Maheshwari Chauhan targets Asian Games 2026 gold, armed with Paris Olympic lessons
Synopsis
One point from an Olympic bronze, Maheshwari Chauhan is now channelling that Paris near-miss into her debut Asian Games campaign. Training at New Delhi's Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range alongside 11 other SAI-backed shooters, the Rajasthan athlete says her mantra is simple: same process, every competition. Aichi-Nagoya 2026 is her next test.
Key Takeaways
Maheshwari Chauhan is training for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range , New Delhi.
The SAI -sanctioned camp runs until 18 August and includes 12 shooters — six skeet, six trap.
Maheshwari and Anantjeet Singh Naruka finished fourth at Paris Olympics 2024 mixed team skeet, just one point from bronze.
They were the first Indian duo to reach the final of an Olympic skeet event.
Maheshwari, a Khelo India Athlete from Rajasthan , says her process and approach remain consistent regardless of the competition's scale.
Indian shotgun shooter Maheshwari Chauhan is channelling her near-miss at the Paris Olympics 2024 into focused preparation for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, currently training at a dedicated preparatory camp at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range in New Delhi. The 30-year-old Rajasthan shooter, also a Khelo India Athlete (KIA), says her mental framework heading into the Asian Games remains unchanged — process over pressure.
The Camp and Who Is in It
A total of 12 shooters — six from the skeet team and six from the trap team — are participating in the Sports Authority of India (SAI)-sanctioned camp, which runs until 18 August. SAI has extended financial support to the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) for the camp, covering boarding and lodging, travel, range facilities, ammunition, coaching, and support staff.
The skeet squad includes Anantjeet Singh Naruka, Parinaaz Dhaliwal, Bhavtegh Singh Gill, Mairaj Ahmad Khan, Raiza Dhillon, and Maheshwari Chauhan. The trap squad comprises Kynan Chenai, Neeru Dhanda, Ahvar Rizvi, Manisha Keer, Shapath Bharadwaj, and Aashima Ahlawat.
One Point Away: The Paris Moment That Defined Her
At the Paris Olympics 2024, Maheshwari and Anantjeet Singh Naruka finished fourth in the mixed team skeet event — just one point short of a bronze medal. The result was bittersweet, but historic: the pair became the first Indian duo to reach the final of an Olympic skeet competition.
That near-miss, rather than deflating her, appears to have sharpened her hunger. 'It isn't something that you can forget. And it just stays with you. And then you're always a little more motivated and hungrier to push yourself more,' she said on the sidelines of the camp.
What Maheshwari Said About Her Approach
Speaking ahead of what will be her debut Asian Games, Maheshwari was candid about keeping expectations grounded. 'My actual expectation (from my debut Asian Games) is to really just be very present and enjoy myself. I think I'm going to just have the same approach to any competition. The titles keep changing, and the process and the approach stay the same,' she said.
On her Olympic experience, she added: 'A debut Olympic Games can be a little strange, but I did really enjoy myself, and it's given me a great base to build on, and I think that's all I want to do going ahead: learn from that experience.'
What to Watch at Aichi-Nagoya
India's shotgun contingent arrives at the 2026 Asian Games with a blend of experienced campaigners and younger talent. Maheshwari's composure under pressure — demonstrated in Paris — makes her a key medal prospect in both individual and mixed-team events. The camp's structured support from SAI and NRAI signals that Indian shooting's administrative machinery is treating the Asian Games as a serious medal opportunity, not a developmental outing.
Point of View
Or whether India's shotgun programme once again peaks just outside the medals.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Maheshwari Chauhan?
Maheshwari Chauhan is a 30-year-old Indian shotgun shooter from Rajasthan and a Khelo India Athlete. She is best known for reaching the mixed team skeet final at the Paris Olympics 2024 alongside Anantjeet Singh Naruka, becoming the first Indian duo to achieve that milestone.
How did Maheshwari Chauhan perform at the Paris Olympics 2024?
Maheshwari Chauhan and Anantjeet Singh Naruka finished fourth in the mixed team skeet event at the Paris Olympics 2024, missing the bronze medal by just one point. It was a historic performance as they were the first Indian pair to reach an Olympic skeet final.
Where is India's Asian Games 2026 shooting preparatory camp being held?
The camp is being held at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range in New Delhi and is sanctioned by the Sports Authority of India (SAI). It runs until 18 August and includes 12 shooters from the skeet and trap disciplines.
Which Indian shooters are part of the Asian Games 2026 shotgun camp?
The skeet team includes Anantjeet Singh Naruka, Parinaaz Dhaliwal, Bhavtegh Singh Gill, Mairaj Ahmad Khan, Raiza Dhillon, and Maheshwari Chauhan. The trap team comprises Kynan Chenai, Neeru Dhanda, Ahvar Rizvi, Manisha Keer, Shapath Bharadwaj, and Aashima Ahlawat.
When and where are the 2026 Asian Games being held?
The 2026 Asian Games are scheduled to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. India's shotgun team is currently in a preparatory camp in New Delhi ahead of the event.
