CM Majhi Hails India's Silver in 50m Rifle 3P Team at Asian Games 2026
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Silver flashed at the shooting range — and Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi was among the first to salute it. The Indian men's 50m Rifle 3 Positions team of Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil, and Niraj Kumar claimed a silver medal at the Asian Games 2026, prompting a congratulatory post from the Chief Minister on Friday, 25 September 2026.
A trio, a target, a team silver
The three-man squad delivered what CM Majhi called 'a remarkable display of precision, composure and teamwork.' The 50m Rifle 3 Positions event is one of shooting's most technically demanding disciplines — athletes fire from three stances (kneeling, prone, and standing), testing every dimension of a shooter's craft over a gruelling course of fire. Claiming silver in a team format, where consistency across all three performers is non-negotiable, amplifies the achievement considerably.
Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar is no stranger to elite stages — he has represented India at the Olympics and featured regularly on the ISSF World Cup circuit in 50m rifle events. Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil, one of the younger faces in the national rifle setup, has been building his international profile steadily. Together with Niraj Kumar, the trio brought a blend of experience and emerging talent to the relay.
Shooting's steady medal engine for India
This silver fits a well-established pattern. At the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, India's shooting contingent returned with multiple medals across rifle and pistol categories, including gold in individual and team events. Shooting has quietly become one of Indian sport's most reliable continental-medal factories — a result of years of investment in training infrastructure, international exposure, and a growing pipeline of junior talent graduating to the senior circuit.
State leaders across party lines routinely amplify such achievements on social media, reflecting a broader political consensus that backing national sporting success carries real resonance with voters and the public alike. CM Majhi's message closed with a forward-looking note: 'Best wishes for many more laurels ahead.'
With more shooting events still on the Asian Games 2026 schedule and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics qualification cycle already in motion, this medal is as much a statement of intent as it is a celebration. India's marksmen are not done counting.