Double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker headlines India's 30-member shooting squad for the Asian Games 2026, after the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) on 11 June 2025 announced the final contingent for the Games to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from 19 September to 4 October 2026. The shooting events are scheduled from 17 September to 3 October 2026 at the Aichi Prefectural General Shooting Range.

Squad Composition and Selection Rationale

The final squad comprises 15 men and 15 women, split between 18 rifle and pistol shooters and 12 shotgun shooters. The NRAI confirmed that while all shortlisted athletes met the rigorous qualification standards set by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS), the squad was capped at 30 due to strict dynamic quota limits imposed by the Games' Organising Committee.

The Selection Committee, working alongside the High Performance team, conducted a detailed event-by-event review to maximise India's competitiveness across disciplines. The approved 'double starters' — athletes cleared to compete across multiple events — are Vidarsa K. Vinod, Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil, Manu Bhaker, and Esha Singh. This approach allows India to field strong medal contenders in both individual and team formats despite the numerical cap.

What NRAI President Said

NRAI President Kalikesh Singh Deo described the selection process as particularly demanding given the depth of Indian shooting talent. 'Selecting this team was a challenging task given the exceptional depth and quality of talent in Indian shooting today. Given the 30-athlete cap for a programme that accommodates participation across 36 event slots, the Selection Committee undertook a detailed event-wise evaluation to ensure that the final squad provides India with the strongest possible representation,' he said.

Deo added: 'The final squad reflects the strength, depth, and versatility of Indian shooting. We are confident that this team will represent India with distinction and make the nation proud in Aichi-Nagoya.'

Recent Form and Key Performers

India's shooters arrive at the Asian Games on the back of a strong run on the international circuit. At the recent ISSF World Cup in Munich, Esha Singh claimed gold and set a world record in the women's 25m pistol event. Suruchi Singh and Esha also combined for a gold-silver finish in the women's 10m air pistol, underscoring the consistency of India's pistol programme ahead of the Games.

Full Squad Breakdown

Rifle and Pistol — 10M Air Rifle Men: Parth Rakesh Mane, Himanshu Dhillon, Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil. 10M Air Rifle Women: Elavenil Valarivan, Sonam Uttam Maskar, Vidarsa K. Vinod. 50M Rifle 3 Positions Men: Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Niraj Kumar, Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil. 50M Rifle 3 Positions Women: Ashi Chouksey, Vidarsa K. Vinod, Tilottama Sen. 10M Air Pistol Men: Kedarling B. Uchaganve, Gaurav, Kamaljeet. 10M Air Pistol Women: Suruchi, Esha Singh, Manu Bhaker. 25M Rapid Fire Pistol Men: Anish. 25M Sports Pistol Women: Esha Singh, Manu Bhaker, Rahi Sarnobat. 10M Air Rifle Mixed Team: Parth Rakesh Mane, Elavenil Valarivan. 10M Air Pistol Mixed Team: Kedarling B. Uchaganve, Suruchi.

Shotgun — Trap Men: Kynan Chenai, Ahvar Rizvi, Shapath Bharadwaj. Trap Women: Neeru, Manisha Keer, Aashima Ahlawat. Skeet Men: Anantjeet Singh Naruka, Bhavtegh Singh Gill, Mairaj Ahmad Khan. Skeet Women: Parinaaz Dhaliwal, Raiza Dhillon, Maheshwari Chauhan.

With a blend of seasoned campaigners and emerging talent, India will be aiming to build on its recent ISSF circuit performances when competition begins in Aichi-Nagoya this September.