NRAI Unveils Strong 30-Member Shooting Team for Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games

The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) has announced a 30-member shooting contingent for the 20th Asian Games, set to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with several of the country’s biggest stars expected to spearhead the medal challenge.

The squad, comprising 15 men and 15 women, was finalised after extensive deliberations by the selection committee, taking into account current form, international performances, versatility across multiple events and overall medal prospects.

Shooting competitions at the Asian Games will take place from September 17 to October 3, ahead of the official Games schedule, at the Aichi Prefectural General Shooting Range.

With India emerging as one of the strongest shooting nations in the world over recent years, expectations will once again be high for a substantial medal haul.

Although every selected athlete met the qualification standards prescribed by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS), the final squad size was restricted by the Games' dynamic quota system. The Asian Games allow only 30 athletes despite offering participation opportunities across 36 event slots, forcing selectors to make strategic choices.

To maximise India's medal opportunities, the NRAI opted to field several athletes in multiple disciplines. Among those selected as double starters are Manu Bhaker, Esha Singh, Vidarsa K. Vinod and Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil, whose versatility allows India to remain competitive across a wider range of events without exceeding the athlete quota.

According to NRAI President Kalikesh Singh Deo, selecting the final team was particularly challenging given the exceptional depth currently present in Indian shooting.

One of the strongest areas of the Indian squad remains women's pistol shooting. Double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker has been selected for both the 10m air pistol and 25m sports pistol events, underlining her importance to the national team. Joining her in the 10m event are Suruchi and Esha Singh, while the 25m sports pistol lineup features Esha, Manu and former Asian Games champion Rahi Sarnobat.

The selection reflects India's impressive depth in women's pistol disciplines, with several athletes capable of challenging for medals on the continental stage. Recent performances have only strengthened those expectations. At the ISSF World Cup in Munich, Esha Singh produced a world-record performance to win gold in the women's 25m pistol event, while she and Suruchi also secured a memorable gold-silver finish in the women's 10m air pistol competition.

India's rifle contingent combines established international performers with emerging talent. In the men's 10m air rifle event, Parth Rakesh Mane, Himanshu Dhillon and Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil have been selected. The women's 10m air rifle team features Elavenil Valarivan, Sonam Uttam Maskar and Vidarsa K. Vinod.

For the demanding 50m rifle 3 positions discipline, Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Niraj Kumar and Rudrankksh will represent India in the men's category, while Ashi Chouksey, Vidarsa and Tilottama Sen have earned selection in the women's event. The inclusion of Rudrankksh and Vidarsa in multiple events highlights the confidence selectors have in their consistency and adaptability.

In the men's 10m air pistol competition, India will be represented by Kedarling B. Uchaganve, Gaurav and Kamaljeet. Meanwhile, Anish has secured the lone berth in the men's 25m rapid fire pistol event. India will also field mixed teams in both rifle and pistol competitions, with Parth Rakesh Mane and Elavenil Valarivan set to compete in the 10m air rifle mixed team event, while Kedarling Uchaganve and Suruchi will contest the 10m air pistol mixed team competition.

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The shotgun contingent features several seasoned international competitors. In men's trap, Kynan Chenai, Ahvar Rizvi and Shapath Bharadwaj have been selected.

The women's trap team includes Neeru, Manisha Keer and Aashima Ahlawat. India's skeet squads will be led by experienced names such as Anantjeet Singh Naruka, Bhavtegh Singh Gill and veteran Olympian Mairaj Ahmad Khan in the men's event. The women's skeet lineup comprises Parinaaz Dhaliwal, Raiza Dhillon and Maheshwari Chauhan, all of whom have represented India at major international competitions.

The composition of the final squad reflects the remarkable progress Indian shooting has made over the past decade. The selection committee emphasised balancing current form with long-term medal potential, while ensuring India fields its strongest combinations across team and individual events. Recent results on the ISSF World Cup circuit have reinforced India's credentials as one of the world's premier shooting nations, with athletes consistently reaching podiums across rifle, pistol and shotgun disciplines.

That momentum will now carry into the Asian Games.

With established stars like Manu Bhaker, Esha Singh, Rahi Sarnobat and Elavenil Valarivan joined by rising talents such as Suruchi, Vidarsa and Kedarling Uchaganve, India enters Aichi-Nagoya with one of its strongest-ever shooting squads. The strategic use of multi-event athletes, combined with the country's growing depth across disciplines, gives India an opportunity to challenge for medals in nearly every category.

As the countdown to the 2026 Asian Games continues, the announced 30-member contingent represents not just the nation’s best shooters but also the depth and consistency that have transformed India into a global shooting powerhouse.