India’s Anantjeet Singh Naruka, Mairaj Ahmad Khan and Bhavtegh Singh Gill won the bronze medal in the men’s skeet team event at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 on Wednesday, September 23. The Indian trio finished the qualification rounds with a combined score of 346 points, level with Kazakhstan, before prevailing in the shoot-off to secure third place. Naruka was India’s top performer with 119 out of 125 targets, while veteran Olympian Mairaj scored 116 and Bhavtegh 111.
Naruka also advanced to the individual skeet final, giving India another medal opportunity. The result added to India’s strong showing in shooting at the Games, with both the men’s and women’s skeet teams winning bronze on the same day. Bhavtegh described the achievement as a special moment on his Asian Games debut, while Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya congratulated the trio for their medal.
A Medal Decided By Nerves
The Indian team’s bronze came after a closely contested qualification round in which there was little separating the teams. Naruka, Mairaj and Bhavtegh collectively posted 346 points, putting them level with Kazakhstan for third place. With the two teams tied, the medal had to be decided through a shoot-off, where India held its nerve to finish ahead and claim the bronze. Qatar and Kuwait finished above India in the men’s team competition.
Naruka produced the highest individual score among the Indian trio, hitting 119 of the 125 targets. Mairaj, a veteran of multiple international competitions, contributed 116, while Bhavtegh added 111. The performances were enough to put India on the podium in an event where even a small difference in targets can determine the final standings. The bronze also marked a significant moment for Bhavtegh, who was competing at his first Asian Games. Speaking to ANI, he said, “It’s a great feeling that we are taking a medal back home for India,” describing the achievement as an “amazing feeling” on his debut.
Bhavtegh also credited the support provided through the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Khelo India programme. He said he had been part of Khelo India since 2018 or 2019 and that the programme’s support, including ammunition and financial assistance, had played an important role in helping the team prepare for international competition. He also pointed to SAI-organised training camps as part of the preparation behind the medal. His comments highlight how sustained institutional support, alongside athletes’ preparation and performance, contributes to competing at the highest level.
Shooting Continues Medal Run
The men’s skeet bronze came on a productive day for Indian shooting at Aichi-Nagoya. Earlier, Raiza Dhillon, Parinaaz Dhaliwal and Maheshwari Chauhan secured bronze in the women’s skeet team event, giving India two medals from the discipline on the same day. The women’s team finished with 331 points, behind China and Kazakhstan, and their result was particularly notable as it marked India’s first-ever Asian Games medal in the women’s skeet team event.
India had already collected several shooting medals earlier in the Games, including team and individual medals in the 10m air rifle events. The skeet results therefore extended a productive start for the shooting contingent. At the time of the men’s skeet result, Naruka’s individual campaign was also still alive: his score of 119 took him into the men’s skeet individual final, scheduled for later on Wednesday. Mairaj and Bhavtegh did not progress to that individual final.
The achievement also drew recognition from India’s constitutional and sports leadership. President Droupadi Murmu congratulated Naruka, Bhavtegh and Mairaj, saying their performance had brought pride to the country and wishing them further success. Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya also congratulated the three shooters following their bronze-medal finish.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Beyond the medal itself, the men’s skeet team’s performance is a reminder that sporting success is often built through preparation, teamwork, access to resources and the ability to remain composed when outcomes come down to the smallest margins. Bhavtegh’s acknowledgement of SAI and Khelo India support also brings attention to the wider ecosystem that athletes depend on long before they step onto an international podium.
As India’s shooters continue their Asian Games campaign, the focus can remain not only on medals but also on creating sustained opportunities for athletes across disciplines and backgrounds. What more can be done to ensure promising athletes receive the training, resources and support they need to compete at the highest level?
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