Indian Shooters Shine at Asian Games 2026, Eye Olympic Glory
Celebrating Success at the Asian Games
By Adarsh Chauhan
New Delhi [India], September 26: Indian shooters Himanshu Dhillon and Raiza Dhillon shared their excitement following their impressive performances at the Asian Games 2026 held in Aichi-Nagoya, while also looking forward to competing for medals at the upcoming LA Olympics.
The shooting team from India, which achieved remarkable success at the Asian Games, received a warm reception upon their arrival at the New Delhi airport on Friday night.
Himanshu Dhillon returned with two silver medals, having excelled in the men's individual 10m air rifle event and the men's 10m air rifle team event alongside teammates Rudrankksh Patil and Parth Mane.
In an interview, Himanshu expressed his joy over winning two silver medals for India, highlighting the strong bond among teammates who support each other during competitions. He mentioned that his future goals include securing medals at the World Championships and the Olympics.
"It feels amazing to bring home two silver medals for my country. It's uplifting to see our teammates succeed as well. We cheer for each other during our events. My next goal is to win medals at the World Championships and the Olympics," he stated.
Himanshu also commended Kamaljeet and Suruchi Singh for their gold medal victory in the mixed team 10m air pistol event, marking India's second gold at the Games. The duo delivered an outstanding performance, scoring 484.6 points to surpass South Korea, who took silver with 478.0 points. They also set a new Asian record, breaking the previous mark of 481.3 points established by Uzbekistan earlier this year.
Despite their individual performances not meeting expectations, Himanshu noted that the record-breaking achievement compensated for it. Kamaljeet had narrowly missed the final in the men's individual qualification, finishing ninth, while Suruchi placed 26th in the women's event.
"You could say their individual matches didn't go as planned, but they redeemed themselves by breaking a record," Himanshu remarked.
Raiza Dhillon, a member of India's women's skeet team, who secured a bronze medal alongside Parinaaz Dhaliwal and Maheshwari Chauhan, emphasized the team's dedication and preparation for their success. She credited the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) for their unwavering support, expressing pride in the entire shooting team.
"We worked extremely hard for this medal and prepared thoroughly. We're proud of our achievement. The support from SAI and NRAI has been invaluable, contributing to our performance. Everyone in the team has put in tremendous effort, and we all deserve this victory," she said.
Raiza also acknowledged the significance of Kamaljeet and Suruchi's gold medal, stating that it was a monumental achievement for India, with aspirations now set on the Olympics.
"Their gold medal is a significant milestone for us. We're incredibly proud and happy for them. Our next goal is to win medals at the Olympics," she added.
Amrinder Singh Cheema, the coach of the Indian skeet team, expressed his satisfaction with the team's podium finishes at the Asian Games and conveyed optimism for their future prospects.
"I am thrilled with our podium finishes. We are performing exceptionally well, and I am very hopeful about what lies ahead," he stated.
To date, India has amassed a total of 23 medals at the Asian Games, including two gold, nine silver, and twelve bronze medals, with shooting contributing ten of those medals.