Anurag Thakur Hails Shooters' Silver in Asian Games 2026
Synopsis
BJP MP Anurag Thakur celebrated Indian shooters Aishwary, Rudrankksh and Niraj winning silver in the Men's 50m Air Rifle 3 Positions team event at Asian Games 2026 hosted by Japan, calling it a proud moment for the nation.
Key Takeaways
Aishwary , Rudrankksh , and Niraj won the silver medal in the Men's 50m Air Rifle 3 Positions team event at Asian Games 2026 .
The Asian Games 2026 are hosted by Japan , the quadrennial continental multi-sport competition for Asian nations.
BJP MP Anurag Thakur , former Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, posted the congratulations on 25 September 2026 .
The 50m Air Rifle 3 Positions discipline requires athletes to shoot from kneeling, prone, and standing positions â one of the sport's most demanding formats.
The result continues India's history of podium performances in rifle shooting events at the Asian Games.
Three Indian rifles, one podium, and a silver that announces India's shooting squad is very much in the hunt at Asian Games 2026. BJP MP Anurag Thakur â former Union Minister for Sports â took to X on Friday, 25 September 2026, to congratulate Aishwary, Rudrankksh, and Niraj on clinching the silver medal in the Men's 50m Air Rifle 3 Positions team event.
Thakur's post, carrying the hashtags #AsianGames2026 and #Cheer4Bharat, read: 'Shining Silver! Congratulations to our ace shooters Aishwary, Rudrankksh and Niraj on winning the Silver medal in Men's 50m Air Rifle 3 Positions team event at the #AsianGames2026. We are proud of you. Jai Hind đŽđŗ'Three Shots, One Silver: The Rifle 3P Team Result
The Men's 50m Air Rifle 3 Positions event â nicknamed '3P' â is among shooting's most demanding disciplines, requiring athletes to fire from kneeling, prone, and standing positions. India's three-man combination of Aishwary, Rudrankksh, and Niraj delivered a silver-medal performance, continuing the country's track record of podium finishes in rifle events at the Asian Games. A team silver in this format, where consistency across all three positions is non-negotiable, is a significant collective achievement.
Thakur's Sporting Voice â From Ministry to X
Anurag Thakur, representing Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh in the Lok Sabha, served as Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports before the portfolio changed hands. His social-media salutes to Indian athletes have been a consistent feature of his public presence â a direct line between parliament and the playing field. The congratulatory post underscores the broader political attention India's shooting contingent commands every time an Asian Games cycle rolls around.
India's Shooting Ambitions at Japan 2026
The Asian Games 2026 are hosted by Japan, giving the quadrennial multi-sport event a high-profile stage in a country synonymous with sporting precision. India's shooting federation has invested heavily in rifle programmes over successive Olympic and Asian Games cycles, and a team silver in the 50m 3P event adds tangible weight to that investment. With other shooting disciplines still to conclude, the rifle trio's result sets an early benchmark for the rest of the contingent.
Point of View
His public endorsement of shooting athletes reinforces the political capital India has steadily invested in rifle programmes. The silver in a technically demanding team format like 50m 3P signals that India's shooting pipeline, built through successive Asian and Olympic cycles, is producing results at the continental level. With Japan 2026 still unfolding, each medal adds pressure on rival teams while validating the federation's roster choices. The spotlight on this trio could also translate into greater institutional support and sponsorship visibility for rifle shooting back home.
NationPress
25 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the silver medal in Men's 50m Air Rifle 3 Positions at Asian Games 2026?
Indian shooters Aishwary, Rudrankksh, and Niraj won the silver medal in the Men's 50m Air Rifle 3 Positions team event at Asian Games 2026.
Where are the Asian Games 2026 being held?
The Asian Games 2026 are hosted by Japan.
What is the Men's 50m Air Rifle 3 Positions event?
It is a shooting discipline, also called '3P', where athletes fire from three different positions â kneeling, prone, and standing â making it one of the most technically demanding rifle events.
Why did Anurag Thakur congratulate the Indian shooters?
As BJP Lok Sabha MP and former Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Thakur regularly uses social media to publicly acknowledge Indian athletes' achievements at major international competitions.
How has India performed in shooting at past Asian Games?
India has a strong record in rifle shooting at the Asian Games, with multiple podium finishes in rifle events across previous editions of the competition.
