Top Indian shooters set for Asian Championships in Kazakhstan
India are fielding their biggest-ever contingent in the tournament, which will have competitions across senior, junior and youth categories. Medals will be up for grabs in 58 events — 46 individual and 12 mixed team — across various categories.
India had finished with 59 medals overall (21 gold, 22 silver and 16 bronze), including 19 at the senior level at the last edition in Changwon.
Of the 19 medals, India had bagged six gold, eight silver and five bronze medals to finish third behind powerhouse China, who topped with 14 gold (total 33), and hosts South Korea, who bagged nine gold (total 24).
India's only individual gold came in 50m rifle 3-positions event, where Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar had a top-podium finish, while the other gold medals came in team and mixed team events, something the senior shooters would be aware of going into the competition.
Manu, following her grand success at the Paris Olympics where she won the women's 10m air pistol individual and mixed team bronze, would be keen to strike gold after returning with a team silver in 25m pistol from the previous edition of the continental event.
In 25m rapid-fire pistol, Olympian Anish Bhanwala will lead the charge, while Manu will compete for medals in 10m air pistol and 25m pistol.
Besides Chinese and Korean shooters, India will also have to contend with hosts Kazakhstan, who are fielding the second-largest contingent after India with 111 entries, while Korea (70), China (41), Iran (29), Chinese Taipei (24) and Vietnam (20) have also fielded strong sides.
India will be fielding five shooters each in each event in the senior category, with three vying for medals and the remaining two for ranking points.
In the junior section, six shooters will compete per event, with three in medal contention and the others participating for qualification and ranking.
While most Indians will be in the Olympic disciplines, several will will also compete in non-Olympic events such as centre-fire, standard, free pistol, rifle prone and double trap. PTI AM AM TAP
view comments
First Published:
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
a minute ago
- The Hindu
Top seed Tanya Hemanth lifts Saipan International badminton crown
Top seeded Indian Tanya Hemanth capped off a strong run at the Saipan International 2025 with a straight-game win over Japan's Kanae Sakai in the women's singles final on Saturday (August 16, 2025). The 21-year-old, ranked 86th in the world, defeated the unseeded Sakai 15-10, 15-8 at the Oleai Sports Complex in Northern Mariana Islands to secure her fourth international series title. The Saipan International is part of the Badminton World Federation's trial events for the experimental 3x15 scoring system, where each game is played to 15 points instead of the conventional 21. Hemanth, who had earlier triumphed at the India International (2022), Iran Fajr International (2023) and Bendigo International (2024), added another feather to her cap with Saturday's victory. She had also finished runner-up at the Azerbaijan International last year, losing to compatriot Malvika Bansod in the final. En route to the title in Saipan, Hemanth overcame Japan's Ririna Hiramoto in the semi-finals, Singapore's Lee Xin Yi Megan in the quarter-finals, beat Japanese player Nodoka Sunakawa in the round of 16. She had received a bye in the opening round.
