India’s Trigger Triumph: Shooters Hit 50-Medal Milestone at Asian Championship

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India’s shooting contingent has delivered a commanding performance at the 16th Asian Shooting Championship in Shymkent, Kazakhstan, crossing the 50-medal mark with a blend of youthful brilliance and seasoned grit. From trap shooting to rapid-fire pistol events, Indian athletes have dominated the podium, showcasing depth across junior and senior categories. Among the standout contributors was Olympian Manu Bhaker, who added a team bronze to India’s growing tally.

1. Golden Sweep in Junior Women’s 25m Pistol

India’s junior shooters stole the spotlight with a clean sweep in the 25m pistol individual event:

- Payal Khatri clinched gold with 36 hits, showing remarkable consistency in the final rounds
- Naamya Kapoor followed with silver, scoring 30 hits
- Tejaswini, fresh off a junior ISSF World Cup win, secured bronze with 27 hits

The trio also contributed to a team silver alongside Riya Shirish Thatte. Their combined score of 1700 placed them behind Korea, reinforcing India’s rising dominance in junior pistol shooting.

2. Neeru Dhanda’s Double Delight in Women’s Trap

Neeru Dhanda emerged as a star in the senior category with a stellar performance in the women’s trap event:

- She shot 43 targets in the final, including a flawless last series of 10 hits
- Aashima Ahlawat added a bronze with 29 hits, while Preeti Rajak narrowly missed qualification with 105
- The trio of Neeru, Aashima, and Preeti secured team gold with a combined score of 319, finishing 18 points ahead of China

Neeru’s precision and composure under pressure were instrumental in India’s medal surge, especially in a final that featured top contenders from Qatar, Japan, and Chinese Taipei.

3. Bhowneesh Mendiratta’s Silver in Men’s Trap

In the men’s trap event, Bhowneesh Mendiratta added a valuable silver to India’s tally:

- He qualified with a score of 118, including consistent rounds of 25, 24, 23, 22, and 24
- In the final, he kept pace with China’s Qi Ying, the Paris Olympic silver medallist, finishing with 45 hits—just two short of the gold

Bhowneesh’s performance underscored India’s growing strength in shotgun disciplines, traditionally dominated by Middle Eastern and East Asian nations.

4. Manu Bhaker’s Team Bronze and Narrow Miss

Manu Bhaker, one of India’s most decorated shooters, had a mixed outing:

- She finished fourth in the women’s 25m pistol final, narrowly missing individual bronze after a one-hit eighth series
- Earlier in the week, she had secured bronze in the 10m air pistol individual event with a score of 219.7
- Manu teamed up with Esha Singh and Simranpreet Kaur Brar to win the team bronze in the 25m pistol, posting a combined score of 1749 behind China and Korea

Despite missing the individual podium in her final event, Manu’s contributions across disciplines were pivotal in India’s overall medal haul.

5. Overall Medal Tally and Strategic Impact

India’s medal count at the Asian Shooting Championship now stands at 50, with a balanced mix of gold, silver, and bronze across junior and senior categories:

- The senior squad has bagged at least 17 medals, including seven gold
- A total of 129 Indian shooters participated in junior events, reflecting the country’s deep bench strength

This performance not only boosts India’s confidence ahead of global competitions but also signals the success of grassroots development programs and strategic investments in shooting infrastructure.

India’s shooters have proven that they are not just contenders but consistent champions across formats. With Olympic veterans and emerging stars firing in tandem, the nation’s shooting future looks firmly on target.

Sources: ANI, Telangana Today, Tribune India, Olympics.com, WebIndia123, Khel Now.