Pradhan Hails India's Silver in 50m Rifle 3P Team at Asian Games 2026
Synopsis
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan congratulated Aishwarya Pratap Singh Tomar, Rudransh Balasaheb Patil and Niraj Kumar on winning silver in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions Men's team event at the 2026 Asian Games, calling it a display of precision, discipline and perseverance.
Key Takeaways
Aishwarya Pratap Singh Tomar , Rudransh Balasaheb Patil , and Niraj Kumar won Silver in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions Men's team event at the 2026 Asian Games .
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan congratulated the trio on 25 September 2026 via X.
The 50m Rifle 3 Positions event spans prone, standing, and kneeling formats — one of the most technically demanding shooting disciplines.
India has steadily grown its shooting medal count at Asian Games, with multiple podium finishes in 2018 (Jakarta) and 2023 (Hangzhou) .
The result keeps India's continental shooting momentum alive and strengthens athletes' cases for upcoming world championship selection.
Three Indian marksmen stepped onto the Asian Games podium on Friday, 25 September 2026, and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan was among the first to mark the moment — congratulating Aishwarya Pratap Singh Tomar, Rudransh Balasaheb Patil, and Niraj Kumar on clinching the Silver Medal in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions Men's team event at the 2026 Asian Games.
Pradhan described the performance as 'a fine display of precision, discipline and perseverance on the big stage,' adding that their result 'adds to India's growing pride in shooting.' The three-man team event demands versatility — competitors shoot from prone, standing, and kneeling positions across 60 shots, making it one of the most technically demanding disciplines in Olympic-style shooting.
Tomar, Patil and Kumar: the trio behind the medal
Aishwarya Pratap Singh Tomar has been one of India's most consistent rifle shooters at continental level, with a record that includes strong performances at youth and senior championships. Rudransh Balasaheb Patil is regarded as a rising force in the 10m and 50m rifle formats. Niraj Kumar rounds out a team that brought together experience and emerging talent — the combination that big-stage team events typically reward.
India's decade-long climb in continental shooting
India's improved shooting medal haul at Asian Games is not accidental. Over the past decade, expanded national training infrastructure and structured selection pipelines have steadily raised the country's competitiveness across rifle, pistol, and shotgun disciplines. Indian shooters collected multiple medals at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, building a podium habit that the 2026 edition now extends. Each continental medal also feeds directly into Olympic selection arithmetic — a fact that gives results like today's weight well beyond the Asian Games scoreboard.
What comes next for the Indian shooting contingent
With shooting events still running at the 2026 Asian Games, India's overall tally in the discipline is likely to grow further. Performances here will also shape selection conversations ahead of upcoming world championships, where Olympic quota places remain the ultimate prize. For Tomar, Patil, and Kumar, a silver at this stage is both a reward and a launchpad.
Point of View
Every Asian Games medal in shooting carries bureaucratic weight beyond the ceremony. India's sustained investment in shooting infrastructure over the past decade is now producing a second generation of podium contenders — Tomar, Patil and Kumar representing precisely that pipeline dividend.
NationPress
25 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the silver medal in 50m Rifle 3 Positions Men's team at Asian Games 2026?
Aishwarya Pratap Singh Tomar, Rudransh Balasaheb Patil and Niraj Kumar won the Silver Medal in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions Men's team event at the 2026 Asian Games.
What is the 50m Rifle 3 Positions event?
The 50m Rifle 3 Positions event requires competitors to shoot from three stances — prone, standing, and kneeling — making it one of the most technically demanding disciplines in Olympic-style shooting.
Why did Dharmendra Pradhan congratulate the Indian shooting team?
As Union Education Minister and a senior government figure, Pradhan congratulated the trio after they secured a silver medal at the 2026 Asian Games, calling it a display of 'precision, discipline and perseverance.'
How has India performed in shooting at recent Asian Games?
India collected multiple shooting medals at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, reflecting consistent improvement backed by national training programmes.
Where are the 2026 Asian Games being held?
The specific host city for the 2026 Asian Games is part of the current event; the Asian Games is a quadrennial multi-sport event contested by athletes from across Asia.
