Asian Games 2026: Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar Finishes Fifth, Niraj Kumar Eighth in 50m Rifle 3 Positions Final

India’s Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and Niraj Kumar finished fifth and eighth respectively in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions final at the Asian Games 2026, after both shooters struggled to convert their strong qualification performances into individual medals.

Aishwary entered the eight-shooter final after finishing third in qualification with 589-34x, while Niraj qualified fourth with 588-34x. India had also secured the team silver in qualification with a combined score of 1762. However, the final proved a much tougher challenge, with Aishwary finishing fifth and Niraj being eliminated in eighth place.

China's Liu Yukun eventually won the gold medal with a Games Record of 360.5, edging compatriot Zhang Changhong. Kazakhstan's Islam Satpayev took bronze.

The final began with the shooters competing in the kneeling position, and the two Indians immediately found themselves under pressure. Aishwary produced 102.9 in the opening stage, while Niraj managed only 97.1. The difference was particularly significant for Niraj, who found himself at the bottom of the standings after the first position. Aishwary, meanwhile, remained within reach of the medal places but knew he would need a significant improvement as the final progressed.

The competition then moved into the prone position, where both Indians attempted to recover ground. Aishwary added 102.4, taking his cumulative score to 205.3. Niraj shot a better 103.8 in the position, but his overall total reached only 200.9, leaving him in eighth place. With the standing position still to come, both Indians needed substantial improvements to remain in medal contention.

Niraj Eliminated in Eighth

The standing position began with both Indians facing considerable pressure. Aishwary and Niraj opened the 10-shot series with scores of 8.9 and 8.7 respectively, another difficult start at a crucial stage of the final. Aishwary responded over the following shots and climbed to fifth place after five shots, with his total reaching 256.5.

Niraj, however, remained at the bottom of the standings with 250.7. The final five shots of the standing series determined the first two eliminations. Niraj could not close the gap and was eventually eliminated in eighth place with 299.0. South Korea's Seungwoo Joung was also eliminated, finishing seventh with 304.2.

For Niraj, the result brought an end to his individual medal challenge despite his excellent fourth-place finish in qualification.

Aishwary entered the individual elimination stage in fifth place with a score of 306.5. The Indian remained within striking distance of the medal positions as the field was progressively reduced.

Japan's Naoya Okada was the next shooter to exit, finishing sixth with 313.8. Aishwary remained fifth, while the gap between him and fourth-placed Kazakhstan shooter Islam Satpayev stood at 1.5 points. The Indian then produced a 10.4, while Satpayev responded with a 10.5.

That exchange was not enough for Aishwary to move into the medal positions. He ultimately finished fifth with 327.6, bringing India's individual campaign in the event to an end.

The closing stages became an all-Chinese battle between Zhang Changhong and Liu Yukun. After Aishwary's elimination, Satpayev secured the bronze medal, leaving the two Chinese shooters to contest gold. Zhang entered the final shot with a 0.7-point advantage over Liu.

The final shot dramatically changed the outcome. Liu produced a 10.7, while Zhang managed only 9.7. The swing allowed Liu to overtake his compatriot and claim the gold medal. Liu finished with 360.5, setting a new Games Record in the process. Zhang took silver, while Satpayev completed the podium with bronze.

Team Silver Remains India’s Medal

Although the individual final did not produce another medal for India, the country's performance in the men's 50m rifle 3 positions competition had already delivered silver in the team event. Aishwary, Niraj and Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil combined for 1762 in qualification to finish behind China's 1766. Aishwary's 589 placed him third individually and Niraj's 588 put him fourth. Rudrankksh scored 585 and finished ninth. Because only two shooters from each country could advance to the individual final, Rudrankksh had to make way despite scoring higher than Kazakhstan's Islam Satpayev, who qualified in the next position.

The final therefore ended without an individual medal for Aishwary or Niraj, but India leaves the event with a team silver medal. For Aishwary, fifth place came after he remained in medal contention deep into the final. Niraj, meanwhile, could not recover from his difficult start and was eliminated after the standing series.

China ultimately swept the top two positions, with Liu Yukun's final-shot surge earning him the Asian Games title and a new Games Record of 360.5.