Indian Army athletes recorded their best-ever performance at the Asian Games, winning 20 medals at the recently concluded Aichi-Nagoya 2026 continental event. The Army contingent secured six gold, eight silver and six bronze medals, making a significant contribution to India’s overall tally of 85 medals.
A total of 62 Army athletes were part of India’s 501-member contingent and competed across 15 disciplines. Their 20 medals accounted for 23.52 per cent of India’s total tally of 85 medals, comprising 21 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze. The Army athletes’ six gold medals represented approximately 29 per cent of the country’s gold-medal tally.
The six-gold performance marked a 100 per cent increase over the Army’s gold-medal tally at the previous Asian Games in Hangzhou in 2023. The result reflected the growing contribution of Army personnel to India’s performance across multiple sporting disciplines.
Neeru Dhanda and Gulveer Singh Lead the Medal Haul
Among the standout performers was Naib Subedar Neeru Dhanda, who won two gold medals and one silver in trap shooting. Her performance also included an Asian Games record in women’s trap shooting, with a score of 118 out of 125.
Distance runner Naib Subedar Gulveer Singh returned with two silver medals and a bronze. He also achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first Indian male track-and-field athlete to win three individual medals at a single edition of the Asian Games.
The achievements of Dhanda and Gulveer highlighted the Army’s contribution to shooting and athletics, with both athletes securing multiple medals at the continental competition.
Major Improvement in Shooting and Boxing
The Army’s performance in shooting showed a substantial improvement compared with the previous Asian Games. In Hangzhou in 2023, only one Army athlete competed in the discipline. At Aichi-Nagoya 2026, four Army shooters participated, helping increase the medal tally from one silver in 2023 to three gold medals and one silver in 2026.
Army athletes also secured three medals in boxing, comprising one gold and two bronze. Their performances added to the overall medal count and demonstrated the Army’s presence across different sporting disciplines.
Army Athletes Set National and Asian Games Records
Several Army athletes recorded notable performances, including national and Asian Games records.
Havildar Sawan Barwal established a national record in the men’s marathon with a timing of 2:11:37. In archery, Subedar Dhiraj Bommadevara set a national record in men’s recurve with a score of 698 out of 720.
Havildar Kamaljeet established an Asian Games record in the 10-metre air pistol mixed team event with a score of 484.6. Neeru Dhanda also set an Asian Games record in women’s trap shooting with a score of 118 out of 125.
In rowing, Naib Subedar Salman Khan won India’s first-ever Asian Games medal in the men’s double sculls event, adding another milestone to the Army athletes’ achievements at the Games.
Women Army Athletes Make a Significant Contribution
Women athletes accounted for an important share of the Army’s medal haul. Of the 62 Army athletes who competed at the Games, nine were women. They collectively won two gold medals and one silver.
According to the release, women Army athletes contributed 15 per cent of the Army’s total medals and 33 per cent of its gold medals. Their performances added to the Army’s overall success and highlighted their role in the contingent’s achievements.
The Army’s representation at the 2026 Asian Games also increased compared with the previous edition. Army athletes constituted 12.6 per cent of India’s contingent, up from nine per cent in 2023.
Sporting Ecosystem Behind the Achievement
The Army described the medal haul as a reflection of the sporting ecosystem it has developed over the years. The combination of individual achievements, national records and medals across disciplines contributed to the contingent’s best-ever Asian Games performance.
With 20 medals, including six gold, Indian Army athletes played a substantial role in India’s overall campaign at Aichi-Nagoya 2026. Their performances in shooting, athletics, boxing, archery and rowing marked a significant achievement for Army sports and set a new benchmark for the service at the continental event.
