Anantjeet-Parinaaz win skeet mixed team bronze at 2026 Asian Games
Synopsis
Anantjeet Singh Naruka and Parinaaz Dhaliwal made history at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, claiming India's first-ever skeet mixed team medal at the continental championships. Despite finishing level with South Korea on 44 hits, India were edged to bronze on a qualifying-score tie-breaker — a bittersweet but landmark result for Indian shooting.
Key Takeaways
Anantjeet Singh Naruka and Parinaaz Dhaliwal won the skeet mixed team bronze at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya on 24 September .
This is India's first-ever medal in the skeet mixed team event at the Asian Games.
The pair finished with 44 hits from 48 shots , equal to South Korea, but lost the tie-breaker on a lower qualifying score of 138 vs Korea's 143 .
China won gold with 45 hits ; South Korea took silver with 44 .
Naruka had previously finished fourth in the skeet mixed team at the Paris Olympics alongside Maheshwari Chauhan.
India's Anantjeet Singh Naruka and Parinaaz Dhaliwal claimed the bronze medal in the skeet mixed team event at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya on Thursday, 24 September, delivering India its first-ever medal in the skeet mixed team discipline at the continental championships. The pair finished with 44 hits from 48 shots, level with South Korea, but were placed third on a tie-breaker after their qualifying score of 138 fell short of Korea's 143. China topped the podium with 45 hits.
How the Final Unfolded
India opened the final with seven hits from eight shots, with Naruka going four from four before Dhaliwal missed one attempt. China and South Korea both began with perfect eights. Through the middle series, India stayed competitive — after 16 shots, the Indian pair were joint-second with South Korea on 14 hits, trailing only China's perfect 16.
Following the third series, India moved to 21 hits, three ahead of Qatar, while China and South Korea stood on 23 and 22 respectively. Qatar's subsequent elimination confirmed India's bronze at that stage.
A Dramatic Finish and the Tie-Breaker
With 40 shots completed, China and South Korea were level on 38, with India close behind on 36. In the decisive final series, Naruka and Dhaliwal produced a perfect eight from eight to finish on 44. South Korea also reached 44 after Lee Jongjun missed twice while Jang Kookhee hit all four. China moved clear on 45.
With India and South Korea locked on the same score, the tie-break rule invoked qualifying scores — Korea's 143 against India's 138 — to decide the order, consigning India to third place.
Naruka's Consistency and Context
Naruka, a seasoned competitor on the international circuit, had earlier finished fourth in the skeet mixed team event at the Paris Olympics alongside Maheshwari Chauhan. He also formed part of the Indian mixed team that qualified fourth for this Asian Games final. Thursday's result marks a significant step up from those near-misses.
India's Shooting Campaign at Aichi-Nagoya
The bronze adds to India's growing medal tally in shooting at the 2026 Asian Games. Skeet mixed team had previously eluded Indian shooters at the continental stage, making Naruka and Dhaliwal's achievement a landmark one. This comes amid India's broader push to strengthen its shooting programme ahead of future Olympic cycles, with Aichi-Nagoya serving as a key benchmark for the squad.
Point of View
And India's coaching staff will want to close that six-point gap in the next cycle. Naruka's trajectory — fourth at Paris, fourth in Asian Games qualifying, now a podium finish — also tells a story of a shooter on an upward curve but still hunting the decisive performance. For Indian shooting's Olympic ambitions, this bronze is a milestone and a prompt, not a destination.
NationPress
24 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did India win at the 2026 Asian Games skeet mixed team event?
India won the bronze medal in the skeet mixed team event at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya on 24 September. It is India's first-ever medal in this discipline at the Asian Games.
Why did India finish third instead of second despite matching South Korea's score?
India and South Korea both finished on 44 hits from 48 shots in the final, triggering a tie-breaker based on qualifying scores. South Korea's qualifying score of 143 was higher than India's 138, which decided the silver-bronze order in Korea's favour.
Who won gold in the skeet mixed team event at the 2026 Asian Games?
China won the gold medal with 45 hits from 48 shots. South Korea took silver and India claimed bronze, both on 44 hits.
What is Anantjeet Singh Naruka's background in skeet shooting?
Anantjeet Singh Naruka is a seasoned international skeet shooter who finished fourth in the skeet mixed team event at the Paris Olympics alongside Maheshwari Chauhan. He also qualified fourth for this Asian Games final, making Thursday's bronze a milestone in his career.
Who was Anantjeet Singh Naruka's partner in the 2026 Asian Games skeet mixed team final?
Naruka was paired with Parinaaz Dhaliwal for the skeet mixed team event at the 2026 Asian Games. Together, they produced a perfect final series of eight from eight to finish on 44 hits before the tie-breaker was applied.
