India’s shooters once again underlined their reputation as a continental powerhouse, delivering a landmark performance at the 16th Asian Shooting Championships 2025.
With an unprecedented 99 medals, including 50 golds, India topped the overall medal tally, reaffirming the nation’s depth across both Olympic and non-Olympic disciplines.
In the senior category, India narrowly missed out on the gold medal lead, securing 14 titles, just one short of China, but crucially edged ahead in overall podium finishes with 31 medals (14 gold, 8 silver, 9 bronze). This dominance reflected not only individual brilliance but also the collective strength of India’s shooting program.
For context, at the 2023 edition in Changwon, India had finished with 55 medals. The jump to 99 in Shymkent, nearly doubling the tally in just two years, illustrates the scale of progress in both depth and consistency.
Golden Heroes: Champions Who Stood Tall
A string of standout performances defined India’s campaign.
- Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar struck gold in the Men’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions, showing nerves of steel to edge out China’s Zhao Wenyu by just 0.5 points. His final score of 462.5, capped by a decisive 10.8 on the 14th shot, was a masterclass in composure. He also anchored India to a team silver with Chain Singh and Akhil Sheoran.
- Sift Kaur Samra continued her remarkable rise, winning gold in the Women’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions with 459.2 points, and later leading teammates Anjum Moudgil and Ashi Chouksey to team gold with a combined 1753 points.
- Elavenil Valarivan set an Asian record en route to gold in Women’s Air Rifle, and then partnered with Arjun Babuta to clinch the mixed team title.
- Neeru Dhanda celebrated her breakthrough by winning her first continental gold in Women’s Trap, a vital sign of depth in India’s shotgun program.
- Anantjeet Singh Naruka ended India’s long wait for gold in Men’s Skeet, overcoming gusty conditions to stand atop the podium.
In non-Olympic events, India’s depth shone:
Ankur Mittal captured the Men’s Double Trap, setting a world record of 107 hits, and added team bronze.
Gurpreet Singh excelled in the 25m Standard Pistol, winning individual gold and team gold alongside Rajkanwar Singh Sandhu and Ankur Goel.
Rajkanwar Singh Sandhu himself added individual gold in the same event, scoring 583 points.
Other notable results included Manini Kaushik’s bronze in Women’s 50m Rifle Prone (her first international medal), and Syed Ahan Ali’s bronze in Men’s Trap, where he also contributed to India’s team gold.
From Changwon to Shymkent: What Changed?
On paper, India’s senior gold tally in Olympic events remained at six, the same as in Changwon 2023. Silvers and bronzes dipped slightly. Yet, the overall narrative in 2025 is far more encouraging for three key reasons:
- Consistency at Elite Level – Despite stiff competition, India’s seniors held their ground in Olympic events, with names like Aishwary, Sift, and Elavenil proving reliable. This suggests India’s top shooters are sustaining world-class standards.
- Junior Domination – The medal surge from 55 in 2023 to 99 in 2025 was fueled significantly by India’s juniors. Their rise indicates not just a bright future but also a healthy pipeline feeding the senior ranks ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
- Non-Olympic Event Success – Podium finishes in non-Olympic categories helped balance the tally, but more importantly, they revealed India’s overall ecosystem is producing winners across disciplines, not just focusing narrowly on Olympic quotas.
In short, Shymkent was not just about numbers. It was about proving that India has built depth across categories, with seniors excelling at the top and juniors pushing the boundaries below.
- Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions victory showcased India’s growing resilience in a traditionally China-dominated event. His precise 10.8 under pressure underscored his maturity as a match-winner.
- Sift Kaur Samra’s double gold cemented her position as India’s most versatile rifle shooter, excelling both individually and as a leader in team events.
- Elavenil Valarivan’s Asian record reaffirmed her place among the elite in air rifle, combining consistency with peak performance.
- In shotgun, Neeru Dhanda and Anantjeet Singh Naruka proved that India’s trap and skeet shooters can now compete toe-to-toe with Asia’s best, historically a weaker area for the country.
The 2025 Asian Championships did not directly impact Olympic quotas. Yet, the meet was invaluable for three reasons:
- Confidence Building – Beating Asian rivals on a continental stage boosts confidence heading into world cups and Olympic qualifiers.
- Exposure for Juniors – Young shooters tasted pressure-filled finals, learning to handle the big stage — a vital step before graduating to senior levels.
- Depth Across Disciplines – With rifle, pistol, and shotgun all producing champions, India is no longer seen as a one-dimensional shooting nation.
The Road to LA 2028
With three years to go for Los Angeles 2028, India’s performance in Shymkent sets the tone. Seniors like Aishwary, Sift, and Elavenil are already proven. Juniors are knocking at the door. Shotgun is no longer a weak link.
If the federation can provide consistent international exposure, sports science support, and mental conditioning, India could well replicate its Asian dominance on the Olympic stage.
The 16th Asian Shooting Championships in Shymkent were more than a medal haul. They were a statement of intent. From the steely composure of Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar to the record-breaking brilliance of Elavenil Valarivan, from Sift Kaur Samra’s consistency to the breakthroughs of Neeru Dhanda and Anantjeet Singh Naruka, India showed it is not just a rising force but a continental leader.
From 55 medals in 2023 to 99 in 2025, the trajectory is clear: India’s shooting program is deepening, diversifying, and delivering. If this momentum continues, the roar of Indian rifles, pistols, and shotguns will echo just as loudly on the Olympic stage in Los Angeles as it did in Shymkent.
