Shillong: India is sending a 30-member shooting squad to Nagoya this Sunday. Expectations are high following a 22-medal haul at the 2022 Hangzhou Games, where the team secured seven gold, nine silver, and six bronze medals. China remains the primary obstacle for the Indian contingent.
Manu Bhaker headlines the roster as she pursues her first individual Asian Games gold. The Paris Olympics double bronze medalist will enter the 10m air pistol and 25m pistol events alongside Esha Singh. This trip carries weight. Manu returns to the continental stage following the death of her long-time coach and mentor Jaspal Rana. She debuted under his guidance at the 2018 Jakarta Games.
The 10m air pistol trio of Manu, Esha Singh, and Suruchi Inder Singh carries strong medal hopes. Meanwhile, Rahi Sarnobat returns to the 25m pistol event after sitting out the Hangzhou Games due to illness. The shooting programme kicks off with the women’s 10m air rifle. Elavenil Valarivan, Sonam Uttam Maskar, and Vidarsa K Vinod represent India in that opener. Elavenil arrives as a world championship medalist and the 2025 and 2026 Asian champion.
Other veterans look to make their mark. Olympians Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and former world champion Rudrankksh Patil will compete in the men’s 50m rifle 3-positions event. Anish Bhanwala joins the squad with consecutive silver medals from the World Championships and World Cup Final last year. The men’s 10m air pistol squad features Kedarling Uchaganve, junior world champion Kamaljeet, and Aakash Bharadwaj.
Neeru Dhanda leads the shotgun effort. She made history in Lonato as "the first Indian woman to win an individual World Cup trap gold." Olympian Mairaj Ahmad Khan and Asian champion Anantjeet Singh Naruka spearhead the skeet challenge. Naruka previously finished fourth alongside Maheshwari Chauhan in the mixed team skeet at the Paris Olympics.
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