NRAI Names Star-Studded 30 Member Indian Shooting Squad For 2026 Asian Games

Last Updated:June 11, 2026, 20:38 IST

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

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 Games, NRAI 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
• Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil

10M Air Rifle Women

• Elavenil Valarivan
• Sonam Uttam Maskar
• Vidarsa K Vinod

50M Rifle 3 Positions Men

• Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar
• Niraj Kumar
• Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil

50M Rifle 3 Positions Women

• Ashi Chouksey
• Vidarsa K Vinod
• Tilottama Sen

10M Air Pistol Men

• Kedarling B. Uchaganve
• Gaurav
• Kamaljeet

10M Air Pistol Women

• Suruchi
• Esha Singh
• Manu Bhaker

25M Rapid Fire Pistol Men

• Anish

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

• Neeru
• Manisha Keer
• Aashima Ahlawat

Skeet Men

• Anantjeet Singh Naruka
• Bhavtegh Singh Gill
• Mairaj Ahmad Khan

Skeet Women

• Parinaaz Dhaliwal
• Raiza Dhillon
• Maheshwari Chauhan

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Ritayan Basu

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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