Men's Team archery gold at Asian Games 2026?
Kushal Dalal , Sahil Rajesh Jadhav , and Ganesh Maniratnam Thirumuru won the Compound Men's Team gold for India at Asian Games 2026 .
How many archery gold medals has India won at Asian Games 2026?
India has won three gold medals in archery at the Asian Games 2026 , with the Compound Men's Team event being the third.
What did Kiren Rijiju say about India's archery gold?
Kiren Rijiju posted a congratulatory message on X, calling it 'a golden salute' and praising the archers for hitting 'the bullseye with brilliance and consistency,' also extending wishes to the coaches.
What is the Compound Men's Team event in archery?
The Compound Men's Team event is a format where three archers compete together using compound bows — which feature a levering system for greater accuracy — with their combined scores determining the team result.
Why is India's archery performance at Asian Games significant?
Archery has emerged as one of India's most reliable medal disciplines at the Asian Games, and three golds in a single edition signals growing technical depth and competitive consistency in the national programme.
