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Asian Games 2026: NRAI Announces 30-Member Indian Shooting Squad; Manu Bhaker Headlines, Big Names Miss Out

Sathiyapriyan K (SportzPulse)
4 min read
Asian Games 2026: NRAI Announces 30-Member Indian Shooting Squad; Manu Bhaker Headlines, Big Names Miss Out

The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) officially announced the 30-member Indian shooting squad for the 20th edition of the Asian Games, scheduled to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4, 2026.

The squad features an equal division of 15 men and 15 women athletes across the rifle, pistol, and shotgun disciplines. The roster was compiled following the completion of Selection Trial 4 in Dehradun, adhering to the stringent performance metrics set by India’s Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) and the strict 30-athlete structural limit imposed by the Asian Games Organising Committee.

Dual-Discipline Strategy to Manage Quota Constraints

Due to the rigid dynamic quota cap, the NRAI selection committee strategically fielded four high-performing shooters across multiple disciplines to maximize representation across individual and mixed team events.

  • Manu Bhaker: The double Olympic medallist headlines the contingent, earning berths in both the Women's 25m Sports Pistol and the Women's 10m Air Pistol events. While she ranked seventh in the latest domestic air pistol selection trials, the committee relied on her major-tournament experience to fill the dual-discipline slot.
  • Esha Singh: The World Championship bronze medallist will similarly anchor the pistol division, competing in both the Women’s 10m Air Pistol and 25m Sports Pistol events.
  • Rudrankksh Patil: The former World Champion will spearhead the men's rifle events, selected for both the Men’s 10m Air Rifle and the 50m Rifle 3 Positions.
  • Vidarsa K. Vinod: Emerged as the versatile female option in the rifle core, securing entry into both the Women’s 10m Air Rifle and 50m Rifle 3 Positions events.

Prominent Omissions from the Contingent

The comprehensive qualification metrics resulted in several high-profile exclusions from the Asian Games travelling squad.

  • Paris 2024 Medallists Out: Olympic medallists Sarabjot Singh and Swapnil Kusale did not qualify based on the final domestic trial averages.
  • Hangzhou Gold Medallist Misses Cut: Sift Kaur Samra, who set a world record en route to winning the individual women's 50m rifle 3 positions gold medal at the previous Asian Games, is not part of the roster.
  • No Men's Rapid Fire Team: In a tactical move based on medal-prospect guidelines, the committee named only Anish Bhanwala for the Men's 25m Rapid Fire Pistol event. As a result, India will not contest the rapid-fire team category—an event where they secured a bronze medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games.
  • Samrat Rana Absent: Defending 10m air pistol world champion Samrat Rana missed out on selection after placing eighth in the national rankings following the Dehradun trials.

Fresh Faces in the Men's Air Pistol Category

With established international shooters missing the benchmark, the selectors named an entirely fresh trio for the Men's 10m Air Pistol event: Kedarling Balakrishna Uchaganve, Gaurav, and Kamaljeet. The three top-ranked domestic performers have had zero international exposure this season and will gain their first competitive international experience at the upcoming ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou, China, in July before heading to Japan.

Complete Indian Shooting Squad for Asian Games 2026

Rifle Contingent

  • Men's 10m Air Rifle: Parth Rakesh Mane, Himanshu Dhillon, Rudrankksh Patil
  • Women's 10m Air Rifle: Elavenil Valarivan, Sonam Uttam Maskar, Vidarsa K. Vinod
  • Men's 50m Rifle 3 Positions: Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Niraj Kumar, Rudrankksh Patil
  • Women's 50m Rifle 3 Positions: Ashi Chouksey, Vidarsa K. Vinod, Tilottama Sen
  • 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team: Parth Rakesh Mane, Elavenil Valarivan

Pistol Contingent

  • Men's 10m Air Pistol: Kedarling B. Uchaganve, Gaurav, Kamaljeet
  • Women's 10m Air Pistol: Suruchi Singh, Esha Singh, Manu Bhaker
  • Men's 25m Rapid Fire Pistol: Anish Bhanwala (Individual entry only)
  • Women's 25m Sports Pistol: Esha Singh, Manu Bhaker, Rahi Sarnobat
  • 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team: Kedarling B. Uchaganve, Suruchi Singh

Shotgun Contingent

  • Men's Trap: Kynan Chenai, Ahvar Rizvi, Shapath Bharadwaj
  • Women's Trap: Neeru, Manisha Keer, Aashima Ahlawat
  • Men's Skeet: Anantjeet Singh Naruka, Bhavtegh Singh Gill, Mairaj Ahmad Khan
  • Women's Skeet: Parinaaz Dhaliwal, Raiza Dhillon, Maheshwari Chauhan
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