Parinaaz Dhaliwal Makes History with Bronze Medals at Asian Games

A Remarkable Journey in Shooting

Parinaaz Dhaliwal's journey from a childhood fascination with firearms to standing on the podium at the Asian Games is truly inspiring.

Hailing from Thikriwala in Barnala district and currently residing in Patiala, Parinaaz achieved a historic milestone at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan by securing bronze medals in both the women's skeet team and mixed skeet team events. These medals mark India's first-ever achievements in these categories at the Asian Games.

In the women's skeet team event, she collaborated with Raiza Dhillon from Haryana and Maheshwari Chauhan from Rajasthan. For the mixed team event, her partner was Anantjeet Singh Naruka, also from Rajasthan.

Her passion for shooting ignited at a young age, initially sparked by her interest in weapons. According to her father, Rattandeep Singh Dhaliwal, she began with air-rifle shooting before transitioning to trap shooting. A pivotal moment occurred during a visit to the Patiala shooting range when an operator encouraged her to try skeet shooting.

“She instantly fell in love with skeet and began her training in September 2015,” Rattandeep shared.

From that point on, Parinaaz's progress in the sport was remarkable. She first excelled in Punjab-level competitions, then advanced through pre-national and national events, ultimately earning a spot in the Indian junior core group.

Her educational institution, Mayo College in Ajmer, played a crucial role in her development as an athlete. Her father noted that the school was accommodating of her frequent absences due to competitions and training, allowing her to balance her studies with her rigorous shooting schedule.

Born in 2001 and raised in Patiala, Parinaaz later completed her education at MCM College in Chandigarh. She has also benefited from training under international coaches, including a Norwegian coach and French Olympic medallist Anthony Terras, who is currently part of her training team.

Support from her grandfather has been vital, especially considering the financial demands of the sport.

Having previously competed at the Asian Games without securing a medal, this time Parinaaz seized two opportunities in team events, achieving podium finishes, although an individual medal still eludes her.

The moment was particularly meaningful for her family. “She called me after her victory and said, ‘I made it.’ She was overjoyed, even though she had a slight headache after the competition,” her father recounted.

For Parinaaz, these bronze medals represent a significant step towards her ultimate ambition of competing for India at the Olympics and winning a medal there.

Sangrur MP Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer also took to social media to congratulate her on her achievements.