Asian Games 2026: Shapath Bharadwaj reaches men's trap final after shoot-off
Synopsis
Shapath Bharadwaj pulled off a nervy shoot-off to reach the men's trap individual final at the Asian Games in Nagoya, keeping India's medal hopes alive in shooting. With the women's team already bagging silver and Neeru Dhanda also in the individual final, India's shooting contingent is delivering — though the overall gold count at just one from 13 shooting medals tells a more complicated story.
Key Takeaways
Shapath Bharadwaj qualified for the men's trap individual final at Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya with 117 points after a three-way shoot-off.
Kynan Chenai (16th, 115 pts ) and Ahvar Rizvi (32nd, 107 pts ) missed the individual final; the men's team finished sixth with 339 combined points .
The Indian women's trap team of Neeru Dhanda , Aashima Ahlawat , and Manisha Keer won silver with a combined score of 328 ; China took gold ( 346 ), Kuwait bronze ( 325 ).
Neeru Dhanda also qualified for the women's individual final after finishing joint-top with 118 points .
India's shooting tally stands at 13 medals , with just one gold — from the mixed 10m air pistol event ( Kamaljeet and Suruchi Singh ).
India's overall Asian Games 2026 tally: 46 medals — 4 gold , 21 silver , 21 bronze .
Trap shooter Shapath Bharadwaj has qualified for the men's trap individual final at the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya, surviving a tense three-way shoot-off after finishing joint-seventh in qualification with 117 points. His teammates Kynan Chenai and Ahvar Rizvi, however, failed to advance, ending India's hopes in the team event.
How Shapath Made It Through
Shapath finished joint-seventh in the qualification round with 117 points, which was enough to enter a three-man shoot-off for the final two available spots in the medal round. He faced Qatar's Mohammed Al-Rumaihi and Kazakhstan's Alisher Aisalbayev in the sudden-death round, ultimately edging out Al-Rumaihi to secure his place in the individual final.
The qualification picture was less kind to his teammates. Kynan Chenai — the bronze medallist at Hangzhou 2023 — finished 16th with 115 points, while Ahvar Rizvi was placed 32nd with 107 points, with both missing the final cut.
Team Event: India Finishes Sixth
The Indian men's trap team of Shapath, Kynan, and Ahvar could not replicate the women's unit's success, finishing sixth with a combined total of 339 points and missing out on a podium finish entirely.
Women's Trap Team Wins Silver
Earlier on Tuesday, the Indian women's trap team of Neeru Dhanda, Aashima Ahlawat, and Manisha Keer claimed the silver medal in the women's trap team event, pushing India's overall shooting tally to 13 medals. The trio shot a combined score of 328 over three days of the 125-shot qualification round, holding off Kuwait for second place. China took gold with an aggregate of 346, while Kuwait secured bronze with 325.
Notably, Neeru Dhanda also qualified for the women's individual final after finishing joint-top in qualification with 118 points. Aashima and Manisha missed the individual final, scoring 106 and 104 to finish 16th and 23rd, respectively.
India's Overall Medal Tally at Asian Games 2026
Of India's 13 shooting medals at this edition, only one is gold — earned by Kamaljeet and Suruchi Singh in the mixed 10m air pistol event. Overall, India has accumulated 46 medals at the ongoing Games — four gold, 21 silver, and 21 bronze. With Shapath and Neeru still alive in their respective individual finals, further additions to the tally remain possible.
Point of View
But the broader picture in Indian shooting is mixed. Thirteen medals from shooting sound impressive — until you notice that only one is gold, a ratio that reflects a persistent pattern of podium presence without peak-finish consistency. Kynan Chenai, a Hangzhou bronze medallist, finishing 16th is a setback worth examining; for a shooter of that pedigree, qualification exits are not the standard. The women's trap team silver, meanwhile, is a genuine bright spot, and with both Shapath and Neeru Dhanda in their respective individual finals, the tally is not yet final — but the gold conversion rate remains the real test India's shooting programme must answer.
NationPress
29 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Shapath Bharadwaj qualify for the men's trap individual final at Asian Games 2026?
Shapath Bharadwaj qualified for the men's trap individual final at Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya after finishing joint-seventh in qualification with 117 points. He then survived a three-way shoot-off against Qatar's Mohammed Al-Rumaihi and Kazakhstan's Alisher Aisalbayev, edging out Al-Rumaihi for one of the two remaining final spots.
Why did Kynan Chenai miss the men's trap individual final?
Kynan Chenai, the bronze medallist at Hangzhou 2023, missed the men's trap individual final after finishing 16th in qualification with 115 points — two points short of Shapath's qualifying score. Ahvar Rizvi also missed out, finishing 32nd with 107 points.
What medal did India's women's trap team win at Asian Games 2026?
The Indian women's trap team of Neeru Dhanda, Aashima Ahlawat, and Manisha Keer won the silver medal in the women's trap team event at Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya, shooting a combined score of 328. China took gold with 346 and Kuwait won bronze with 325.
What is India's overall medal tally at Asian Games 2026?
As of 29 September 2026, India has won 46 medals at Asian Games 2026 — four gold, 21 silver, and 21 bronze. In shooting alone, India has 13 medals, with only one gold coming from the mixed 10m air pistol event won by Kamaljeet and Suruchi Singh.
Who else from India has qualified for individual shooting finals at Asian Games 2026?
Neeru Dhanda has qualified for the women's trap individual final after finishing joint-top in qualification with 118 points. Shapath Bharadwaj is in the men's trap individual final. Both represent live medal opportunities for India in shooting.
