Asian Games 2026: China overcome 11-point deficit to snatch men's 10m air pistol team gold
Synopsis
China trailed by 11 points and still won. Hu Kai's composed second-group showing levelled the scores with Indonesia at 1,743 apiece, and China's superior inner-ten count — 70 to 57 — clinched the gold. It was one of the tightest countback finishes in Asian Games shooting history, and came on a day when Jiang Yiting completed a three-gold sweep in skeet.
Key Takeaways
China beat Indonesia by countback ( 70 inner tens to 57 ) in the men's 10m air pistol team event after both finished level on 1,743 points .
Hu Kai posted 582 points in the second group to erase an 11-point deficit; Wira Sukmana needed a 10 on his last shot and scored a nine , finishing on 571 .
Japan took bronze with 1,730 points .
Uzbekistan's Vladimir Svechnikov won the men's 10m air pistol individual gold with 244.3 points ; Hu won silver, Bu Shuaihang bronze.
Jiang Yiting completed a three-gold haul at the Games, including the skeet mixed team title alongside Lu Jianlin ; India won bronze in that event.
China produced one of the most dramatic comebacks of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Thursday, 24 September, clawing back an 11-point deficit to edge Indonesia by countback in the men's 10m air pistol team event. The finish was decided on inner tens — 70 for China against 57 for Indonesia — after both teams ended level on 1,743 points.
How the deficit built — and how China erased it
Indonesia looked firmly in control after the opening qualification group, where Muhamad Iqbal Raia Prabowo and Sulthanul Aulia Maruf combined for 1,172 points. China's pair of Bu Shuaihang and Xie Yu mustered only 1,161, leaving their team staring at an 11-point mountain to climb.
The contest swung entirely when Hu Kai stepped in for China in the second group. Hu posted a disciplined 292 across his first three series, while Indonesia's Wira Sukmana could manage only 284, slashing the gap to a nerve-shredding three points. Sukmana needed a 10 with his final shot to win gold for Indonesia; he recorded a nine, finishing on 571 to Hu's 582.
Japan claimed the bronze medal with 1,730 points.
Hu Kai: Focusing on the process, not the scoreboard
Speaking after the event, Hu Kai described his mindset during the comeback: 'There were ups and downs during the match, and when things weren't going well, I just tried to make adjustments,' he said. His composure in the second group proved the difference on what remained a razor-thin margin throughout.
Individual final: Uzbekistan's Svechnikov takes gold, Hu bags silver
The men's 10m air pistol individual final was contested on the same day, with Uzbekistan's Vladimir Svechnikov claiming the title with 244.3 points. Hu Kai earned silver in what was a remarkable double appearance, while Bu Shuaihang secured bronze — giving China two of the three medals despite missing out on individual gold.
Jiang Yiting's three-gold campaign in skeet; India take bronze
China also topped the podium in the skeet mixed team event, with Jiang Yiting and Lu Jianlin combining for 52 hits. South Korea won silver, while India claimed bronze — a notable result for the Indian shooting contingent in Nagoya.
The result capped a stunning individual campaign for Jiang, who had already won the women's skeet team and individual titles on Wednesday, making the mixed team gold her third of the Games. 'My first Asian Games were in Hangzhou, where I won one gold, one silver and one bronze. This time I made a big step forward, and I'm really satisfied to have won three gold medals,' Jiang said.
Thursday's results reinforced China's formidable depth across both pistol and shotgun disciplines at Nagoya, while Indonesia's agonising near-miss underscored how fine the margins are at the top of Asian shooting.
Point of View
This will sting: their opening pair outshot their Chinese counterparts by 11 points, only to see the medal decided by a tiebreaker most fans wouldn't know existed. The bigger story, largely missed in the team event drama, is Jiang Yiting's three-gold sweep — a performance that places her among the standout individual shooting athletes of this Asian Games cycle.
NationPress
24 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did China win the men's 10m air pistol team gold at the 2026 Asian Games?
China won by countback after both China and Indonesia ended level on 1,743 points. China registered 70 inner tens to Indonesia's 57, deciding the gold medal. Indonesia's Wira Sukmana needed a 10 on his final shot but scored a nine, finishing on 571 against Hu Kai's 582.
What was Indonesia's score in the men's 10m air pistol team event?
Indonesia finished on 1,743 points, the same as China, but lost the gold on countback with 57 inner tens against China's 70. Their opening pair of Muhamad Iqbal Raia Prabowo and Sulthanul Aulia Maruf had led by 11 points after qualification.
Who won the men's 10m air pistol individual gold at Nagoya 2026?
Uzbekistan's Vladimir Svechnikov claimed the individual title with 244.3 points. China's Hu Kai took silver and Bu Shuaihang won bronze — giving China two of the three medals in the individual event.
How many gold medals did Jiang Yiting win at the 2026 Asian Games?
Jiang Yiting won three gold medals, claiming the women's skeet team title, the women's skeet individual title, and the skeet mixed team gold alongside Lu Jianlin. It was a significant improvement on her one gold, one silver and one bronze at the Hangzhou Asian Games.
Did India win any medals in shooting at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games?
India won a bronze medal in the skeet mixed team event at the Nagoya Asian Games. South Korea took silver and China topped the podium in that discipline.
