Indian Shooters Shine at Asian Games 2026 with Promising Medal Prospects
NRAI President Praises Indian Shooting Team
Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, the President of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), commended the Indian shooting team for their impressive performance at the Asian Games 2026. He expressed optimism that the shooters will secure additional medals in the upcoming events. So far, India has achieved five medals in shooting, comprising four silver and one bronze.
Elavenil Valarivan clinched a silver medal in the women's 10m air rifle event, while the men's 10m air rifle team also earned silver. In individual competitions, Himanshu Dhillon and Rudrankksh Patil contributed with silver and bronze medals, respectively.
'A Great Start, Best is Yet to Come'
In an interview on Monday, Kalikesh remarked on the contingent's strong beginning, noting that there are still many opportunities ahead. He stated, "It's been a good start for Indian shooting. In just two days, we've secured five medals, including Elavenil's silver in the women's 10 meters and the men's team silver today. Himanshu and Rudrankksh also performed admirably with their medals."
He added, "This is just the beginning. With more shooting events scheduled, I believe we have the potential to win medals in nearly every discipline. I am hopeful for even more successes ahead."
Resilience of Indian Shooters
Despite facing challenges related to accommodation and travel in Japan, Kalikesh praised the shooters for their focus and determination. He stated, "Our shooters are resilient. They are young, driven, and professional, capable of overcoming any obstacles. Indian shooting has a bright future, and I feel privileged to be part of this journey."
Looking forward, he emphasized India's medal potential across various shooting disciplines, mentioning, "We have six disciplines in rifle, pistol, and shotgun, with both men and women competing, totaling 12 events, including mixed team competitions. I am confident we will secure many more medals."
India's Strong Performance in Other Sports
India also had a successful day at the Asian Games 2026, earning medals in shooting and mixed martial arts, while athletes advanced to finals in swimming and achieved victories in boxing, soft tennis, and table tennis.
In shooting, Himanshu and Rudrankksh won silver and bronze in the men's 10m air rifle individual final. They qualified for the final by finishing third and seventh, respectively, with Parth Mane placing 11th. The trio had previously secured silver in the team event.
In mixed martial arts, Suchika Tariyal earned a bronze medal after her semifinal loss to Singapore's Teo Hui Hoon in the women's traditional 60kg category.
In boxing, Sumit triumphed over Thailand's Bunjong Sinsiri in the men's 70kg Round of 32, advancing in the tournament.
Soft tennis saw Aadhya Tiwari and Jay Meena win their mixed doubles Group B matches against Cambodia and Mongolia, although they faced defeats against South Korea and the Philippines in subsequent rounds.
In swimming, Srihari Nataraj progressed to the men's 50m backstroke final, while Rishabh Das was named as a reserve. Mani Akash and Gitesh Shah did not qualify for the men's 50m freestyle final, and Dhanush Suresh missed out on the men's 100m breaststroke final.
In wushu, Nyeman Wangsu finished 15th in the women's Changquan final.
In table tennis, India secured a 3-0 victory over Pakistan in the women's team Group F match, but faced a setback in sepaktakraw, losing to Japan in the men's team regu Group B match.