India is set to begin its Asian Games shooting campaign in Nagoya with a formidable 30-member squad, featuring Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker and other world-class performers. The team aims to build on its previous success, with strong prospects in rifle, pistol, and shotgun events, facing a significant challenge from China.
Indian shooters Sonam Uttam Maskar and Elavenil Valarivan reached the women's 10m air rifle final at the ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou, finishing fifth and sixth respectively.
Indian trap shooters are aiming for a better performance at the ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Tangier after a disappointing showing from the skeet team. Key athletes like Bhowneesh Mendiratta, Prithviraj Tondaiman, and Kynan Chenai are set to compete.
India's shooting campaign at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games commenced with a strong performance, securing two silver medals in the women's 10m air rifle event. Experienced shooter Elavenil Valarivan was instrumental, winning an individual silver and contributing to a team silver alongside Sonam Uttam Maskar and debutant Vidarsa Vinod. While Elavenil narrowly missed individual gold, her performance, coupled with the team's success, provided an encouraging start for India.
India's shooting campaign at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games commenced with a strong performance, securing two silver medals in the women's 10m air rifle event. Elavenil Valarivan was instrumental, winning an individual silver and contributing to the team silver alongside Sonam Uttam Maskar and Vidarsa Vinod. While Valarivan narrowly missed individual gold, her performance, along with the team's, provided an encouraging start for India.
Commonwealth Games gold medallist and Arjuna Awardee Roopa Unnikrishnan gives away the rifles that shaped her brilliant shooting career, hoping they will inspire a new generation of Indian shooters.
Indian trap shooters failed to reach the finals in both the men's and women's events at the ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Tangier, Morocco. Kynan Chenai was the highest-placed Indian in the men's event, finishing 13th, while Aashima Ahlawat finished 14th in the women's event.
India's large contingent of 501 athletes is set to compete at the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, aiming to showcase the nation's growing sporting depth and its ambition to become a global top-10 sporting power by 2036. Despite initial accommodation challenges, the focus is on building on the momentum from the record 2022 Hangzhou Games, with strong medal hopes in shooting, athletics, cricket, badminton, and hockey.
Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker shared her emotional experience as India's flag-bearer at the Asian Games opening ceremony, deeply missing her late coach Jaspal Rana. Rana, who passed away recently, was instrumental in her career and had a unique philosophy about attending opening ceremonies, making Bhaker's flag-bearing role particularly poignant.
A Haryana-based singer, Bhupendra Dhingra, has been arrested for allegedly posting a video on fake social media accounts claiming responsibility for the murder of Haryanvi YouTuber Ankit Balyan. Dhingra admitted his intention was to increase social media followers, while police had already identified the actual shooters, two of whom were killed in an encounter. A magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the encounter deaths.
10-year-old Delhi shooter Nyra Sharma has made history by becoming the youngest Indian to qualify for the National Shooting Championship in the 10m air rifle category. Her rapid rise in competitive shooting, achieving this feat in only her third competition, highlights her exceptional talent and dedication.
A national high-performance shooting camp has commenced in New Delhi, bringing together 35 Indian athletes for intensive training. The camp is crucial preparation for the upcoming ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou, China, and the Asian Games in Japan, featuring top talent and international coaching expertise.
TOPGUN Shooting Academy is set to launch Vision Impaired (VI) Shooting across its branches in India. This initiative aims to make the sport accessible to visually impaired individuals, utilising sound-based technology for target aiming, and is recognised by World Shooting Para Sport (WSPS).
Indian shooters Elavenil Valarivan and Parth Mane finished fourth in the 10m air rifle mixed team event at the Asian Games, missing out on a medal. Valarivan cited struggles with her position, while Mane focused on consistency. Both expressed determination to learn from the experience.
Indian trap shooters Kynan Chenai and Aashima Ahlawat narrowly missed qualifying for the finals at the ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Tangier, Morocco, while other Indian participants also failed to advance.
Indian para-shooter Mona Agarwal has secured a quota place for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympic Games by winning a silver medal in the 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event at the WSPS World Championships in Changwon, South Korea. While Avani Lekhara won bronze in the same event, only the top two finishers secured quotas. Agarwal and Lekhara also combined to win a team gold.
Veteran skeet shooter Mairaj Ahmad Khan expresses strong optimism about the future of Indian shooting, attributing the potential rise to government-backed initiatives like Khelo India. He is preparing for his third Asian Games appearance and believes India will have the best team across all shooting disciplines in the next four years, thanks to enhanced grassroots development and support systems.
Double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker has qualified for the women's 10m air pistol final at the Asian Games, finishing third in the qualification round.
Double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker and defending shot put champion Tajinderpal Singh Toor have been selected as India's flag-bearers for the Asian Games opening ceremony. This decision highlights the significant contributions of shooting and athletics to India's medal tally, with a 158-strong contingent participating in the event.
