Asian Games: India win silver in Men's 50m Rifle 3P team; Aishwary, Niraj in individual final
Synopsis
India's rifle shooters silenced the critics at Nagoya — a silver in the Men's 50m Rifle 3P team final and two individual final berths for Aishwary and Niraj came on the same day Suruchi Phogat and Kamaljeet shattered the Asian record to win pistol gold. After early pistol disappointments, Indian shooting's double-medal Friday is the comeback story of the Games.
Key Takeaways
India claimed silver in the Men's 50m Rifle 3 Positions team final at the Asian Games in Nagoya on 25 September .
The Indian trio of Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar , Niraj Kumar , and Rudrankksh Patil scored 1762-94x ; China won gold with 1766-95x .
Aishwary (589-34x, 3rd) and Niraj (588-34x, 4th) both qualified for the individual final.
Suruchi Phogat and Kamaljeet won gold in the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team event with an Asian record score of 484.6 .
The double-medal day came after India's shooting contingent had missed the podium in the 10m Air Pistol individual events earlier at the Games.
India's shooting trio of Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Niraj Kumar, and Rudrankksh Patil clinched the silver medal in the Men's 50m Rifle 3 Positions team final at the Asian Games on 25 September, delivering a composed performance at the Aichi Pref. General Shooting Gallery in Nagoya. Their combined score of 1762-94x placed India second on the podium, behind a dominant Chinese side that took gold.
How the Final Unfolded
China topped the standings with a score of 1766-95x, while South Korea claimed bronze with 1751-87x. The Indian trio posted 587 points across the two kneeling series, before stepping up their performance in the prone series to bag 593 points. That left them with a combined tally of 1180 after the first two positions. A strong standing series effort of 582 sealed their final score of 1762-94x.
Aishwary and Niraj Book Individual Final Spots
Beyond the team medal, there was additional cause for celebration as both Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and Niraj Kumar qualified for the individual final event scheduled later the same day. Aishwary finished third in the individual qualification standings with a score of 589-34x, while Niraj was fourth with 588-34x. Patil was ninth in the qualification list with a score of 585-26x.
Suruchi and Kamaljeet Set Asian Record in Mixed Team Pistol
The rifle silver arrived on a particularly fruitful day for Indian shooting at Nagoya. Suruchi Phogat and Kamaljeet won the gold medal in the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team event, combining for a score of 484.6 in the final — a new Asian record. The Indian pair held their composure through a high-pressure contest to finish ahead of the Republic of Korea, demonstrating precision and consistency throughout.
Redemption After Early Disappointments
India's shooting contingent had come under scrutiny earlier at the Games after failing to medal in the 10m Air Pistol men's and women's individual events. The twin successes on Friday — a rifle silver and a pistol gold with an Asian record — mark a significant turnaround in form and offer fresh momentum as more events remain. Notably, this is part of a broader trend of India's shooting programme delivering at the business end of multi-sport competitions after slow starts.
What's Next
All eyes will turn to the individual 50m Rifle 3 Positions final, where Aishwary and Niraj will represent India's best hope for another podium finish. A strong performance from either or both could further bolster India's shooting medal tally at the Nagoya Asian Games.
Point of View
And Friday's double-medal performance — a rifle silver and a pistol gold with an Asian record — delivers that emphatically. Yet the wider picture deserves scrutiny: India's shooting medals at multi-sport events often come in team or mixed-team formats, while individual gold remains elusive against China and Korea. Aishwary and Niraj's presence in the individual rifle final is precisely the test that will tell us whether this is a genuine depth surge or a team-format outlier. The Asian record in the pistol mixed event is the genuinely headline-worthy marker — it signals that at least one Indian pair has crossed into gold-standard territory on the continental scale.
NationPress
25 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What medal did India win in the Men's 50m Rifle 3 Positions team event at the Asian Games?
India won the silver medal in the Men's 50m Rifle 3 Positions team final at the Asian Games in Nagoya on 25 September. The team of Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Niraj Kumar, and Rudrankksh Patil scored 1762-94x, finishing behind gold medallists China (1766-95x).
Who qualified for the individual 50m Rifle 3P final from India?
Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and Niraj Kumar both qualified for the individual final. Aishwary finished third in qualification with 589-34x and Niraj was fourth with 588-34x; Rudrankksh Patil was ninth with 585-26x and did not qualify.
What was special about India's gold in the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team event?
Suruchi Phogat and Kamaljeet won gold with a score of 484.6 in the final, which set a new Asian record. The performance kept the Republic of Korea off the top step and marked one of India's standout results of the Games.
Why had India's shooting team been under scrutiny before Friday's results?
The Indian contingent had failed to win medals in the 10m Air Pistol men's and women's individual events earlier at the Nagoya Asian Games, drawing criticism over its medal conversion rate. Friday's rifle silver and pistol gold eased that pressure significantly.
When is the individual Men's 50m Rifle 3 Positions final at the Asian Games?
The individual Men's 50m Rifle 3 Positions final was scheduled for later on 25 September at the Aichi Pref. General Shooting Gallery in Nagoya, with Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and Niraj Kumar representing India.
