India illuminated the 16th Asian Shooting Championships in Shymkent with a performance that will be etched in the nation’s sporting history.
For the first time, India topped the overall medal tally, claiming an unprecedented 50 gold medals in a single continental championship. It was not just the numbers that stood out but the sheer depth across rifle, pistol, and shotgun disciplines that confirmed India’s arrival as a powerhouse in world shooting. This triumph was the product of a carefully built ecosystem seasoned champions holding their ground, juniors rising to the occasion, and collective team efforts delivering when it mattered most.
Rifle shooters were once again at the forefront of India’s dominance. Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar produced one of the finest finals of his career in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions, edging out China’s Zhao Wenyu by the slimmest of margins 462.5 to 462.0. His win epitomised both skill and composure under pressure. Sift Kaur Samra, who has become synonymous with consistency, continued her golden run. She won the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions individual title before leading the team to victory in the same event. Her poise highlighted the maturity she has developed over recent seasons.
The men’s 10m air rifle team of Rudrankksh Patil, Arjun Babuta, and Kiran Jadhav showed clinical dominance by scoring 1892.5 to secure team gold. Adding to the haul, Babuta partnered with Elavenil Valarivan to claim mixed team gold with a 17–11 win over China. These results underlined India’s rifle depth, where both established names and younger shooters continue to thrive.
Pistol Drama: Close Finishes and Rising Stars
The pistol events offered both moments of triumph and near misses. Manu Bhaker, one of India’s most recognisable faces, ended her campaign with three bronze medals in the 10m and 25m air pistol disciplines. Though she fell short of gold, her podium finishes showed her continued relevance on the continental stage. Anish Bhanwala narrowly missed top honours in the men’s 25m rapid-fire pistol, settling for silver after a close contest. In the men’s 50m pistol team, Yogesh Kumar, Amanpreet Singh, and Ravinder Singh combined to secure silver.
While pistol shooting did not deliver the same volume of golds as rifle, it provided enough flashes of competitiveness to suggest stronger outcomes in the future.
The juniors, however, added sparkle to the pistol campaign. Rashmika Sahgal emerged as one of the revelations of the championship, winning her first international gold in the junior women’s 10m air pistol. Remarkably, she achieved this after transitioning to her left hand just three years ago. Along with Vanshika and Mohini, Rashmika added team gold in the junior 10m air pistol. Suraj Sharma and Mukesh Nellavali brought further glory in the men’s 25m pistol junior category. Suraj struck gold, Mukesh took bronze, and together with Abhinav Choudhary, they secured team gold. These results showcased the vibrant new generation ready to challenge established names.
Shotgun Glory: Records and Firsts
Shotgun shooting, often considered India’s weaker link, witnessed landmark achievements. Veteran Ankur Mittal turned back the clock with a world-record score of 107 hits to clinch the men’s double trap gold. His precision was a reminder of the experience and class that still anchors India’s shotgun squad. On the women’s side, Neeru Dhanda broke new ground by winning India’s first-ever senior-level women’s trap gold. She then led her teammates to the women’s trap team gold, making her one of the most significant performers of the competition.
The mixed shotgun events also contributed. Kynan Chenai and Aashima Ahlawat fought hard to earn bronze in the mixed trap event, ensuring that India made its presence felt in every shotgun category. At the junior level, fresh faces like Anushka Thokur, Sameer, Haris Sabeera, and Addya Katyal all found their way to the podium in rifle and trap categories. Their results added to the narrative of a promising pipeline feeding into India’s senior squad.
Beyond individual names, the overall performance of juniors was one of the most heartening aspects of the campaign. Abhinav Shaw won gold in the men’s 10m air rifle junior by just 0.1 point, a reminder of how fine the margins can be at this level. In mixed team events, Shambhavi Kshirsagar and Naraen Pranav dominated qualification with 629.5 before cruising to gold in the final. Their dominance reflected not just individual brilliance but also effective preparation for team formats that are now crucial in international shooting.
Collectively, the juniors ensured that India’s medal tally was not only record-breaking but also sustainable, pointing towards continued success in future cycles.
The 16th Asian Shooting Championships were more than just a medal haul for India. They were about breaking barriers, creating history, and setting new standards. Fifty gold medals represented the country’s biggest-ever success at a continental shooting event, a feat that placed India firmly ahead of traditional heavyweights like China and South Korea. For the first time, India could claim it was not merely competing with Asia’s best but leading from the front.
The variety of winners ranging from seasoned names like Aishwary, Sift, Manu, and Ankur to new faces like Rashmika and Shambhavi offered a glimpse of balance between experience and youth.
Looking forward, the results in Shymkent provide India with immense confidence ahead of global competitions, particularly the ISSF World Championships and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. While rifle remains the bedrock of India’s shooting success, significant breakthroughs in shotgun and the rise of juniors across pistol and rifle bode well for the future. India’s 2025 campaign will be remembered not only for the sheer number of medals but also for the sense of inevitability it carried when Indians stepped onto the range, victory seemed within reach. If this momentum is sustained, India’s golden surge in Shymkent could well be the prologue to even bigger triumphs on the world stage.