Double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker and defending shot put champion Tajinderpal Singh Toor have been named as India's flag-bearers for the Asian Games opening ceremony. Bhaker's Olympic achievements and Toor's past Asian Games gold medals highlight their selection.
Indian air rifle shooter Elavenil Valarivan secured a silver medal at the Asian Games, despite initially leading the final. She expressed contentment with the result, viewing it as a crucial learning experience focused on process over outcome. This marks her third consecutive individual silver at major Asian competitions, and she also contributed to India's team silver. The medal holds personal significance as her first at the Asian Games, achieved after eight years, and she credits her coach's guidance.
India's shooting campaign at the Asian Games faced a setback as Elavenil Valarivan and Parth Mane finished fourth in the 10m air rifle mixed team final, extending the country's wait for a gold medal. Despite strong qualification, the Indian pair struggled in the final, while China secured gold with a world record. This follows other near-misses for India, highlighting the intense competition and the need to convert strong starts into medals. The focus now shifts to upcoming events, including Manu Bhaker's participation.
Renowned Indian shooting coach and former Asian Games gold medallist Jaspal Rana has passed away at 49 after a medical procedure following illness during a flight from the ISSF World Cup.
Double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker and defending shot put champion Tajinderpal Singh Toor have been named India's flag-bearers for the Asian Games opening ceremony. Both athletes have significant achievements, with Bhaker making history at the Paris Olympics and Toor winning gold in previous Asian Games editions. Their selection highlights the importance of shooting and athletics to India's medal tally.
Japan inaugurated the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya with a vibrant opening ceremony that seamlessly blended advanced technology and rich cultural traditions, despite earlier organisational challenges.
India's women's 10m air rifle team, comprising Elavenil Valarivan, Sonam Maskar, and Vidarsa Vinod, secured a silver medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. This marks India's first confirmed medal at the event, with Sonam and Elavenil also qualifying for the individual final.
Suchika Tariyal secured India's first-ever medal in mixed martial arts at the Asian Games, winning a bronze in the women's traditional 60kg event.
Jaspal Rana, a legendary Indian shooter and influential coach, has passed away at 49 after battling cardiac issues. He was a pioneer who brought shooting into the national spotlight with his fearless performances and later shaped the careers of many world-class athletes, including Manu Bhaker, leaving an indelible mark on Indian sports.
Indian junior shooters made a strong start at the ISSF Junior World Championship in Suhl, Germany, securing two gold medals and one bronze on the opening day. Sejal Kamble won individual gold in the junior women's 10m air pistol, while the team of Kamble, Vanshika Choudhary, and Navya Bishnoi also claimed gold.
Indian rifle shooters Sonam Uttam Maskar and Himanshu Dhillon have won a bronze medal in the 10m air rifle mixed team event at the ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou. This medal brings India's total tally to four, including one gold, one silver, and two bronze. Both athletes expressed confidence and motivation from this achievement, with Himanshu marking his maiden senior World Cup podium.
Indian kabaddi star Pawan Sehrawat, known as the 'High Flyer' for his six-foot jumps, shared the origin of his nickname and his journey in the sport. He also expressed pride in being a flag bearer and India's ambition to defend its Asian Games gold medal in kabaddi.
Former India shooter Moraad Ali Khan paid tribute to Randhir Singh, highlighting his achievements as a shooter and administrator.
India will take on Pakistan in the table tennis men's and women's team event at the Asian Games on Monday.
Indian shooting star Manu Bhaker, a flagbearer at the Asian Games, has called upon her fellow athletes to concentrate on their performance and not be distracted by the organisational challenges and logistical issues marring the event's build-up. She emphasised that the opportunity is rare and should be seized with full dedication.
This week's OTT releases offer a diverse selection, from Suriya's family drama Vishwanath & Sons and Nikkhil Advani's historical series The Revolutionaries to thrillers like Ghamasaan and international mysteries.
Indian Olympian Mairaj Ahmad Khan finished 16th in the men's skeet event at the ISSF World Cup (Shotgun) in Lonato, Italy, missing out on a spot in the final despite a strong start. Other Indian shooters also failed to qualify for the finals in both men's and women's skeet categories.
Indian shooter Rudrankksh Patil secured a bronze medal at the Asian Games in the men's 10m air rifle event, expressing mixed feelings about his performance and a long-standing frustration over not receiving the Arjuna Award despite his world champion status and multiple achievements. He also reflected on past setbacks and the mental challenges of elite sport.
Indian skeet shooter Maheshwari Chauhan, who narrowly missed a medal at the Paris Olympics, is now leveraging that experience to prepare for the upcoming Asian Games in Japan. She finished fourth in the mixed team skeet event and is currently part of a national preparatory camp.
Shyama Devi, mother of late Indian shooting legend Jaspal Rana, has passed away after battling multiple health issues, just weeks after her son's sudden demise.
The traditional flag hoisting ceremony for the Asian Games in Nagoya, involving India and other nations, was significantly delayed and disrupted due to unspecified "trouble" and a lack of communication between organisers.
