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NRAI names 30 member Indian shooting squad for 20th Asian Games 2026 in Aichi Nagoya, balancing rifle, pistol and shotgun events with key double starters like Manu Bhaker
India’s Double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker
The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) on Thursday announced a 30-member Indian shooting contingent for the upcoming 20th Asian Games, scheduled to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4, 2026.
The shooting events will be contested from September 17 to October 3, 2026, at the Aichi Prefectural General Shooting Range.
All selected athletes successfully met the stringent qualification criteria laid down by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MYAS). However, due to strict dynamic quota caps enforced by the Games’ Organising Committee, the final roster has been limited to 30 athletes (15 men and 15 women).
After extensive deliberations and a detailed event-wise assessment, the Committee identified a group of athletes capable of competing in multiple disciplines. This strategic approach enables India to maximise participation across all available events while maintaining the strongest possible medal prospects in both individual and team competitions. The approved double starters are Vidarsa K. Vinod, Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil and Manu Bhaker, along with Esha Singh.
The final squad reflects a careful balance of current form, international performance, team composition and medal potential. The Selection Committee, in consultation with the High Performance team, has sought to optimise India’s competitiveness across all shooting disciplines and ensure the strongest possible challenge for podium finishes at the Games.
Speaking about the squad selected for the Asian GamesNRAI president Kalikesh Singh Deo said, “Selecting this team was a challenging task given the exceptional depth and quality of talent in Indian shooting today.
Given the 30-athlete cap for a programme that accommodates participation across 36 event slots, the Selection Committee undertook a detailed event-wise evaluation to ensure that the final squad provides India with the strongest possible representation and the best opportunity for competitive success across disciplines.
The final squad reflects the strength, depth and versatility of Indian shooting. We are confident that this team will represent India with distinction and make the nation proud in Aichi-Nagoya.”
The final contingent comprises 12 shotgun shooters and 18 rifle/pistol shooters. The complete squad breakdown is as follows:
Rifle & Pistol Squad
10M Air Rifle Men
- Parth Rakesh Mane
- Himanshu Dhillon
- Rudranksh Balasaheb Patil
10M Air Rifle Women
- Elavenil Valarivan
- Sonam Uttam Worms
- Vidarsa K Vinod
50M Rifle 3 Positions Men
- Aishwarya Pratap Singh Tomar
- Niraj Kumar
- Rudranksh Balasaheb Patil
50M Rifle 3 Positions Women
- Ashi Chouksey
- Vidarsa K Vinod
- Tilottama Sen
10M Air Pistol Men
- Kedarling B. Uchaganve
- Gaurav
- Terrible things
10M Air Pistol Women
- Suruchi
- Esha Singh
- Manu Bhaker
25M Rapid Fire Pistol Men
25M Sports Pistol Women
- Esha Singh
- Manu Bhaker
- Rahi Sarnobat
10M Air Rifle Mixed Team
• Parth Rakesh Mane
• Elavenil Valarivan
10M Air Pistol Mixed Team
- Kedarling B. Uchaganve
- Suruchi
Shotgun Squad
Trap Men
- Kynan Chenai
- Ahvar Rizvi
- Shapath Bharadwaj
Trap Women
- Kidney
- Manisha Keer
- Aashima Ahlawat
Skeet Men
- Anantjeet Singh Naruka
- Bhavtegh Singh Gill
- Mairaj Ahmed Khan
Skeet Women
- Parinaaz Dhaliwal
- Raiza Dhillon
- Maheshwari Chauhan
About the Author
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for over a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes cricket conten…Read More
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