Did India Achieve Its Best-Ever Performance at the Asian Shooting Championship?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- India's historic achievement of 50 gold medals in shooting.
- Strong performances from both senior and junior shooters.
- Recognition of individual athletes’ contributions to the success.
- Potential for future success in upcoming competitions.
- Support from the National Rifle Association is crucial for development.
New Delhi, Aug 30 (NationPress) The 16th Asian Shooting Championship (All events) concluded in Shymkent, Kazakhstan. After 12 thrilling days of competition, the Indian team marked a historic achievement, securing an impressive total of 50 gold medals to lead the overall standings—an unprecedented feat in the history of this prestigious continental event.
Notably, the senior team excelled in the 15 Olympic events across rifle, pistol, and shotgun disciplines, clinching six golds, two silvers, and three bronzes. They finished just behind the dominant Chinese team, which won eight golds, while the host nation, Kazakhstan, rounded out the podium.
“This performance is truly remarkable, showcasing the sky-high confidence within the shooting community, significantly enhanced by our success at the Paris Olympics. The juniors’ performances are particularly encouraging, indicating that Indian shooting is just getting started and even greater achievements are on the horizon,” stated Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, President of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI).
India concluded the championship with a total medal count just shy of 100, accumulating 26 silver and 23 bronze medals alongside the 50 gold medals. The host nation secured second place with 70 total medals and 21 golds, while China finished third with 15 golds and 37 medals overall.
A standout moment for the seniors was two-time Olympian Elavenil Valarivan capturing her second Asian title (achieving a double gold alongside Arjun Babuta in the mixed team event) in women’s air rifle with a record-setting Asian score. Other notable achievements included Neeru Dhanda’s first gold for India in women’s trap, Sift Kaur Samra’s debut title in women’s 50m rifle 3-position (3P), and Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar successfully defending his men’s 3P title.
Indian junior shooters also exhibited the nation’s wealth of talent by dominating all the Olympic events, earning 10 golds, four silvers, and three bronzes each.
Additional gold medals were secured in youth competitions, team events, and non-Olympic categories. For instance, former world champion Ankur Mittal achieved gold in men’s Double Trap with a world record score of 107, while Rio Olympian Gurpreet Singh claimed gold in the men's 25m Standard Pistol event.