Indian Army athletes script best-ever Asian Games haul with 20 medals

Indian Army athletes were among the major medal winners at the recently concluded Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, returning with their best-ever medal haul of 20 at the continental showpiece.

As many as 62 Army athletes were part of the 501-strong Indian contingent and competed in 15 disciplines, winning six gold, eight silver and six bronze medals. Their contribution accounted for nearly one-fourth of India’s total tally of 85 medals, comprising 21 gold, 27 silver and 37 bronze.

The Army’s six-gold haul marked a 100 per cent increase over its gold-medal tally at the previous Asian Games in Hangzhou in 2023.

“Army athletes accounted for 23.52 per cent of India’s total medals, winning 20 of the country’s 85 medals, while their six gold medals made up 29 per cent of India’s 21 gold medals,” said a release.

Among the standout performers was Naib Subedar Neeru Dhanda, who won two gold and a silver in trap shooting. Distance runner Naib Subedar Gulveer Singh also returned with two silver and a bronze. Gulveer created another piece of Indian sporting history by becoming the first Indian male track-and-field athlete to win three individual medals at a single edition of the Games.

The Army’s presence in shooting saw a quantum jump from the previous Asian Games, where only one athlete competed. In Aichi-Nagoya, four Army shooters took part, helping raise the medal tally from one silver in 2023 to three gold and a silver in 2026.

In boxing, Army athletes secured three medals -- one gold and two bronze.

Army athletes also set national and Asian Games records. Havildar Sawan Barwal set a national record in the men’s marathon with a timing of 2:11:37, while Subedar Dhiraj Bommadevara established a national record in men’s recurve archery with a score of 698/720.

Havildar Kamaljeet set an Asian Games record in the 10m air pistol mixed team event with a score of 484.6, while Neeru set an Asian Games record in women’s trap shooting with a score of 118/125.

In rowing, Naib Subedar Salman Khan won India’s first-ever Asian Games medal in men’s double sculls.

“The achievement is a reflection of the sporting ecosystem that the Indian Army has built over the years,” the release added.

Women athletes also contributed 15 per cent of the Army’s total medal haul and an impressive 33 per cent of its gold medals.

“Army representation at the 2026 Games also grew significantly. Its athletes constituted 12.6 per cent of India’s contingent, compared with nine per cent in 2023,” the release said.

“Of the 62 athletes, nine were women, whose performances included two gold medals and one silver. Women Army athletes contributed 15 per cent of the Army’s total medals and an impressive 33 per cent of its gold medals,” it added.