Sonowal hails India's first Asian Games Skeet Mixed Team bronze
Synopsis
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal congratulated shooters Parinaaz Dhaliwal and Anantjeet Singh Naruka on winning a bronze medal in Skeet Mixed Team at the 2026 Asian Games — India's first-ever Asian Games medal in that event.
Key Takeaways
Parinaaz Dhaliwal and Anantjeet Singh Naruka won a Bronze medal in the Skeet Mixed Team event at the 2026 Asian Games .
This is India's first-ever Asian Games medal in the Skeet Mixed Team discipline.
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal publicly congratulated the pair on 24 September 2026 .
Sonowal described the achievement as 'a brilliant milestone for Indian shooting' and a historic moment for the nation.
Shooting has consistently been one of India's stronger disciplines at Asian Games competitions.
History landed quietly on the shooting range — and India was ready to receive it. Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Thursday, 24 September 2026 congratulated shooters Parinaaz Dhaliwal and Anantjeet Singh Naruka after the pair clinched a Bronze medal in the Skeet Mixed Team event at the 2026 Asian Games — India's first-ever Asian Games medal in that discipline.
A first that rewrites the record books
The Skeet Mixed Team podium finish is not just another bronze — it is a blank space in India's Asian Games shooting history, finally filled. The event demands near-simultaneous synchronisation between a male and female shooter firing at clay targets flung in unpredictable arcs, and Dhaliwal and Naruka delivered the combination perfectly to put India on the board for the very first time. Sonowal called it 'a brilliant milestone for Indian shooting' and declared it 'a historic achievement that brings immense pride to the entire nation.'
Naruka and Dhaliwal: the pair behind the moment
Anantjeet Singh Naruka is one of India's most decorated skeet shooters, a consistent performer at the top of the international circuit. Parinaaz Dhaliwal has emerged as a sharp force in the women's skeet category. Together, the mixed-team format asks them to pool not just scores but composure — and on the biggest continental stage in Asia, that composure held.
Shooting's steady rise at India's continental campaign
Shooting has long been among India's sharper edges at Asian Games competitions, producing medals across rifle, pistol, and shotgun events over successive editions. The Skeet Mixed Team, however, had remained elusive — making this bronze a genuine addition to the discipline's legacy on the subcontinent. Indian political leaders across the spectrum have made a practice of amplifying shooting victories, recognising the sport's power to crystallise national pride in a single split-second trigger pull.
With India's overall 2026 Asian Games medal tally still building, the shooting range has once again delivered the kind of moment that travels well beyond sport.
Point of View
The country is now converting competitive depth in shotgun events into continental medals. For the BJP government, amplifying such firsts fits a well-worn playbook of tying sporting achievement to national-pride messaging ahead of election cycles and sports-policy reviews. The real test will be whether infrastructure investment in shotgun disciplines follows the congratulations — translating a historic 'first' into a consistent podium presence at the next edition.
NationPress
24 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Parinaaz Dhaliwal and Anantjeet Singh Naruka?
Parinaaz Dhaliwal is an Indian skeet shooter competing at the national and international level, while Anantjeet Singh Naruka is one of India's most prominent skeet shooters with a consistent record on the international circuit. The two paired up to win India's first-ever Asian Games medal in the Skeet Mixed Team event at the 2026 Asian Games.
What is the Skeet Mixed Team event?
The Skeet Mixed Team event is a shooting discipline in which one male and one female athlete compete together, both firing at clay targets launched at unpredictable angles. It combines individual technique with team coordination and is contested at major multi-sport events including the Asian Games.
Where are the 2026 Asian Games being held?
The 2026 Asian Games are being held in Japan. India has been participating in the Asian Games since 1951, with shooting as one of its regular medal-winning disciplines.
Why did Sarbananda Sonowal congratulate the shooters?
Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and a senior BJP leader, posted his congratulations on X on 24 September 2026 to celebrate the historic bronze medal — India's first-ever in the Skeet Mixed Team event at the Asian Games.
How significant is India's performance in shooting at the Asian Games?
Shooting has traditionally been one of India's stronger disciplines at the Asian Games, producing medals across rifle, pistol, and shotgun events. The 2026 Skeet Mixed Team bronze is notable as it represents a first-ever medal in that specific event for India, expanding the country's shooting medal history.
