New Delhi, September 19 (Daily Kiran) : The Indian shooting team is set to make a strong mark at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. A total of 30 shooters will represent India in various events, striving to secure as many medals as possible.
The squad features a mix of seasoned athletes and promising newcomers, including star shooters Manu Bhaker, Esha Singh, and Rahi Sarnobat. Shooting competitions will take place from September 20 to October 1, with India competing in rifle, pistol, and shotgun events. In the pistol categories, Bhaker, Esha, and Rahi are expected to be key players.
Manu Bhaker, who recently won two Olympic bronze medals and a gold in the team event at the Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games, will compete in both the 10-meter air pistol and 25-meter pistol events. Esha Singh made headlines by winning silver medals in individual and team events at the 2023 Asian Games. She is also the reigning world champion and will participate in the same pistol events.
Other competitors include Suruchi Singh, Kamaljeet, Kedarling B. Uchaganwe, and Akash Bhardwaj, who will vie for medals in the 10-meter air pistol event, with Suruchi also participating in the mixed team event. In the 25-meter pistol category, Manu and Esha will be joined by the experienced Rahi, who clinched a gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games. Anish will compete in the men’s 25-meter rapid-fire pistol event.
In rifle events, Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Rudraksh B. Patil, and Elavenil Valarivan will represent India. Aishwary, a silver medalist from the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, is also a former World Cup gold medalist and Asian champion. He will compete in the 50-meter rifle three positions event alongside Neeraj Kumar, while Ashi Choukse, Tilottama Sen, and Vidarsha K. Vinod will represent the women.
The 10-meter air rifle event will feature Elavenil Valarivan, Parth Rajesh Mane, Himanshu Dhillon, Sonam Uttam Maskar, and Vidarsha K. Vinod. Elavenil is a former World Cup gold medalist and Asian champion, while Parth is a former junior world champion. The shotgun squad also boasts a combination of experience and youth, with Kynan Chenai, Ahwar Rizvi, and Shubham Bhardwaj competing in the men’s trap event. In the women’s category, Ashima Ahlawat, Manisha Kheer, and Neeru will aim for medals.
Chenai is both a gold medalist in the men’s trap team event and a bronze medalist in the individual category at the 2023 Asian Games. Neeru, who won gold in women’s trap at the 2025 Asian Championship and the 2026 World Cup in Lonato, Italy, is also a trailblazer, becoming the first Indian woman to win an individual gold medal in the ISSF Shotgun World Cup.
Anantjeet Singh Naruka will compete in the skeet and mixed team events, having won a silver medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games. Ahead of this major competition, NRAI President Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo expressed confidence in the strength of India’s shooting team.
He stated, “The Indian shooting team for the Asian Games is a brilliant mix of experience, international exposure, and youthful talent. Our athletes have worked hard throughout the season and are entering these games with significant experience from World Cups, World Championships, and Asian-level competitions. The Asian Games present a vital opportunity for them to compete at the highest level and represent the country with confidence and pride. We wish the entire team the best of luck in Nagoya.”
NRAI Secretary General Pawan Kumar Singh emphasized the strength of the Indian shooting team. He noted, “The prowess of our team in rifle, pistol, and shotgun reflects the progress of this sport in the country. We have athletes with extensive international experience, along with young shooters who have proven their capabilities on the global stage. The NRAI has worked closely with players and support staff to prepare for the Asian Games, and we expect the team to showcase their hard work once the events commence.”
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