Asian Games 2026: India claim skeet team bronze; Jay Meena makes history in soft tennis
Synopsis
Jay Meena's stunning 4-3 comeback from 3-5 down has handed India its first-ever soft tennis medal at the Asian Games — a historic first that overshadows even the women's skeet team bronze. With India sitting eighth overall and the Hangzhou benchmark of 107 medals looming large, every podium finish from Nagoya carries outsized weight.
Key Takeaways
Parinaaz Dhaliwal , Razia Dhillon , and Maheshwari Chauhan won bronze in the women's skeet team event at the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya with a score of 331 .
China took gold with 347 ; Kazakhstan claimed silver with 336 .
India's shooting medal tally at the 2026 Asian Games now stands at seven — four silver and two bronze (plus this bronze).
Jay Meena secured India's first-ever soft tennis medal at the Asian Games, recovering from 3-5 down in the decider to win his quarter-final 4-3 .
Double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker qualified for the 10m air pistol final with a score of 579-20x .
India are currently eighth in the overall medal tally with 1 gold, 4 silver, 3 bronze , compared to a record 107 medals at the 2023 Hangzhou edition.
India strengthened their Asian Games 2026 medal tally in Nagoya on Wednesday, 23 September, as the women's skeet team of Parinaaz Dhaliwal, Razia Dhillon, and Maheshwari Chauhan clinched a bronze medal, while Jay Meena scripted history by becoming the first Indian to reach the semi-finals — and secure a medal — in soft tennis at the Asian Games.
Women's Skeet Team: Bronze After Three Qualification Days
Following three days of qualification rounds, the Indian trio combined for a total score of 331 to finish third on the podium. The gold went to China — represented by Che Yufei, Jian Yiting, and Jiang Chaoyu — who topped the standings with 347. Kazakhstan, fielding Assem Orynbay, Zoya Piskun, and Adel Sadakbayeva, claimed silver with 336.
The bronze lifts India's shooting medal count at the 2026 Asian Games to seven, comprising four silver and two bronze alongside this latest podium finish. Notably, at the previous edition in Hangzhou, India's shooting contingent delivered a historic haul of 22 medals — seven gold, nine silver, and six bronze — setting a benchmark that the current squad is working to approach.
Manu Bhaker Qualifies for 10m Air Pistol Final
Earlier on the same day, double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker qualified for the 10m air pistol final after finishing third in the qualification round with a score of 579-20x. However, the Indian women's team — comprising Esha, Manu, and Suruchi — narrowly missed a podium finish in the team final, with just two inner-10s separating them from bronze medallists Vietnam, making for a painful near-miss.
Jay Meena's Historic Soft Tennis Comeback
Jay Meena produced one of the standout performances of India's campaign by securing the country's first-ever medal in soft tennis at the Asian Games. In a gripping quarter-final against Sherwin Nuguit, Meena found himself locked at 3-3 going into the deciding game, and was further pushed to the brink at 3-5 down. He then reeled off four consecutive points to win the final game and the match 4-3, booking a semi-final berth.
Meena will next face the winner of the quarter-final between Japan's Takuya Kurosaka and Chinese Taipei's Yu-sung Chang. Under the tournament format, both losing semi-finalists are guaranteed bronze medals, meaning India's historic first soft tennis medal at the Asian Games is already confirmed.
India's Overall Standing at Asian Games 2026
India currently sit eighth in the overall medal tally with one gold, four silver, and three bronze. This is a considerably more modest start compared to the 2023 Hangzhou edition, where India finished fourth overall with a record 107 medals — a high-water mark for Indian performance at the Asian Games. The coming days will be crucial as more finals are scheduled across shooting, athletics, and combat sports.
Point of View
And a first-ever podium in soft tennis signals genuine programme depth. The women's skeet bronze, meanwhile, keeps the shooting unit ticking, though the gap between India's seven medals so far and the Hangzhou haul of 22 in shooting alone underlines how much ground remains. With Manu Bhaker still in contention for an individual medal, the next 48 hours could define whether this campaign is remembered as consolidation or underperformance.
NationPress
23 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Indian athletes won the women's skeet team bronze at Asian Games 2026?
Parinaaz Dhaliwal, Razia Dhillon, and Maheshwari Chauhan won the bronze medal in the women's skeet team event at the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya on 23 September. The trio scored 331 in qualification, finishing behind China (347, gold) and Kazakhstan (336, silver).
What is Jay Meena's achievement at the 2026 Asian Games?
Jay Meena became the first Indian to secure a medal in soft tennis at the Asian Games by reaching the semi-finals, where losing semi-finalists are guaranteed bronze. He defeated Sherwin Nuguit 4-3 in the quarter-final, recovering from 3-5 down in the deciding game.
How many medals has India won in shooting at Asian Games 2026?
India's shooting tally at the 2026 Asian Games stands at seven medals, including four silver and two bronze, with the women's skeet team bronze being the latest addition. At the previous edition in Hangzhou, India won 22 shooting medals including seven gold.
Did Manu Bhaker qualify for the 10m air pistol final at Asian Games 2026?
Yes, Manu Bhaker qualified for the 10m air pistol final after finishing third in the qualification round with a score of 579-20x. However, the Indian women's team narrowly missed the podium in the team final, losing out to bronze medallists Vietnam by just two inner-10s.
Where does India stand in the Asian Games 2026 overall medal tally?
India are currently eighth in the overall medal tally at Asian Games 2026 with one gold, four silver, and three bronze. This is well below India's record performance at the 2023 Hangzhou edition, where the country finished fourth with a historic 107 medals.
