Asian Games 2026: Anish Bhanwala 7th in 25m rapid fire pistol as India ends shooting campaign with 15 medals
Synopsis
India closed its Asian Games shooting campaign in Nagoya with 15 medals, but pistol shooters managed just two of them. Anish Bhanwala's seventh-place finish in the 25m rapid fire pistol final — decided by countback after a tied score — was a near-miss that summed up the pistol contingent's struggle. A Sepaktakraw comeback win over Myanmar, however, handed India a guaranteed medal in an unlikely discipline.
Key Takeaways
Anish Bhanwala finished seventh in the men's 25m rapid fire pistol final at Nagoya after being eliminated on countback with a tied score of 11 .
India concluded its Asian Games shooting campaign with 15 medals — 3 gold, 8 silver, 4 bronze .
Indian pistol shooters won only 2 of the 15 medals — a silver in women's 10m air pistol and gold in the mixed team 10m air pistol .
India assured a Sepaktakraw medal after a 2-1 comeback win over Myanmar to top Group A unbeaten.
Shikha Chauhan finished seventh in the women's kayak single canoe slalom final with a time of 193.31 seconds .
Judoka Inunganbi Takhellambam is in contention for a bronze medal after her quarter-final loss and opponent's disqualification advanced her to the medal bout.
Anish Bhanwala finished seventh in the men's 25m rapid fire pistol individual final at the Aichi Pref. General Shooting Gallery in Nagoya on Thursday, bringing the curtain down on India's shooting campaign at the Asian Games with a tally of 15 medals — comprising three gold, eight silver, and four bronze.
How Anish's Final Unfolded
Bhanwala had qualified for the final despite finishing ninth in the qualification round with a score of 576-17x. He only advanced because three South Korean shooters had made the top eight, but the rule permitting only two shooters per National Olympic Committee (NOC) in the final opened the door for him to claim the eighth and last qualifying spot.
In the final, Anish was tied with other competitors on a score of 11, but was eliminated via countback — his lower qualification ranking placing him seventh among the eight finalists.
Pistol Shooters Disappoint in Aichi-Nagoya
India's pistol contingent had a largely underwhelming outing at the Aichi-Nagoya venue, collecting only two medals from a total campaign haul of 15. Those medals came in the women's 10m air pistol event, where India claimed silver, and the mixed team 10m air pistol, where India won gold. The relative underperformance of the pistol discipline stood in contrast to the rifle and shotgun shooters, who carried the bulk of India's medal charge.
India Assure Sepaktakraw Medal After Comeback Win
On a brighter note, India advanced to the men's quadrant semi-finals in Sepaktakraw, assuring themselves of at least a bronze medal after completing an unbeaten group-stage campaign. In a thrilling Group A encounter, India staged a 2-1 comeback against Myanmar — losing the first set 15-10 before winning the next two sets 15-13 and 15-7 to top the group. India had earlier beaten Lao PDR and Vietnam in group play.
Other Indian Results at the Asian Games
In canoe slalom, Shikha Chauhan clocked 193.31 seconds to finish seventh among eight finalists in the women's kayak single event. Meanwhile, judoka Inunganbi Takhellambam lost by ippon to North Korea's Mun Song-hui in the women's 70 kg quarter-finals. Takhellambam was moved directly into the bronze-medal bout after her scheduled repechage opponent, China's Jing Tang, was disqualified.
India's Final Shooting Tally at Asian Games
India's 15-medal shooting haul — 3 gold, 8 silver, 4 bronze — reflects a campaign that delivered in volume if not entirely in top-of-the-podium finishes. With the shooting programme now concluded, India's attention at the Games shifts to remaining disciplines where medals are still on the line.
Point of View
But the pistol discipline's near-failure — just two medals, neither a gold, from arguably the most competitive events — is a structural concern heading into future cycles. Anish Bhanwala's seventh-place exit on countback is particularly telling: he qualified eighth and exited seventh, meaning he was never genuinely in contention for a podium. The rifle and shotgun shooters clearly carried this campaign. Whether the pistol programme's funding, training pipeline, and competition exposure can close that gap before the next Asian Games is the real question the federation must answer.
NationPress
1 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did India perform in shooting at the Asian Games 2026?
India concluded its shooting campaign at the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya with 15 medals — 3 gold, 8 silver, and 4 bronze. It was a volume-strong but podium-light haul, with pistol shooters contributing only 2 of the 15 medals.
Why did Anish Bhanwala finish seventh in the 25m rapid fire pistol final?
Anish Bhanwala was tied with other shooters on a score of 11 in the final but was eliminated via countback because his qualification ranking was lower. He had entered the final as the eighth and last qualifier, having scored 576-17x in the qualification round.
How did Anish Bhanwala qualify for the 25m rapid fire pistol final?
Bhanwala qualified ninth in the qualification round but advanced to the final because three South Korean shooters had finished in the top eight, and only two shooters per NOC are allowed to compete in the final. That rule opened up the eighth and final qualifying spot for him.
Which medals did Indian pistol shooters win at Asian Games 2026?
Indian pistol shooters won two medals — a silver in the women's 10m air pistol event and a gold in the mixed team 10m air pistol event. They did not win any medal in the men's pistol events.
Did India win any other medals or assure any at the Asian Games 2026?
Yes, India assured themselves of at least a bronze medal in Sepaktakraw after advancing to the men's quadrant semi-finals with an unbeaten group-stage record. Judoka Inunganbi Takhellambam also entered the bronze-medal bout in the women's 70 kg category after her quarter-final loss and her repechage opponent's disqualification.
