Kushal Dalal Shines with Gold at Asian Games, Celebrated by His Community

Kushal Dalal, a talented archer from Haryana, has made headlines by winning a gold medal at the Asian Games in Nagoya. His victory has sparked celebrations in his village, where family and friends gathered to honor his achievement. With a remarkable collection of medals and a strong academic background, Kushal's journey in archery began at a young age. His family's unwavering support, especially during the pandemic, has played a crucial role in his success. Discover more about his inspiring story and future aspirations in the full article.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 1, 2026, 00:00 IST

A Proud Moment for Haryana

Kushal Dalal, hailing from a farming background, has made his family and the state of Haryana proud by securing a gold medal in archery at the Asian Games held in Nagoya.

On Wednesday evening, his victory was celebrated by villagers and family members at his home in Siwanka village, located in Gohana, Sonepat.

Relatives and friends congratulated his grandfather Raj Singh, father Sandeep Dalal, mother Geeta, and uncle Pardeep Dalal, with the family distributing sweets to mark the occasion.

Kushal's Journey in Archery

Gold medallist, from left, India’s Kushal Dalal, Sahil Jadhav and Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru. Image credit/PTI

Born on January 23, 2005, Kushal began his archery training at the tender age of 9 or 10. To date, he has amassed an impressive collection of 26 medals, which includes 14 gold, eight silver, and four bronze, across various national and international competitions.

His mother, Geeta Dalal, who works as an accountant in the Market Committee Department, expressed her joy, stating, “Initially, we thought he should pursue wrestling or kabaddi, as those sports are popular in our village.”

She recounted how they had even registered him for boxing at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, but he declined to participate, stating he was uncomfortable with hitting others.

Support from Family and Community

Sandeep Dalal, Kushal's father and a local farmer, emphasized that his son's achievements have brought honor not just to their family but to the entire nation. He noted that Kushal excels academically as well, having completed his studies in the non-medical stream of science.

“Archery requires mental focus, which has allowed him to balance his studies and sport effectively,” Sandeep added.

Kushal's journey in sports began with racing in Rohtak, followed by wrestling in Delhi, where coaches advised his family to explore other sports due to his academic strengths. This led him to archery.

During the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, the family even created a practice ground in their fields to support his training.

A Record-Breaking Competitor

In 2021, Kushal made headlines at the Youth World Archery Championships in Poland, where he won two gold medals and set a world record in team and mixed events.

His medal journey began in 2019 with a silver at the 65th National School Games in Andhra Pradesh. In 2022, he secured a bronze at the 42nd NTPC Junior National event.

In 2023, he continued his success with a gold at the Khelo India Games, two silvers at the 43rd NTPC Junior National Games, and additional medals at the Asia World Cup and Asia Cup World Ranking Tournament.

His achievements in 2024 included multiple medals at the All India Inter-University Games and the Asian Youth Archery Championships, while in 2025, he added to his accolades with a silver at the 38th National Games and a gold at the World Archery Youth Championships in Canada.