Ajai Masand

Stories by Ajai Masand

How Rahi Sarnobat Overcame Debilitating Illness For A Second Shot At Glory

How Rahi Sarnobat Overcame Debilitating Illness For A Second Shot At Glory

Rediff.com   27 Sep 2026

Indian sports pistol shooter Rahi Sarnobat discusses her challenging journey back to elite competition after battling a debilitating neuropathic pain syndrome. She shares how the illness forced her to redefine her training, mindset, and priorities, leading to a "second life" in the sport as she prepares for her fourth Asian Games.

Conflict Of Interest Allegations Rock Indian Shooting Coach Ahead Of Asian Games

Conflict Of Interest Allegations Rock Indian Shooting Coach Ahead Of Asian Games

Rediff.com   27 Sep 2026

A national shotgun coach, involved in India's Asian Games preparations, is under scrutiny by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) for alleged conflict of interest. The complaint, filed by an unsuccessful bidder, concerns the coach reportedly seeking a contract to build a shooting range in Chennai. This probe could impact the coach's participation in the upcoming Asian Games, while the NRAI states it has no knowledge of such activities.

Mairaj Ahmad Khan's Unconventional Path To Sporting Excellence

Mairaj Ahmad Khan's Unconventional Path To Sporting Excellence

Rediff.com   27 Sep 2026

Mairaj Ahmad Khan, a 50-year-old Indian skeet shooter, is set to compete in his fourth Asian Games, showcasing remarkable longevity. The article traces his unique journey from a promising cricketer, who even played with Virender Sehwag, to becoming a decorated shooter with Olympic appearances and World Cup medals. Despite past disappointments, Khan approaches the upcoming games with renewed spirit, embodying wisdom gained over decades in sport.

Silver lining, but no gold again for India as Abhay, Anahat falter

Silver lining, but no gold again for India as Abhay, Anahat falter

Rediff.com   27 Sep 2026

Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh clinched silver medals at the Asian Games, showcasing their potential despite falling short of gold against formidable Malaysian opponents and missing direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

'Adaptation Very Important For India At Asian Games': Shreyas Iyer

'Adaptation Very Important For India At Asian Games': Shreyas Iyer

Rediff.com   27 Sep 2026

India's cricket captain Shreyas Iyer addresses the challenges posed by torrential rain and limited practice ahead of their Asian Games quarterfinal against Afghanistan.

Asian Games Shooting: Neeru Dhanda powers India's medal push in trap

Asian Games Shooting: Neeru Dhanda powers India's medal push in trap

Rediff.com   27 Sep 2026

Neeru Dhanda underlined her credentials as India's in-form trap shooter by hitting 48 of 50 targets to emerge joint leader in the women's qualification of the Asian Games.

How India Fared on Day 7 of the Asian Games

How India Fared on Day 7 of the Asian Games

Rediff.com   26 Sep 2026

India continued its strong performance at the Asian Games, securing gold medals in both men's and women's Kabaddi, a historic silver in marathon by Sawan Barwal, and advancing to squash finals. The day also saw mixed results in shooting, athletics, and badminton, contributing to India's growing medal tally.

India's Kabaddi Queens Reign Supreme At Asian Games

India's Kabaddi Queens Reign Supreme At Asian Games

Rediff.com   26 Sep 2026

Indian women's kabaddi captain Pushpa Rana led her team to a record-extending fourth Asian Games gold medal, defeating a strong Iranian side 37-34. Rana highlighted the team's reliance on their raiders and the pressure of maintaining India's dominance in the sport.

How Iran's Women's Kabaddi Team Braved Conflict And Sanctions For Asian Games Silver

How Iran's Women's Kabaddi Team Braved Conflict And Sanctions For Asian Games Silver

Rediff.com   26 Sep 2026

Iran's women's kabaddi team faced immense challenges during their Asian Games preparations, including frequent camp changes due to regional conflict, psychological stress on young players, and difficulties arranging international friendly matches due to sanctions.

India's Kabaddi Teams Defend Asian Games Gold With Strategic Wins

India's Kabaddi Teams Defend Asian Games Gold With Strategic Wins

Rediff.com   26 Sep 2026

India's men's and women's Kabaddi teams successfully defended their gold medals at the Asian Games, both defeating Iran in their respective finals. The men's team secured their ninth gold with a 40-34 victory, while the women's team clinched their fourth gold with a 37-34 win, showcasing strategic play and composure under pressure.

Asian Games: Late twist leads to gold for Kamaljeet, Suruchi

Asian Games: Late twist leads to gold for Kamaljeet, Suruchi

Rediff.com   26 Sep 2026

India secured its first shooting gold medal at the Asian Games with Kamaljeet and Suruchi Inder Singh winning the 10m air pistol mixed team event. The victory came after a last-minute decision to replace Kedarling Uchaganve with Kamaljeet due to Kedarling's dip in form. This unexpected pairing set a Games and Asian record, ending India's six-day wait for a top-podium finish in shooting and alleviating pressure on the contingent.

