India’s shooting contingent has made a strong start at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with the country already collecting multiple medals across rifle and shotgun events. The 30-member Indian shooting squad is competing in 28 events at the Games, which are being held from September 20 to October 1.
The Indian team features several established names, including Paris 2024 double medallist Manu Bhaker, Olympians Rudrankksh Patil and Esha Singh, along with a number of emerging shooters. The competition covers rifle, pistol and shotgun disciplines, with medals on offer across 28 events.
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India opened its shooting medal account in the women’s 10m air rifle team event. Elavenil Valarivan, Sonam Maskar and Vidarsa Vinod combined to win silver behind China. Elavenil then added an individual silver in the same discipline.
The men’s 10m air rifle team also secured silver, with Rudrankksh Patil, Parth Mane and Himanshu Dhillon finishing second. Himanshu went on to win individual silver, while Rudrankksh claimed bronze.
India’s medal haul also includes bronze medals in shotgun events. Raiza Dhillon, Parinaaz Dhaliwal and Maheshwari Chauhan won bronze in the women’s skeet team event. Anantjeet Singh Naruka, Bhavtegh Singh Gill and Mairaj Ahmad Khan also secured bronze in the men’s skeet team event. Naruka and Parinaaz Dhaliwal later added another bronze in the mixed team competition.
In individual rifle competition, Elavenil finished second in the women’s 10m air rifle final with a score of 252.4. Sonam Maskar finished sixth, while Vidarsa Vinod did not qualify for the final. In the men’s event, Himanshu Dhillon scored 252.4 in the final to take silver, while Rudrankksh Patil finished third with 230.9.
Manu Bhaker also reached the women’s 10m air pistol final after qualifying third with a score of 579-20x. She eventually finished fifth with 181.1. Esha Singh and Suruchi Singh did not make the final.
India’s shotgun campaign has also produced medals. Naruka finished fourth in the men’s skeet individual final, while Raiza Dhillon placed fourth in the women’s skeet final. Parinaaz Dhaliwal finished eighth, while Maheshwari Chauhan did not qualify for the final.
The shooting schedule continues through October 1, with events in pistol, rifle and shotgun still to come. The remaining programme includes the 50m rifle 3 positions events, 25m pistol, trap, 25m rapid-fire pistol and mixed team competitions.
India will be looking to build on its record performance at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, where its shooters won 22 medals, including seven gold. Shooting has historically been one of India’s most successful Asian Games sports, with the country having won 80 medals in the discipline, including 16 golds.
