Asian Rifle/Pistol Championship Kicks Off in Delhi with Indian Shooters Ready to Compete

The Asian Rifle/Pistol Championship is about to begin in New Delhi, with Indian shooters like Samrat Rana and Manu Bhaker leading the charge for medals. The competition features a strong lineup of international athletes, including top contenders from Hong Kong and Kazakhstan. With multiple finals scheduled, the event promises to showcase thrilling performances from both junior and senior categories. Read on to discover more about the competitors and the stakes involved in this prestigious shooting championship.

By Narendra Chaudhary Feb 3, 2026, 19:48 IST

Day One of the Championship Begins

The Asian Rifle/Pistol Championship is set to begin, with pistol shooters preparing to compete at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Ranges in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Indian Shooters Aim for a Strong Start

As per a recent announcement, the medals for the 10m Air Pistol events will be contested tomorrow. Leading the Indian team are World Champion Samrat Rana, World Cup Final Champion Suruchi Singh, Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker, and Esha Singh, all of whom are determined to secure a strong opening for the host nation in this continental competition. Four finals are scheduled for tomorrow, including those for senior men and women, as well as junior and youth categories.

Notable International Competitors

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Junior and Youth Competitions

Tomorrow will also see junior and youth athletes in action. In the junior category, competitors include Jonathan Gavin Antony, Mukesh Nelavalli, Deaflympics medallist Abhinav Deshwal, Himanshu Rana, and Priyanshu Yadav. The youth category will feature Darren K Dawn, Girish Gupta, Abhay Dhama, Mandeep Chauhan, Dhairya Prashar, and Hardik Bansal.

Strong International Representation

India has fielded the largest squad with 118 athletes, while Kazakhstan has the second-largest contingent with 35 participants. Other regional powerhouses, including Korea and Japan, have also sent strong teams, and shooters from Chinese Taipei, Vietnam, and Hong Kong are expected to perform well.