The 16th edition of the Asian Shooting Championships 2025 is set to begin in Shymkent, Kazakhstan, from August 16 to 30, 2025, marking one of the most important continental events of the year for Olympic sport shooting.
Spread over two weeks, the competition will feature preliminary and qualification rounds starting August 16, while the finals commence from August 18. For India, this edition carries significant weight. Not only is it the first major championship after the Paris Olympics, but it also represents an opportunity to showcase depth across rifle, pistol, and shotgun. India will send a 35-member senior squad one of the largest at an Asian Championship reflecting both ambition and preparedness for the next Olympic cycle.
Leading the contingent is Manu Bhaker, the double Olympic medalist from Paris 2024. Bhaker, who won bronze in 10m Air Pistol and 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team, is the most high-profile name in the squad. However, two of India’s other Olympic heroes, Sarabjot Singh (medal in men’s air pistol) and Swapnil Kusale (bronze in 50m rifle 3 positions), will not be participating in Kazakhstan, leaving a gap that the new squad must fill.
The Indian Squad: Rifle, Pistol, and Shotgun
Men’s Rifle
- 10m Air Rifle: Rudrankksh B. Patil, Arjun Babuta, Kiran Ankush Jadhav
- 50m Rifle 3 Positions: Chain Singh, Akhil Sheoran, Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar
India’s men’s rifle unit has a strong mix of youth and experience. Rudrankksh Patil, the 2022 world champion in air rifle, remains a central figure, joined by Arjun Babuta, who has regularly featured in ISSF finals, and Kiran Jadhav, who impressed at the National Games earlier this year.
In 50m rifle 3P, Aishwary Tomar carries medal hopes after his World Cup successes, while veterans Chain Singh and Akhil Sheoran bring depth and resilience.
Men’s Pistol
- 10m Air Pistol: Saurabh Chaudhary, Aditya Malra, Anmol Jain
- 25m Rapid Fire Pistol: Anish, Neeraj Kumar, Adarsh Singh
The men’s pistol team features a resurgent Saurabh Chaudhary, who has returned to form with a national-record performance earlier this year. Young Aditya Malra and Anmol Jain will use the event to build international experience. In rapid fire, Anish leads the line with his aggressive shooting style, supported by Neeraj Kumar and Adarsh Singh, both consistent domestic performers.
Men’s Shotgun
- Trap: Lakshay, Kynan Darius Chenai, Bhowneesh Mendiratta
- Skeet: Abhay Singh Sekhon, Bhavtegh Singh Gill, Anantjeet Singh Naruka
Shotgun remains India’s work-in-progress. Lakshay and Kynan Chenai bring valuable experience in trap, with Bhowneesh Mendiratta a younger name pushing for breakthrough. In skeet, Abhay Sekhon, Bhavtegh Gill, and Anantjeet Naruka form a youthful lineup eager to test themselves against Asia’s best.
Women’s Rifle
- 10m Air Rifle: Mehuli Ghosh, Elavenil Valarivan, Ananya Naidu
- 50m Rifle 3 Positions: Sift Kaur Samra, Ashi Chouksey, Anjum Moudgil
The women’s rifle team is among India’s strongest. Mehuli Ghosh and Elavenil Valarivan, both world-class in air rifle, are joined by Ananya Naidu, an exciting newcomer. In 3P, Sift Kaur Samra, the Asian Games record-holder, is the clear medal favorite, alongside Olympian Anjum Moudgil and the consistent Ashi Chouksey.
Women’s Pistol
- 10m Air Pistol: Suruchi, Palak, Manu Bhaker
- 25m Sports Pistol: Manu Bhaker, Simranpreet Kaur Brar, Esha Singh
Here lies the biggest spotlight. Manu Bhaker will compete in both 10m and 25m pistol, carrying forward her Olympic momentum. She is joined by Suruchi, who is making her mark in senior competitions, and Palak, the junior world champion transitioning into the senior circuit.
In 25m pistol, Bhaker pairs with the rising Esha Singh, ranked among the world’s top 10, and Simranpreet Kaur Brar, who has been consistent on the national circuit.
