Rahi Sarnobat Triumphs in Women's 25m Pistol Finals at National Selection Trials

In a remarkable performance, Rahi Sarnobat emerged victorious in the women's 25m pistol finals at the National Selection Trials held in Dehradun. With a total of 37 hits, she outperformed notable competitors, including two-time Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker. The trials are crucial for selecting shooters for the upcoming Asian Games, where India aims to field a strong team. As the competition continues, fans eagerly await the results of the upcoming events, including the men's and women's 10m air pistol finals. Read on to discover more about this thrilling shooting event and the athletes involved.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 9, 2026, 02:19 IST

Rahi Sarnobat Dominates at National Selection Trials

Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], June 8: In a stellar display of skill, former Asian Games champion Rahi Sarnobat clinched victory in the women's 25m pistol T4 finals during the National Selection Trials 4 for Group A Rifle and Pistol shooters, held at the Trishul Shooting Range of Maharana Pratap Sports College on Monday.

Rahi, an Olympian, showcased her prowess throughout the final, achieving 37 hits to secure first place comfortably. Two-time Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker took home the silver medal with 35 hits, while Karnataka's Divya TS earned the bronze with 29 hits, according to a statement from the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI).

In the rankings, Tamil Nadu's Niveditha V Nair finished fourth with 24 hits, followed by Olympian Rhythm Sangwan in fifth with 22 hits. Punjab's Arshdeep Kaur placed sixth with 18 hits, while Maharashtra's Abhidnya Ashok Patil secured seventh with 13 hits. Madhya Pradesh's Chinki Yadav, who had topped the qualification round, ended up eighth with nine hits.

During the qualification phase, Manu Bhaker ranked second with a score of 584-16x, while Arshdeep Kaur and Rahi Sarnobat followed in third and fourth with scores of 579-20x and 579-18x, respectively. Niveditha V Nair qualified fifth with 579-12x, and both Rhythm Sangwan and Divya TS shot 578-16x, with Rhythm ahead on countback. Abhidnya Patil rounded out the qualifiers with a score of 576-15x.

In the national rankings, Esha Singh, the world record holder and ISSF World Cup 2026 Munich gold medalist, maintained her top position despite not competing in the trials. Manu Bhaker held the second spot, while Rahi Sarnobat moved up to third, swapping places with Divya TS, who fell to fourth. Rhythm Sangwan remained in fifth, and Chinki Yadav advanced from ninth to sixth following her qualification performance.

The T4 Rifle/Pistol trials are significant for the upcoming Asian Games, where 15 male and 15 female shooters will represent India across 28 shooting events in Aichi-Nagoya later this year. The shotgun team has already been announced, while the rifle and pistol teams will be finalized after the ongoing trials conclude.

Competition will continue on Tuesday, featuring four finals, including the men's and women's 10m air pistol events, as well as the men's and women's 50m rifle 3 positions competitions.