Suruchi And Kamaljeet's Golden Redemption At Asian Games

Suruchi And Kamaljeet's Golden Redemption At Asian Games

Rediff.com   25 Sep 2026

Indian shooters Suruchi Inder Singh and Kamaljeet overcame initial disappointments at the Asian Games to clinch India's first shooting gold medal in the 10m air pistol mixed team event. Both athletes had faced setbacks in their individual qualifications but rallied together, setting a Games and Asian record score of 484.6 to defeat South Korea. Their victory marks a significant turnaround and a testament to their resilience and teamwork.

Shooting Gold Lifts India's Spirits Amidst Badminton Shock At Asian Games

Shooting Gold Lifts India's Spirits Amidst Badminton Shock At Asian Games

Rediff.com   25 Sep 2026

India experienced a day of mixed results at the Asian Games, securing a shooting gold medal through Suruchi Singh and Kamaljeet, and a silver in 10,000m for Gulveer Singh. However, the unexpected early exit of top badminton men's doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty came as a significant setback, while other sports like Kabaddi, Squash, and Table Tennis saw Indian athletes advance or win medals.

Asian Games PIX: India's medal tally swells after athletics, wushu success

Asian Games PIX: India's medal tally swells after athletics, wushu success

Rediff.com   25 Sep 2026

India's Asian Games campaign saw its medal tally rise to 17 with strong performances in athletics, wushu, kabaddi, and hockey, despite some disappointments in shooting, boxing, and gymnastics. The mixed 4x400m relay team secured silver, while Seema won bronze in 10,000m. Wushu player Roshibina Devi claimed silver, and rowers added a bronze. Kabaddi and men's hockey teams continued their unbeaten runs, advancing to later stages.

Shooters, Rowers Secure Medals As India's Asian Games Campaign Continues

Shooters, Rowers Secure Medals As India's Asian Games Campaign Continues

Rediff.com   24 Sep 2026

India experienced a mixed day at the Asian Games, with skeet shooters and rowers adding to the medal tally, and wushu player Roshibina Devi securing a silver. While kabaddi and hockey teams continued their winning streaks, boxing, gymnastics, and fencing saw disappointments. The overall medal count reached 15, with only one gold so far.

Naruka And Dhaliwal's Historic Skeet Bronze At Asian Games

Naruka And Dhaliwal's Historic Skeet Bronze At Asian Games

Rediff.com   24 Sep 2026

Anantjeet Singh Naruka and Parinaaz Dhaliwal overcame a challenging start to secure India's first-ever bronze medal in the Asian Games skeet mixed team event. Their remarkable comeback, fueled by mutual support and a fighting spirit, culminated in a significant achievement for Indian shooting, adding to their individual medal tallies at the Games.

Naruka And Dhaliwal Secure India's First Mixed Team Skeet Medal

Naruka And Dhaliwal Secure India's First Mixed Team Skeet Medal

Rediff.com   24 Sep 2026

Anantjeet Singh Naruka and Parinaaz Dhaliwal secured India's first-ever Asian Games medal in the mixed team skeet event, winning a historic bronze. This achievement marked a remarkable three-medal haul for Indian skeet at the Games, overcoming challenging conditions and intense competition. The duo fought through qualification and a nerve-wracking final, adding to their individual team bronzes.

Indian Shooters Face Disappointment At Asian Games

Indian Shooters Face Disappointment At Asian Games

Rediff.com   24 Sep 2026

India's men's 10m air pistol team, comprising Kamaljeet, Aakash Bhardwaj, and Kedarling Uchaganve, failed to secure a medal at the Asian Games. Kamaljeet narrowly missed the final, while Kedarling's poor performance led to Japan clinching the bronze medal. This marks another disappointing day for Indian shooting, which has yet to win a gold medal after five days of competition, raising concerns about their performance at the event.

Historic Asian Games Bronze Signals Bright Future For Indian Women's Skeet

Historic Asian Games Bronze Signals Bright Future For Indian Women's Skeet

Rediff.com   23 Sep 2026

Olympian Maheshwari Chauhan discusses the significance of India's historic women's skeet bronze medal at the Asian Games, highlighting it as a turning point for the discipline. She believes the medal, achieved with Raiza Dhillon and Parinaaz Dhaliwal, signals a new era for Indian shotgun shooting, driven by a younger generation, improved training, and a stronger foundational ecosystem.

Mirabai Chanu's Historic Silver Leads India's Asian Games Medal Rush

Mirabai Chanu's Historic Silver Leads India's Asian Games Medal Rush

Rediff.com   23 Sep 2026

India experienced a day of mixed fortunes at the Asian Games, highlighted by Mirabai Chanu's historic silver medal in weightlifting, ending a long wait for an Asiad medal. The nation also secured several bronze medals in skeet shooting, men's badminton, and soft tennis. While Chanu shone, the shooting contingent faced challenges, and other sports like wushu, table tennis, squash, women's hockey, and kabaddi saw Indian athletes advance or dominate their events.