Time of India
16 minutes ago
- Time of India
NEUFC, Lajong set up last-4 date in Durand
It will be a repeat of the semifinal last season as NorthEast United FC set up a last-four clash with regional neighbours Shillong Lajong FC in the 134th Durand Cup on Saturday. The defending champions took another step towards their title defence by beating an upbeat Bodoland FC — egged on by a fullhouse of local supporters at SAI Stadium — 4-0 with a brace from Alaaeddine Ajaraie (29', 61'), new recruit Andy Gaitan's (53') first goal for his team and a late strike from Parthib Gogoi (90+2') in Kokrajhar in the second quarterfinal of the day. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In the first quarterfinal, hosts Shillong Lajong came from behind to overcome Indian Navy FT 2-1 at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong to secure their second consecutive semifinal appearance. Second-half goals from Damaitphang Lyngdoh (69') and Everbrightson Sana Mylliempdah (79') gave the home side the victory after Vijay Marandi (38') had given Indian Navy the lead towards the end of the first half. Meanwhile, defensive lapse on part of the Bodoland skipper helped Jithin MS make an inroad into the Bodoland box from the right in the 29th minute. He could have tried to get it past the onrushing goalkeeper. But he looked to his left to find the dangerous Ajaraie standing unmarked, stopped and took a turn that beat Bodoland's last line of defence and a pass with his second touch that reached the Moroccan's feet in front of the box. And, to continue his exceptional run in Indian football, Ajaraie put the ball in to the left corner for his 33rd goal in 35 matches. But his 34th goal for and seventh of the tournament had to wait. Even as the home side came back stronger after the break, the Highlanders kept up their high pressing game. A 53rd-minute move from skipper Michel Zabaco released Buanthanglun Samte on the left, whose cross was met by Gaitan, whose low strike squeezed past goalkeeper Diamary to double NEUFC's lead and his first for his new club. Eight minutes later, Ajaraie killed the contest when he found space on receiving Thoi Singh's cross from the right into the box. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The Moroccan toyed with the goalkeeper and defence before slotting coolly into the net. Gogoi could have made it 4-0 in the 76th minute if he didn't shoot the ball well over the bar after a brilliant run from the left wing. But he made up for it when substitute Jairo threaded a delightful through ball for Gogoi, who kept his composure to slot into the far corner and complete the 4-0 rout.
The Hindu
31 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Chhetri missing in list of 35 probables named by new coach Jamil for CAFA Nations Cup
Talismanic striker Sunil Chhetri has been left out of the 35 probables named by newly-appointed Indian football team head coach Khalid Jamil for the upcoming CAFA Nations Cup in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. It's unlikely that he was dropped on the basis of his form in the four matches he played after coming back from his international retirement. However, it's also not known whether Chhetri himself requested not to consider him for the tournament, to be held later this month, or if he was rested as his Indian Super League (ISL) side Bengaluru FC is yet to start pre-season training. Bengaluru FC recently suspended salaries for its first-team players and staff, including that of Chhetri, due to uncertainty surrounding the ISL's future. However, Jamil's list of probables includes other Bengaluru FC players like goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, defenders Chinglensana Singh, Rahul Bheke, Roshan Singh Naorem, and midfieler Suresh Singh. All India Football Federation (AIFF) officials are not willing to comment on the matter, saying "the question should be asked to the head coach". The 41-year-old Chhetri took international retirement after playing against Kuwait in June last year but made a return for national duty in the match against Maldives in March this year following a request from the then India head coach Manolo Marquez to help the team in the Asian Cup qualifiers third round. Chhetri has played four matches since then and scored once -- in the team's 3-0 win over Maldives. India drew Bangladesh 0-0 and lost to Hong Kong 0-1 in the Asian Cup qualifiers, leaving the country in a difficult position to qualify for the continental showpiece in 2027. In between India lost 0-2 to Thailand in an international friendly match. Marquez quit after the string of poor performance of the team. The players will begin training in Bengaluru from Saturday with 22 players having reported to the camp so far. The remaining 13 other players are expected to join the camp after completing their Durand Cup engagements with their respective clubs. Out of the remaining 13, seven -- Anirudh Thapa, Deepak Tangri, Lalengmawia Ralte, Liston Colaco, Manvir Singh, Sahal Abdul Samad, Vishal Kaith -- are from Mohun Bagan, three -- Anwar Ali, Jeakson Singh, Naorem Mahesh Singh -- are from East Bengal and one -- Jithin MS -- from NorthEast United. Placed in Group B of the CAFA Nations Cup, India face co-host Tajikistan on August 29, Iran on September 1 and Afghanistan on September 4. The third-place match and the final will be played on September 8 in Hisor and Tashkent (Uzbekistan), respectively. The AIFF has urged all the clubs to release national team players for the tournament, so that the national team can prepare for the upcoming Asian Cup Qualifiers match against Singapore (home and away) in October.
