The spotlight will firmly be on India’s pistol shooters as competition begins at the Asian Rifle/Pistol Championships at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Ranges on Wednesday, with the opening day set to deliver four high-profile finals in the 10m air pistol events across senior, junior and youth categories.
For the host nation, it is an opportunity to make an early statement at the continent’s premier shooting competition. With a formidable line-up led by World Champion Samrat Rana, World Cup Final winner Suruchi Singh, Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker, and Esha Singh, India enters the first day as one of the leading medal contenders.
All finals from the championship will be streamed live on FanCode, giving fans across the country a chance to follow the action as India’s shooters take on Asia’s best.
Heavyweight contest in women’s air pistol
The women’s 10m air pistol event is expected to be one of the most fiercely contested categories of the championships. India’s challenge will be led by Manu Bhaker, who returns to competition after a subdued 2025 season but remains one of the most accomplished pistol shooters in the world, and Suruchi Singh, who claimed the World Cup Final title last year and has been one of the most consistent performers on the global circuit.
Esha Singh, the reigning Ningbo World Champion, adds further strength to the Indian trio, giving the hosts genuine depth and flexibility in both the individual and team events. However, India will face stiff competition. Ho Ching Shing of Hong Kong, the world No. 4 and reigning World Championship silver medallist, arrives as one of the favourites. A four-time Asian Championship finalist, Ho won silver at the 2019 edition and has been among the most reliable performers in high-pressure finals.
Another athlete to watch is Cheng Yen-Ching of Chinese Taipei, ranked 16th in the world. Just 19 years old, she made an impressive World Championship debut with a 25th-place finish and followed it up with a fifth-place result at her first ISSF World Cup in Munich. Vietnam’s Thu Vinh Trinh, a two-time Asian bronze medallist and two-time Olympic finalist, also brings pedigree and big-match experience to the field.
Samrat Rana leads a powerful men’s line-up
On the men’s side, World Champion Samrat Rana will spearhead India’s charge in what promises to be another highly competitive event. He will be supported by world No. 2 Varun Tomar, the reigning world bronze medallist, and Sharvan Kumar, who finished 12th at the most recent World Championships and continues to rise steadily in the international rankings.
The trio forms one of the strongest men’s air pistol teams India has fielded in recent years and will be aiming to convert home advantage into podium finishes. The competition, however, is formidable. Valeriy Rakhimzhan of Kazakhstan, ranked eighth in the world and a silver medallist at the ISSF World Cup in Munich, is among the top contenders. He finished fourth at last year’s Asian Championships in Shymkent and will be eager to go one better.
Hsieh Hsiang-Chen of Chinese Taipei and Mukhammad Kamalov of Uzbekistan, currently ranked 25th in the world and ninth at the 2025 World Championships, add further depth to an already crowded field.
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Beyond the senior finals, India’s junior and youth shooters will also step into the spotlight on Day One, underlining the championship’s role as a bridge between emerging talent and elite performance.
In the junior men’s air pistol, India will be represented by Jonathan Gavin Antony, Mukesh Nelavalli, Deaflympics medallist Abhinav Deshwal, Himanshu Rana, and Priyanshu Yadav a group that combines international exposure with strong domestic form. The youth men’s field will feature Darren K. Dawn, Girish Gupta, Abhay Dhama, Mandeep Chauhan, Dhairya Prashar, and Hardik Bansal, all of whom will be keen to impress on one of the biggest stages of their young careers.
A continental gathering of elite shooters
India has entered the largest squad of 118 athletes, reflecting the host nation’s depth and ambition across senior, junior, and youth categories. Kazakhstan, with 35 shooters, is the second-largest contingent, while traditional powerhouses Korea and Japan have also fielded strong teams. Other competitive nations such as Chinese Taipei, Vietnam, and Hong Kong are expected to challenge across multiple disciplines, ensuring that the opening day will be anything but straightforward for the home shooters.
With medals on the line from the very first morning, India’s pistol shooters carry the responsibility of setting the tone for the rest of the championships. A strong showing in the 10m air pistol events would not only boost the medal tally but also send a clear message that the hosts are ready to dominate at home. As the firing lines come alive in Delhi, all eyes will be on whether India’s stars can rise to the moment and deliver the kind of start that could define the championship.
