The Asian Shooting Championship 2025 opened in Astana, Kazakhstan, with high expectations for the Indian contingent.
The spotlight was firmly on the 10m Air Pistol Men’s event, where India fielded a blend of experienced campaigners like Saurabh Chaudhary and rising juniors eager to make their mark. By the end of Day 1, India had reasons for both disappointment and celebration the senior men’s event didn’t bring individual glory, but the juniors delivered two medals, including a brilliant gold.
Early Morning Anticipation: Spotlight on Saurabh and Anmol
The day began with anticipation as three Indians Saurabh Chaudhary, Anmol Jain, and Aditya Malra lined up in the 10m Air Pistol qualification round. Saurabh, a former Asian Games and World Cup gold medallist, was making a much-discussed return to the continental stage, while Anmol and Aditya were looking to build consistency.
However, it soon became clear that qualification was going to be an uphill task. Saurabh struggled to find rhythm from the start, shooting 95 and 84 in his first 19 shots. Despite a small comeback in later rounds with 98s, his early misses and an untimely 8 in the fifth series derailed his chances. He eventually ended with 576-15x, placing him outside the top 20 and far from the qualification cut.
Anmol, on the other hand, showed grit under pressure. After hovering around 13th–15th in the standings, he lifted his game in the final series, shooting a brilliant 99 to finish with 580-17x. This was enough to squeeze him into the final in seventh place. Aditya Malra narrowly missed out, finishing 13th with 579-20x after falling short of a flawless final series. Meanwhile, in the Ranking Points Only (RPO) section, Amit Sharma was the standout performer. He topped qualification with an impressive 588-24x, though as an RPO shooter he was not eligible for medals or finals. Varun Tomar, also in RPO, scored 584-24x to finish fourth.
Their performances highlighted the depth of India’s talent in this discipline, even if it did not translate into medals.
The Men’s Final: Anmol Battles, China Prevails
The 10m Air Pistol final featured shooters from eight different nations, including China, South Korea, Iran, and India. For India, all eyes were on Anmol, who carried the nation’s hopes after Saurabh’s early exit. Anmol began steadily, surviving the first two elimination rounds with clutch 10s. At one point, he shot a 10.4 to save himself from elimination. But consistency eluded him when it mattered most. After a shaky series of 9s, he was eliminated in sixth place.
The contest then came down to the dominant Chinese and South Korean shooters. Defending champion Zhang Yifan had failed to qualify earlier in the day, but his compatriot Hai Ku carried forward China’s supremacy. He shot a commanding 241.6 to win gold, with South Korea settling for silver. Iran picked up the bronze, underlining the depth of Asian shooting powerhouses.
For India, there was at least consolation in the team event. The trio of Anmol, Aditya, and Saurabh combined for a total of 1735-52x, winning the silver medal. China took gold, while Iran claimed bronze. It was India’s first medal of the championship and ensured the contingent did not end the senior day empty-handed.
Juniors Steal the Show: Kapil and Antony on the Podium
If the seniors provided mixed emotions, the juniors delivered unalloyed joy. In the 10m Air Pistol Men Junior final, India had four shooters qualifying: Jonathan Gavin Antony, Mukesh Nelavalli, Kapil, and Chirag. Jonathan and Mukesh were particularly impressive in qualification, both scoring 582 to finish second and third, while Kapil followed in fourth.
The final turned into a showcase of India’s rising talent. Kapil displayed remarkable composure under pressure, steadily climbing up the leaderboard. With each elimination, he shot with precision and confidence, eventually sealing the gold medal for India. Jonathan Antony, just 15 years old, stunned everyone with his maturity. Despite the big stage pressure, he fought hard to secure bronze, giving India a double podium finish. Uzbekistan’s Ilkhombek Obidjonov took the silver.
This result not only reinforced India’s bench strength in pistol shooting but also underlined the emergence of a new generation ready to carry forward the nation’s legacy in the sport.
Other Highlights: Youth Event Progress
The Youth Men’s 10m Air Pistol also saw encouraging signs. Gaurav Gupta shot a consistent 577-14x (series of 98, 96, 96, 95, 95, 97) to stand second in the qualification round.
Indian team (G. Gupta, P. Jat, D. Pratap) won silver behind Iran while Gaurav won Gold and Dev won Silver in the Individual finals.
Day 1 of the Asian Shooting Championship 2025 was a study in contrasts for India. The experienced seniors, including Saurabh Chaudhary, faltered, and Anmol’s sixth-place finish in the final left fans with a sense of what might have been. Yet, the juniors lifted the mood spectacularly. Kapil’s gold and Jonathan Antony’s bronze ensured that India ended the day with three medals two in juniors and one in the senior team category.
As the sun set on the first day, attention turned quickly to tomorrow’s action. Day 2 promises to be packed, with the start of Skeet Men and Women, along with the 10m Air Pistol Women in both senior and junior categories. If today was any indication, India’s younger brigade might again be the ones to watch.
