Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker will spearhead India’s shooting contingent for the upcoming Asian Games after being selected for both the women’s 10m air pistol and 25m sports pistol events. The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) opted to include several multi-event specialists in the squad due to the organisers capping participation at 30 athletes, including 15 men and 15 women.
Despite finishing seventh in the women’s 10m air pistol trials, Manu secured selection based on her international credentials, including her Olympic bronze medal in the event. Esha Singh was also selected in both pistol events, while shooters like Vidarsa K Vinod and Rudrankksh Patil earned spots in multiple rifle disciplines.
NRAI President Kalikesh Singh Deo said selecting the squad was a difficult process due to the exceptional depth of Indian shooting talent. He noted that the selection committee conducted detailed event-wise evaluations to maximise India’s medal prospects across the 36 shooting events at the Asian Games.
India has traditionally been one of the strongest nations in shooting at the Asian Games. In the previous edition, Indian shooters won 22 medals, including seven gold, nine silver, and six bronze, finishing second behind China in the overall shooting standings.
The rifle squad includes Elavenil Valarivan, Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and Tilottama Sen, while the shotgun team features experienced shooters including Kynan Chenai and Mairaj Ahmad Khan.
With a balanced mix of experienced stars and emerging talent, India will once again enter the Asian Games as one of the strongest contenders in shooting.
