The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) on Thursday, 20 August extended its congratulations to four members of the Indian shooting fraternity — Akhil Sheoran, Dhanush Srikanth, and Rudransh Khandelwal, who have been conferred the Arjuna Award, and coach Neha Nandkumar Chavan, who has been honoured with the Dronacharya Award — as part of the National Sports Awards 2025. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports had announced the awards on 18 August, recognising outstanding performances and contributions across Indian sport.

The Arjuna Awardees: Three Disciplines, One Fraternity

Akhil Sheoran, a leading figure in Indian rifle shooting, has been a consistent performer in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions event. He is currently part of the NRAI's 2026 National Squad and topped Selection Trial 3 in the same discipline earlier this year, underlining his continued relevance at the national level.

Dhanush Srikanth, the world No. 1 in the deaf shooting category, scripted history at the 25th Summer Deaflympics in Tokyo by winning India's first-ever shooting gold at the Games. Competing in the 10m Air Rifle event, he rewrote the deaf category world record with a score of 252.2 in the final, surpassing his own previous mark of 251.7. He had also set a new Deaflympics qualification record en route to the final. Teammate Mohammed Murtaza Vania added a silver with a score of 250.1.

Rudransh Khandelwal, one of India's most promising para shooters, competes in pistol events under the SH1 classification. He has represented India at the Asian Para Games, World Shooting Para Sport World Cups, World Championships, and the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. His international record includes multiple gold-medal performances at World Shooting Para Sport events, making his Arjuna Award a landmark recognition for Indian para shooting.

Dronacharya for Neha Nandkumar Chavan

Coach Neha Nandkumar Chavan's Dronacharya Award acknowledges her sustained contribution to shooting as a coach and her role in enabling athletes to perform at the highest levels of competition. Her recognition underscores the critical importance of coaching infrastructure in India's sporting ecosystem — a dimension that often receives less attention than athlete performances.

What the NRAI Said

Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, President, NRAI, said: 'It is a matter of immense pride for the entire shooting fraternity to see Akhil Sheoran, Dhanush Srikanth, Rudransh Khandelwal and Neha Nandkumar Chavan receive this recognition. Their journeys represent the determination, discipline and perseverance that are at the heart of sporting excellence. These honours are not only a celebration of their individual achievements but also of the coaches, families and support systems that have stood behind them. I congratulate all four awardees and hope their success inspires many more athletes and coaches across the country.'

Pawankumar Singh, Secretary General, NRAI, added: 'The National Sports Awards are among the highest recognitions in Indian sport, and it is extremely encouraging to see four members of the shooting fraternity being honoured this year. Akhil, Dhanush and Rudransh have demonstrated excellence in their respective disciplines, while Neha's recognition highlights the crucial role coaches play in developing athletes and building a strong sporting ecosystem. These honours are a proud moment for the NRAI and the entire shooting community, and we congratulate all four awardees on this well-deserved achievement.'

What This Means for Indian Shooting

The sweep of four National Sports Awards in a single year — spanning mainstream, deaf, para, and coaching categories — reflects the breadth of India's shooting talent pipeline. Notably, Dhanush's Deaflympics gold and Rudransh's Paralympic-level performances represent disciplines that have historically received limited mainstream visibility. Their Arjuna Awards signal a broader institutional acknowledgement of India's multi-category shooting strength as the country looks ahead to upcoming international cycles.