Army chief General Dhiraj Seth on Monday felicitated Indian Army sportspersons for their performances at the Asian Games 2026, and the force said it is now focusing on preparing champions for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, according to an Army statement.
Army athletes won 20 medals at the Games, made up of six gold, eight silver and six bronze. That is nearly 24 per cent of India’s overall haul of 85 medals. The six golds are double the Army’s gold tally at the previous Asian Games. A contingent of 62 Army athletes, nine of them women, competed across 15 disciplines.
Milestones
Naib Subedar Neeru Dhanda won two golds and a silver. She became the first Indian woman to win an individual gold in women’s trap shooting at the Asian Games. Naib Subedar Gulveer Singh took three individual medals in athletics. Havildar Sawan Barwal won silver in the marathon, ending a 44-year wait for an Indian medal in the event. Havildar Ankush’s gold was cited by the Army as evidence that its grassroots talent development programme is working.
Building on Glasgow
The Army’s showing in Asia followed a strong performance at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, where its athletes won 16 medals, eight gold, seven silver and one bronze. That was 41 per cent of India’s total medals there. The Army said the consistency across both events shows its institutional sports system is effective.
Women athletes
The statement singled out the growing contribution of women. Four Army women boxers won four golds at the Commonwealth Games, and women athletes added two golds and a silver at the Asian Games. The Army said it will keep expanding opportunities for women through its Girls Sports Companies, specialised coaching, scientific training and structured pathways to international competition.
The pipeline
General Seth stressed the importance of spotting sporting talent early and backing it over the long term. The Army’s system for this includes Boys and Girls Sports Companies, High Performance Nodes and a Mission Olympic Wing. Together they offer professional coaching, sports science, technology, nutrition, injury prevention and international exposure.
Road to Los Angeles
The Army has named the 2028 Olympics as a major goal. Building on the momentum from Glasgow and the Asian Games, it plans to emphasise individualised training, performance enhancement, scientific preparation and a stronger pipeline of future medal prospects.
The Army chief said he was confident its sportspersons would keep bringing honour to the country, and the force reiterated its commitment to developing champions and to India’s ambition of becoming a leading sporting nation.
