India's shooting contingent — 30 athletes strong — will take the field at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026, with competitions running from 20 September to 1 October across Rifle, Pistol, and Shotgun disciplines. The squad, assembled by the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), blends seasoned international campaigners with emerging talent that has already made its mark on the global stage.

Pistol Stars Lead the Charge

Manu Bhaker, Esha Singh, and Rahi Sarnobat headline India's pistol line-up. Bhaker arrives at the Asiad as a double Olympic bronze medallist from Paris 2024 and a gold medallist from the Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games team event, and will compete in both 10m Air Pistol and 25m Pistol. Esha, a 2023 World Champion who claimed silver in individual and team events at Hangzhou, will also feature in the same two events. Veteran Rahi, a gold medallist from the 2018 Asian Games, rounds out the 25m Pistol squad. Anish will represent India in the men's 25m Rapid Fire Pistol event. Suruchi, Kamaljeet, Kedarling B. Uchaganve, and Aakash Bhardwaj will also contest the 10m Air Pistol field, with Suruchi also featuring in the Mixed Team event.

Rifle Contingent Packs Championship Pedigree

Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, a reigning Hangzhou 2023 silver medallist, former World Cup gold medallist and Asian champion, leads the rifle charge in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions event, joined by Niraj Kumar. Ashi Chouksey, Tilottama Sen, and Vidarsa K. Vinod will compete in the women's 50m 3P. Rudrankksh B. Patil, who carries extensive major-championship experience, will feature in both 10m Air Rifle and 50m Rifle 3 Positions. The 10m Air Rifle events will also see Elavenil Valarivan — a former World Cup gold medallist and Asian champion — Parth Rajesh Mane, a former Junior World Champion, Himanshu Dhillon, and Sonam Uttam Maskar in contention.

Shotgun Squad Brings Fresh Firepower

In Trap, Kynan Chenai — a gold medallist in the team event and bronze medallist individually at the 2023 Asian Games — anchors the men's squad alongside Ahvar Rizvi and Shapath Bharadwaj. On the women's side, Neeru heads to Aichi-Nagoya after winning gold at the 2025 Asian Championships and a World Cup gold in Lonato, Italy in 2026, becoming the first Indian woman to win an individual gold in a trap event at the ISSF Shotgun World Cup. Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer complete the women's trap trio. Anantjeet Singh Naruka, a Hangzhou Asian silver medallist, will contest Skeet and the Mixed Team events.

NRAI Leadership on India's Prospects

Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, NRAI President, said ahead of the Games: 'India's shooting contingent for the Asian Games represents a strong combination of experience, international exposure and young talent. Our athletes have worked hard through the season and are entering the Games with valuable experience from World Cups, World Championships and Asian-level competitions. The Asian Games will be an important opportunity for them to compete at the highest level and represent the country with confidence and pride. We wish the entire contingent the very best for their competitions in Nagoya.'

Pawankumar Singh, NRAI Secretary General, emphasised the squad's breadth: 'The depth of the Indian shooting squad across Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun reflects the progress of the sport in the country. We have athletes with experience of major international competitions alongside young shooters who have already demonstrated their potential on the global stage. The NRAI has worked closely with the athletes and support staff in preparation for the Asian Games, and we look forward to seeing the contingent put its preparation into competition when the events begin.'

What to Watch

Shooting has historically been one of India's most productive medal-winning sports at the Asian Games, and the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 edition arrives at a moment of considerable depth across all three disciplines. With Bhaker's Paris momentum, Neeru's historic trap breakthrough, and a crop of junior champions stepping up, India's medal tally from the range could set the tone for the country's broader Asiad campaign.