NEW DELHI: Union Defence Minister (Raksha Mantri) Rajnath Singh felicitated the armed forces contingent in New Delhi following their historic performance at the recently concluded 2026 Asian Games in Japan. The Services athletes delivered their best-ever tally at the games, winning 27 medals—comprising 6 Gold, 11 Silver, and 10 Bronze—accounting for 32 percent of India’s overall medal count of 85. The felicitating ceremony was attended by Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi and Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth, alongside senior defense officials.
A total of 92 defense personnel represented India across 19 sporting disciplines, contributing significantly to India’s fourth-place overall standing. Key history-making performers highlighted during the ceremony included Naib Subedar Neeru Dhanda, who became the first Indian woman to win Gold in the individual Women’s Trap event (finishing with 2 Gold and 1 Silver), and Naib Subedar Gulveer Singh, the first Indian male track-and-field athlete to bag three individual medals in a single Asian Games edition. Additionally, Havildar Sawan Barwal ended a 44-year drought by winning Silver in the Men’s Marathon with a National Record time of 2:11:37, while Naib Subedar Sarvesh Kushare secured India’s first Men’s High Jump medal in 56 years. Commending the Mission Olympic Wing and coaching staff, Rajnath Singh urged trainers to maintain a systematic approach as the contingent prepares for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
