India’s shooting contingent enjoyed a memorable day at the Asian Shooting Championships 2025, with Anantjeet Singh Naruka delivering India’s first senior gold medal in men’s skeet, capping a thrilling day of mixed fortunes.
His victory not only underscored his personal consistency but also extended India’s growing tradition in skeet, following Angad Bajwa’s title in 2019 and the team gold in 2023. Meanwhile, the junior shooters continued their rich vein of form with golds in the youth pistol events, highlighting the depth and balance in Indian shooting. The story of the day revolved around Anantjeet Naruka, who stepped onto the finals range in Doha under immense pressure.
India, defending champions in the men’s skeet team event, had faltered earlier in qualification. Bhavtegh Gill and Abhay Sekhon struggled to find rhythm, finishing 28th and 31st respectively, leaving Naruka as the lone Indian in contention.
Naruka had shown early promise, shooting 24/25 in his penultimate qualification series, carrying a two-point cushion into the final round. He eventually secured a berth in the six-man final alongside shooters from Kuwait, Qatar, China, and South Korea. From the very outset of the final, Naruka displayed steely composure. He began with a near-flawless 9/10, climbing into the lead. By the halfway stage, he had hit 33 of 34 targets, showing the precision and calm required at this level. Even as the field pressed, Naruka kept his rhythm, handling the pressure of elimination rounds with remarkable focus.
The decisive moment came at 6:19 pm. Naruka, leading by one hit with just four clays to go, delivered under pressure, cleanly striking each target. The crowd roared as he clinched the gold medal, finishing ahead of his seasoned rivals from Kuwait and Qatar. This triumph marked India’s third straight skeet gold at the continental level, after Angad’s breakthrough in 2019 and the men’s team’s triumph in 2023. More importantly, it re-established India’s growing presence in shotgun events, long considered the domain of Middle Eastern and East Asian shooters.
Maheshwari Chauhan’s Fight in Women’s Skeet
Earlier in the day, Maheshwari Chauhan kept Indian hopes alive in the women’s skeet, qualifying for the final in fifth place with 113/125. The Indian women’s team, featuring Maheshwari, Ganemat Sekhon, and Raiza Dhillon, had already bagged a bronze medal, their first team podium in recent years after missing out completely in 2023. In the final, Maheshwari began strongly, scoring a perfect 10/10 in her opening rounds, tied at the top with China’s Jiang Yiting and Che Yufei. For a while, it seemed she might script a dream podium finish. However, a couple of misses in the mid-stages saw her slip behind the Kazakh shooter Anastassiya.
Despite a valiant fight, Maheshwari finished fourth, narrowly missing out on bronze. Jiang Yiting, already a medallist from the 2023 Asian Championships, dominated the final to claim gold for China. While a medal eluded Maheshwari, her fourth-place finish and consistent shooting were encouraging signs of progress in an event India has traditionally struggled in.
Juniors Continue to Shine : Triple Gold in Youth Pistol
While Naruka’s senior gold stole headlines, India’s junior shooters ensured the pipeline of talent continues to flourish.
In the 10m Air Pistol Youth Mixed Team, Vanshika and Jonathan displayed nerves of steel, coming from 12-14 down in the gold medal match to defeat South Korea. The duo staged a brilliant comeback, winning 16-14, securing India’s second gold of the day.
Meanwhile, in the 10m Air Pistol Youth individual mixed events, Gambreya and Girish claimed top honours after a nail-biting final against Iran. The Indians prevailed 16-14, showcasing grit and composure in the decisive stages. Their gold meant India swept all youth titles in the 10m pistol category, underlining dominance at the developmental level. Earlier, Suruchi and Saurabh had also contributed with a bronze in the 10m Mixed Team pistol, defeating Chinese Taipei in the medal match with a comfortable 17-9 scoreline.
A Day of Mixed Fortunes in Qualification
The day was not without disappointments. In men’s skeet qualification, aside from Naruka, the other Indian shooters struggled. Bhavtegh’s score of 112/125 and Abhay’s identical tally left them well outside the qualification zone, while Angad Bajwa, competing in the Ranking Points Only (RPO) section, shot a strong 24 in his fourth series, but it did not impact team standings.
Similarly, in the pistol events, Saurabh Chaudhary, once India’s brightest shooting star, continued to show signs of inconsistency. He managed 95 and 96 in consecutive series, far below his peak, raising questions about his form and readiness ahead of major global tournaments. Suruchi also faltered in later rounds after a perfect 100 in the opening series, but together they salvaged bronze.
Naruka’s triumph is particularly significant when viewed in the broader context of Indian shooting. While rifle and pistol shooters have delivered world-class results over the past decade, shotgun has lagged behind. Angad Bajwa’s gold in 2019 was a rare highlight, and the 2023 team gold suggested progress. Now, Naruka’s individual title reaffirms India’s standing in skeet. His performance against experienced shooters from Kuwait and Qatar nations with long traditions in skeet is an indicator of India’s technical and mental growth in shotgun events.
Moreover, the victory provides India with crucial Olympic quota momentum. With the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics looming, Naruka’s consistency on the continental stage offers hope that India can be genuine contenders on the global platform.
As the Asian Shooting Championships continue, India’s tally of medals spread across seniors and juniors reflects a healthy ecosystem. The pipeline from youth to senior level is yielding results, particularly in pistol events. For Naruka, the immediate challenge will be to replicate this form in upcoming ISSF World Cups, where the competition will be even sterner. For Maheshwari, the near-miss in women’s skeet should serve as motivation her early form in the final showed she has the capability to compete with Asia’s best.
And for India’s juniors, multiple golds at the continental level will serve as a stepping stone, instilling belief that they can carry the baton into the senior ranks in the years ahead.
The day ended with India celebrating its first senior gold medal of the championship, thanks to Anantjeet Singh Naruka’s composed and clinical shooting. His victory, following Angad’s gold in 2019 and the team triumph in 2023, extended India’s skeet success story. Add to that the youth team’s dominance in pistol, Maheshwari’s valiant fourth-place finish, and the depth of talent on display, and India’s shooting fraternity has plenty to be proud of.
The Asian Shooting Championships 2025 may still have days to run, but this will be remembered as the day when India’s shotgun dreams turned golden again, while its pistol future shone bright in the hands of fearless juniors.
