Indian Shooters Shine at Asian Games 2026, Eye Olympic Qualification

Celebrating Success at the Asian Games

Indian rifle shooters Rudrankksh Patil and Tilotamma Sen expressed their joy over winning medals at the Asian Games 2026. Rudrankksh has set his sights on qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Both athletes were part of the medal-winning contingent at the ongoing Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. So far, shooting has proven to be one of India's most successful sports, contributing 11 out of 37 medals, which include one gold, six silvers, and four bronzes.

Rudrankksh Patil's Aspirations

In an interview, Rudrankksh shared, "It's wonderful to see so many supporters. My journey has been supported by the government and my family. Shooting is a significant sport for our country. My primary goal is to qualify for the Olympics next year. I wish the best for my teammates and hope they bring home more gold medals." At the Asian Games, he secured a silver medal in the men's 10 m air rifle alongside teammates Parth Mane and Himanshu Dhillon, and another silver in the men's 50 m rifle 3-position team event with Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and Niraj Kumar. Additionally, he earned a bronze in the men's 10 m air rifle individual event, marking him as one of the standout performers of this edition. Previously, he had won a gold medal in the men's 10 m air rifle team event at the 2022 Hangzhou edition.

Tilotamma Sen's Debut Success

Tilotamma expressed her happiness about winning a medal in her first Asian Games, dedicating her achievement to her parents and coach. "I am thrilled to return with a medal. This being my debut, I am thankful for the opportunity. I was excited and confident we would win a medal. I want to celebrate this victory with my family," she stated. Tilotamma won a silver medal in the women's 50m rifle 3 positions team event alongside Ashi Chouksey and Vidarsha Vinod, although she did not secure an individual medal.

Teammates Share Their Pride

Ashi, a teammate of Tilotamma in the women's 50m rifle 3 positions, remarked, "It feels amazing. This was a team effort, and we performed exceptionally well. I am delighted to have finished on the podium. My silver streak continues, and we should take pride in this achievement. In recent years, India has emerged as a sports powerhouse, particularly in shooting." Previously, Ashi had also won silver medals in the women's 10 m air rifle and women's 50m rifle 3 positions team events at the 2022 edition.

Vidarsha added, "I am thrilled to have won a medal at my first Asian Games. I focused on giving my best without any expectations, and now I have two medals. I dedicate this achievement to my coach, Manoj sir." Vidarsha also earned a silver medal in the women's 10 m air rifle team event with Elanevil Valarivan and Sonam Maskar.