North India Statesman
The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) has officially unveiled a high-caliber 30-member shooting squad set to represent the country at the upcoming Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Following an extensive series of rigorous national selection trials and recent international performance evaluations, the governing body assembled a well-balanced blend of seasoned Olympic campaigners and dynamic teenage prodigies. India enters the continental multi-sport spectacle eyeing an encore of its record-shattering shooting campaign from the Hangzhou edition, where marksmen and markswomen contributed heavily to India’s historic three-figure overall medal tally.
Manu Bhaker and Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar at the Forefront
Leading the pistol contingent is double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker, who will compete across both individual and team events in the women’s 10m air pistol and 25m sports pistol disciplines. Hailing from Haryana, Bhaker’s inclusion brings immense championship pedigree and composure under pressure to the squad. On the rifle side, world championship medallist and Hangzhou triple-medallist Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar leads the charge in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions and 10m air rifle events. Joining them are several world-ranked regulars, including Sift Kaur Samra, Esha Singh, Sarabjot Singh, and Arjun Babuta, reinforcing India’s formidable standing in precision target disciplines.
Shotgun Unit Bolstered by Proven Match Winners
India’s shotgun contingent has also been finalized with top-tier contenders across the trap and skeet categories. In skeet, veteran international Anantjeet Singh Naruka and emerging star Raiza Dhillon anchor the lineup, bringing proven technical mastery in both individual contests and the mixed team event. Meanwhile, the trap unit features seasoned competitors such as Bhowneesh Mendiratta and Rajeshwari Kumari, both having cleared demanding qualification score thresholds during pre-tournament selection camps. The selection committee underscored that current international ranking consistency and final-round conversion rates were decisive factors in naming the final traveling roster.
Strategic Preparations and High Hopes in Aichi-Nagoya
With Asian shooting powerhouses China, South Korea, and hosts Japan fielding fully loaded squads, the competition across the shooting ranges in Japan is expected to match Olympic-level intensity. To ensure peak acclimatization, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) alongside NRAI has mapped out dedicated high-performance training camps in New Delhi and Bhopal before the contingent departs for Japan. Target sport experts and coaching staff emphasize that with multiple reigning world-record holders and Olympic finalists in the ranks, India’s 30-member shooting squad stands as one of the country’s primary engines for podium finishes and gold medal aspirations.
