Asian Games 2026: Aishwary, Niraj miss 50m Rifle 3P final medals; team bags silver
Synopsis
India's star rifle shooter Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, who swept four medals at Hangzhou 2023, ended the 50m Rifle 3P individual final in fifth place in Nagoya — a reminder that China's dominance in precision shooting is near-total. The day was salvaged by a team silver and a historic air pistol mixed team gold by Suruchi and Kamaljeet, who shattered the Asian record.
Key Takeaways
Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar finished fifth (327.6) and Niraj Kumar finished eighth (299.0) in the Men's 50m Rifle 3P individual final at Nagoya 2026 .
China's Yukun Liu won gold with a games-record 360.5 ; Zhang Changhong took silver (360.2); Islam Satpayev claimed bronze (348.3).
India's trio of Aishwary, Niraj, and Rudrankksh won silver in the 50m Rifle 3P team final with a combined score of 1762-94x .
Suruchi and Kamaljeet won gold in the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team event with an Asian record score of 484.6 — India's first-ever gold in this event.
India's shooting medal tally stands at 10 (1 gold, 5 silver, 4 bronze); overall tally is 19 medals .
Indian rifle shooters Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and Niraj Kumar fell short of individual podium finishes in the Men's 50m Rifle 3 Positions event at the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya, finishing fifth and eighth respectively in the final held at the Aichi Prefecture General Shooting Gallery on Friday, 25 September.
How the Final Unfolded
Aishwary posted a score of 327.6, having held sixth place after the prone series before climbing to fifth with 205.3 following the kneeling series. Niraj had a tougher outing, finishing last among the eight finalists with a score of 299.0. China dominated the podium, with Yukun Liu claiming gold with a games-record score of 360.5 and Zhang Changhong taking silver with 360.2. Islam Satpayev of Kazakhstan secured bronze with 348.3.
Team Silver Cushions the Blow
Earlier in the day, the individual disappointment was partly offset when Aishwary, Niraj, and Rudrankksh combined for a silver medal in the Men's 50m Rifle 3 Positions team final. The Indian trio shot a combined score of 1762-94x, finishing second behind China (1766-95x), with South Korea (1751-87x) taking bronze.
Gold Rush in Air Pistol Mixed Team
India's shooting contingent received a significant boost when Suruchi and Kamaljeet delivered a record-breaking performance in the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team event, combining for an Asian record score of 484.6 in the final to clinch gold. The pair had earlier topped qualification with 587-29x, equalling the Asian record and setting a new Asian Games qualification record. This was India's first-ever Asian Games gold medal in this event, improving on the silver won by Sarabjot Singh and Divya TS at the Hangzhou 2023 Games.
Aishwary's Hangzhou Legacy and Current Standing
The individual non-medal finish marks a step back for Aishwary, who was one of India's most decorated shooters at the Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games, returning with four medals — gold in the 10m Air Rifle and 50m Rifle 3 Positions team events, an individual bronze in the 10m Air Rifle, and individual silver in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions.
India's Medal Tally in Shooting
India's shooting tally at the Games currently stands at 10 medals — one gold, five silver, and four bronze. The country's overall medal count is 19, comprising two gold, eight silver, and nine bronze medals. With several events still to conclude, India's final shooting haul could climb further.
Point of View
Winning team gold and individual silver in the same discipline. The regression to fifth underlines how ruthlessly China has consolidated its grip on precision rifle events, with Liu's games-record 360.5 virtually unreachable for any rival on current form. The day's broader shooting ledger, however, tells a more optimistic story: a historic air pistol mixed team gold via an Asian record suggests India is diversifying its podium base beyond rifle. If that depth holds through the remaining events, the shooting programme could yet deliver a historically strong haul — but the individual rifle gap to China remains a structural challenge that coaching infrastructure and selection alone cannot quickly bridge.
NationPress
25 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar perform in the 50m Rifle 3P final at Asian Games 2026?
Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar finished fifth in the Men's 50m Rifle 3P individual final in Nagoya with a score of 327.6. He had held sixth place after the prone series before climbing to fifth during the kneeling stage, but could not break into the medal positions.
Who won the Men's 50m Rifle 3P gold at Asian Games 2026?
China's Yukun Liu won the gold medal with a games-record score of 360.5. His compatriot Zhang Changhong took silver with 360.2, and Islam Satpayev of Kazakhstan claimed bronze with 348.3.
Did India win any medal in the 50m Rifle 3P event at Nagoya 2026?
India did not win an individual medal in the 50m Rifle 3P final but claimed a team silver. The trio of Aishwary, Niraj, and Rudrankksh combined for 1762-94x, finishing second behind China (1766-95x).
What is the significance of Suruchi and Kamaljeet's gold medal at Asian Games 2026?
Suruchi and Kamaljeet won India's first-ever Asian Games gold in the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team event, setting an Asian record score of 484.6 in the final. They had also equalled the Asian record and set a new Asian Games qualification record during the qualifying round.
What is India's overall medal tally in shooting at the Asian Games 2026?
India's shooting tally stands at 10 medals — one gold, five silver, and four bronze — as of 25 September. The country's overall Games medal count is 19, including two gold and eight silver medals.
