Asian Games: Himanshu wins silver, Rudrankksh takes bronze in Men's 10m Air Rifle
Synopsis
India pulled off a stunning double podium in Men's 10m Air Rifle at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, with Himanshu Dhillon (252.4) winning silver and Rudrankksh Patil (230.9) taking bronze. China's Sheng Lihao, the reigning Olympic champion, claimed gold with a Games Record 254.2 — but India's depth in shooting stole the headline.
Key Takeaways
Himanshu Dhillon won silver with 252.4 points in the Men's 10m Air Rifle final at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on 21 September 2026 .
Rudrankksh Patil claimed bronze with 230.9 points , completing an all-India double podium.
China's Sheng Lihao won gold with a Games Record score of 254.2 , defending his Olympic title.
Rudrankksh led after the opening 10 shots with 106.0 points before Sheng eventually moved clear.
India's double podium was confirmed when Mongolia's Bayaraa Nyantai was eliminated with four shooters remaining.
India claimed a stunning double podium in the Men's 10m Air Rifle event at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Monday, 21 September 2026, with Himanshu Dhillon securing silver and Rudrankksh Patil taking bronze following a gripping eight-man final. China's reigning Olympic champion Sheng Lihao won gold with a Games Record score of 254.2, successfully defending his title.
How the Final Unfolded
Rudrankksh Patil made a dominant start, leading the field after the opening 10 shots with 106.0 points. Sheng Lihao was second on 104.9 and Himanshu Dhillon third on 104.8, with the Indian pair holding the top two positions as elimination rounds got underway.
The lead changed hands multiple times as Sheng gradually closed the gap on the Indians. After the second elimination, Rudrankksh was still in front with Himanshu in third, but the Chinese shooter eventually moved into first place and never relinquished it.
India's Double Podium Assured
With four shooters remaining, India's place on a double podium was mathematically confirmed when Mongolia's Bayaraa Nyantai was eliminated. At that stage, Sheng led with 211.6 points, Rudrankksh sat second on 210.6, and Himanshu third on 210.0.
The contest for silver and bronze then became an all-Indian duel. A 10.8 from Himanshu and a 9.7 from Rudrankksh on a crucial shot shifted the order, pushing Rudrankksh to third. Rudrankksh responded with a strong 10.6 on the elimination shot, but Himanshu held firm with a 10.4.
Final Scores and Result
Sheng Lihao sealed gold with a final shot of 10.6, ending on his Games Record total of 254.2. Himanshu Dhillon, who had cut Sheng's advantage to just 1.8 points with his penultimate shot, finished second with 252.4 points. Rudrankksh Patil ended on 230.9 to claim bronze.
India's Shooting Campaign at Aichi-Nagoya
The result adds another significant achievement to India's shooting campaign at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Notably, the men's 10m air rifle event has historically been one of India's stronger disciplines at continental and global competitions, and this double podium underlines the country's depth in the event. The performance also builds momentum ahead of future qualification cycles.
India will look to carry this momentum into remaining shooting events at the Games as the campaign continues.
Point of View
Suggesting India was not simply riding Sheng Lihao's coattails but was a legitimate challenger for gold. The fact that the silver-bronze battle was an all-Indian contest at a continental Games is a marker of programme maturity, not luck. The harder question is whether this translates into Olympic cycle progression: both shooters now need to carry this form into qualification windows where margins are even tighter.
NationPress
21 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Men's 10m Air Rifle gold at the 2026 Asian Games?
China's Sheng Lihao won gold with a Games Record score of 254.2, successfully defending his title at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on 21 September 2026.
What were Himanshu Dhillon's and Rudrankksh Patil's final scores?
Himanshu Dhillon finished with 252.4 points to claim silver, while Rudrankksh Patil ended on 230.9 points to take bronze in the Men's 10m Air Rifle final.
How did India secure a double podium in the event?
India's double podium was assured when Mongolia's Bayaraa Nyantai was eliminated with four shooters remaining, leaving Sheng Lihao, Rudrankksh Patil, and Himanshu Dhillon as the last three competitors. The silver-bronze battle then became an all-Indian contest.
Who led after the opening shots in the Men's 10m Air Rifle final?
Rudrankksh Patil led after the first 10 shots with 106.0 points, ahead of Sheng Lihao on 104.9 and Himanshu Dhillon on 104.8.
What does this result mean for India's shooting campaign at the Asian Games?
The double podium adds two medals to India's shooting tally at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games and underlines the country's depth in the 10m air rifle discipline, one of India's traditionally strong shooting events at continental competitions.
