Army Chief Honors Soldiers Who Won 20 Medals at Asian Games

Chief of Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth recognized Indian Army athletes for their exceptional performance at the 2026 Asian Games, where they captured 20 medals across multiple disciplines. The military personnel accounted for approximately 24 percent of India's overall tally of 85 medals, winning six gold, eight silver, and six bronze.

Naib Subedar Neeru Dhanda emerged as a standout performer, claiming two gold medals and one silver while making history as the first Indian woman to win an individual gold in Women's Trap Shooting at the Asian Games. Other notable achievements included Naib Subedar Gulveer Singh's three individual athletics medals and Havildar Sawan Barwal's silver in the marathon, ending a 44-year drought for India in that event.

The Army fielded 62 athletes, including nine women, who competed across 15 sporting disciplines. This performance followed their strong showing at the Commonwealth Games 2026, where Army athletes won 16 medals and contributed 41 percent of India's total haul. Four Army women boxers secured all four gold medals in boxing at that competition.

The Indian Army's sports development infrastructure includes specialized training programs through its Boys and Girls Sports Companies, High Performance Nodes, and Mission Olympic Wing. These initiatives combine professional coaching, sports science, modern technology, and international exposure to develop athletes. Looking ahead, the Army has targeted the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics as a key objective for its sporting programs.