Himanshu Dhillon wins Asian Games silver in 10m air rifle on debut
Synopsis
On his senior Asian Games debut, Himanshu Dhillon was staring at bronze — then a single process-focused shot flipped the scoreboard and sent him to silver in the men's 10m air rifle. The mental turnaround, guided by his coach mid-final, is the story behind the medal, and it hints at a shooter who could be India's Olympic rifle hope for 2028.
Key Takeaways
Himanshu Dhillon won silver in the men's 10m air rifle event at the Asian Games on his senior debut.
He was in third place before a decisive single shot moved him up to the silver-medal position.
His coach guided him to focus on process rather than outcome during the tense closing stages of the final.
The silver is Dhillon's first senior international medal at a major multi-discipline Games.
His father, deeply emotional at the result, had long dreamed of the achievement; Dhillon's uncle was a former Olympian .
Indian shooter Himanshu Dhillon claimed a remarkable silver medal in the men's 10m air rifle event at the Asian Games, fighting back from third place in a tightly contested final to secure his first senior international medal. The feat was particularly notable as it came on his senior Asian Games debut.
The Shot That Changed Everything
Dhillon entered the decisive phase of the final occupying the bronze-medal position. Rather than fixating on the standings, he chose to channel his energy entirely into executing one perfect shot — a mental reset that proved transformational.
'At that time, when the fourth-place shootout was done, our medals were decided, and I was in third place. At that time, I thought I should give my 101% and give my best shot. Whatever happens, it doesn't matter. I had to give my 100% to that shot because that shot could have changed the colour of my medal. And that happened, and the colour of my medal changed as I jumped to second place and fought for gold,' Dhillon said during a virtual press conference.
Staying Calm When It Mattered Most
The pressure did not ease after that crucial shot. Dhillon openly acknowledged feeling anxious ahead of the next one, which carried implications for the bronze-medal position as well. His coach's intervention proved pivotal.
'In the next shot, which was to decide the bronze medal, I was a little anxious that it might go from one side to the other. My coach told me the process, and I had to fully focus on that shot. I shot that and luckily, it was a colour-changing moment for my medal, and I jumped to silver,' he said.
Dhillon described his mental approach as process-driven rather than outcome-focused. 'When I picked up the rifle, at that time, I was only focused on the process and thought, "Whatever happens, it doesn't matter,"' he added.
A Family Dream Fulfilled
Beyond the competitive achievement, the silver carried deep personal meaning for Dhillon. He revealed that his father was overwhelmed with emotion upon learning the result — a reaction rooted in a shared family ambition that stretches back a generation.
'My uncle was an Olympian. He saw his journey. It was his dream that I would bring an Olympic gold and an Asian gold medal. Today, I have fulfilled my father and my family's dream to an extent,' Dhillon said.
He added that his mother relayed his father's emotional response: 'He was very emotional at that time. I was not there, but my mother told me that he was very emotional when he heard about the medal. She told me that they wanted to be there.'
What This Medal Means for Indian Shooting
Dhillon's silver continues a strong run for India in rifle shooting at multi-discipline Games. The result on his senior Asian Games debut signals the emergence of a composed competitor capable of performing under elimination-round pressure. His ability to convert a bronze-medal position into silver — through mental discipline alone — is the kind of clutch performance that scouts for future Olympic selections tend to note. With the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics on the horizon, Dhillon's debut showing positions him as one to watch in Indian shooting's next generation.
Point of View
And it is exactly the mental resilience selectors look for ahead of an Olympic cycle. Yet one medal does not paper over a structural gap — India has repeatedly produced Asian Games medallists in shooting who then underperform when Olympic quota pressure arrives. The question is whether the national programme can now build systematically around Dhillon rather than leaving him to self-navigate the leap from continental to Olympic stage, as many before him have had to.
NationPress
22 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Himanshu Dhillon win silver at the Asian Games?
Dhillon was in third place during the final of the men's 10m air rifle event when he decided to focus entirely on executing his best shot, a mental shift that moved him into the silver-medal position. He held on through the next decisive shot, guided by his coach's process-focused advice, to finish second.
Was this Himanshu Dhillon's first senior Asian Games medal?
Yes, the silver in the men's 10m air rifle at the Asian Games was Dhillon's first senior medal at a major multi-discipline Games. It also came on his senior Asian Games debut.
What role did Dhillon's coach play in the final?
With Dhillon feeling anxious ahead of a shot that could have dropped him back to bronze, his coach intervened to redirect his focus onto the process rather than the outcome. Dhillon credited that guidance as a key factor in maintaining the silver.
What is the family significance of Dhillon's medal?
Dhillon's father was deeply emotional on hearing the result, and his uncle is a former Olympian whose journey inspired the family's dream of winning at the Asian Games and Olympics. Dhillon said the silver has fulfilled his family's dream to an extent.
What does Dhillon's performance mean for India's Olympic shooting prospects?
Dhillon's debut silver, achieved by rallying from third place under elimination pressure, signals his potential as a future Olympic contender. With the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics approaching, the performance places him firmly in the conversation for India's rifle shooting squad.