Women’s Shotgun
- Trap: Neeru, Aashima Ahlawat, Preeti Rajak
- Skeet: Ganemat Sekhon, Raiza Dhillon, Maheshwari Chauhan
In trap, Neeru and Preeti Rajak will look to build on their recent form, while Aashima Ahlawat gets a valuable international test. In skeet, India’s frontline stars Ganemat Sekhon and Raiza Dhillon return, joined by Maheshwari Chauhan, forming one of India’s most competitive skeet lineups to date.
Mixed Team Events: India’s Strongest Weapon
India’s rise in shooting has often been accelerated by mixed team success, and Shymkent will be no different.
- Air Rifle Mixed Team: Rudrankksh Patil & Mehuli Ghosh; Arjun Babuta & Elavenil Valarivan
- Air Pistol Mixed Team: Saurabh Chaudhary & Suruchi; Aditya Malra & Palak
- Trap Mixed Team: Lakshay & Neeru; Kynan Chenai & Aashima Ahlawat
- Skeet Mixed Team: Abhay Sekhon & Ganemat Sekhon; Bhavtegh Gill & Raiza Dhillon
The Rudrankksh–Mehuli and Babuta–Elavenil combinations in air rifle are strong contenders for podium finishes. In pistol, the Chaudhary–Suruchi pairing will be closely watched, while the younger Malra–Palak duo could emerge as surprise performers. In shotgun, the Sekhon siblings’ pairing in skeet carries promise, with Ganemat and Raiza already proven at the World Cup level.
Key Storylines to Watch
1. Manu Bhaker Leading the Charge : Fresh from her Paris Olympics success, Manu Bhaker will carry India’s biggest medal hopes. Her dual participation in air and sports pistol, plus mixed team events, could see her feature in multiple finals.
2. Suruchi’s Senior Debut Spotlight : The inclusion of Suruchi in both 10m Air Pistol and the mixed team marks her as one of the rising names to follow. Partnering with Saurabh Chaudhary in the mixed event, she has a golden opportunity to establish herself internationally.
3. Rifle Depth Across Categories : With Rudrankksh, Mehuli, Elavenil, Aishwary, and Sift in the squad, India has realistic chances of sweeping finals in both men’s and women’s rifle. The presence of veterans like Chain Singh and Anjum Moudgil provides additional depth.
4. Shotgun: From Struggles to Stability : India’s shotgun shooters have lacked consistency on the Asian stage, but the emergence of Ganemat Sekhon, Raiza Dhillon, and Anantjeet Naruka suggests a new generation ready to take charge. Any medals here will be a major boost.
5. Building for Los Angeles 2028 : With Paris 2024 behind, this Championship is the first step on the road to Los Angeles 2028. Integrating young shooters like Suruchi, Palak, and Ananya alongside established Olympians ensures continuity and growth.
Despite India’s impressive squad, the competition in Asia remains fierce. China, South Korea, and Iran have traditionally dominated these Championships. China, in particular, arrives with reigning Olympic champions across rifle and pistol, ensuring that every Indian medal will be hard-fought. Another challenge lies in transitioning juniors into seniors. Shooters like Palak and Ananya will be competing against far more seasoned names, and how they adapt could influence India’s long-term medal prospects.
Medal Prospects
India’s strongest medal hopes lie in:
- 10m Air Pistol (Women): Manu Bhaker, Suruchi
- 10m Air Rifle (Women): Mehuli Ghosh, Elavenil Valarivan
- 50m Rifle 3 Positions (Women): Sift Kaur Samra
- Mixed Team Air Rifle & Air Pistol: Rudrankksh–Mehuli; Chaudhary–Suruchi
- 25m Pistol (Women): Manu Bhaker, Esha Singh
A realistic target would be 15–20 medals, with a focus on rifle and pistol, while even one or two podiums in shotgun would underline the progress India seeks.
The 16th Asian Shooting Championships in Shymkent is more than a continental competition for India it is a testing ground for the future. With Manu Bhaker as the talisman, Suruchi stepping into the spotlight, and rifle depth at its strongest in years, India is primed for a successful campaign. Whether the team can match or surpass the 19-medal tally from 2023 will depend on consistency in finals and composure under pressure. But one thing is clear: this squad reflects both the present strength and future promise of Indian shooting.
As the finals begin on August 18, all eyes will be on Shymkent to see whether India can truly announce itself as Asia’s shooting powerhouse.
