India’s three-sport Asian Games mission: Bullseyes, knockout punches and golden arrows

MC Mary Kom is the only Indian female boxer to have won more than one medal at the Asian Games. (Right) Ojas Pravin Deotale won three golds in Hangzhou but will miss the action in Aichi-Nagoya. NEW DELHI: India’s Asian Games stories are often written in gold, silver and bronze. But behind the numbers lies a more engaging narrative: the immobility of the shooter before the trigger snaps, the controlled fury of the boxer inside the ropes, and the relentless focus of the archer waiting for the perfect release. As Aichi-Nagoya approaches, these three disciplines are once again at the heart of India’s medal ambitions.Shooting has evolved from a promising pursuit into one of the most reliable continental medal engines in the country. Maharaja Karni Singh’s silver in the clay pigeon trap at Tehran in 1974 marked India’s first Asian Games shooting medal. Decades later, the sport’s legacy carries names like the late Jaspal Rana, whose pistol dominance defined several editions, and Abhinav Bindra, whose Olympic triumph helped elevate Indian shooting to the global stage.The watershed moment came in Hangzhou in 2023. Indian shooters bagged a record 22 medals – seven gold, nine silver and six bronze – in the rifle, pistol and shotgun events. The campaign was a statement of depth as much as excellence. Divyansh Singh Panwar, Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and Rudrankksh Patil combined for a world record team gold in the men’s 10m air rifle, while Sift Kaur Samra and Palak Gulia added an individual gold.Aichi-Nagoya field a 30-man squad, evenly split between men and women, with Manu Bhaker at center. The presence of the two-time Olympic medalist gives the pistol section a formidable edge alongside Esh Singh and veteran Rahi Sarnobat. Rifle firepower comes from Rudrankksh and Elavenil Valarivan, while Kynan Chenai leads the shotgun. The aim is not simply to repeat Hangzhou, but to prove that India’s shooting bench is deep enough to sustain success.But the new campaign also brings a reminder that past glory doesn’t guarantee anything. Notable names missing from the team include Sift Kaur, Swapnil Kusale and Sarabjot Singh, gold medalists from Hangzhou in pistol and rifle respectively. Their absence underscores the intensity of selection and the changing nature of India’s batting bench.From the firing line, the narrative moves to the ring, where precision must survive pressure, strikes and judgment for three rounds. Indian boxing’s journey through the Asian Games began with medals for Sundar Rao and Hari Singh in 1958. Hawa Singh’s unbroken heavyweight gold in 1966 and 1970 set an early standard; Mary Kom’s 2014 triumph made her the first Indian woman to win an Asian Games gold, while Amit Panghal’s 2018 victory remains India’s last men’s gold.The numbers underscore both the achievements and the unfinished business: nine gold, 17 silver and 35 bronze medals, according to historical records supplied for Indian Boxing Records. Hangzhou won five medals – one silver and four bronze – but Aichi-Nagoya comes after a blistering Commonwealth Games campaign in Glasgow where Indian boxers won seven golds and three silvers. However, the Asian Games will be a much tougher test. Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, China, Japan and North Korea bring the continent’s deepest boxing traditions. As Indian Boxing Federation president Ajay Singh said, the Asian Games are “like the Olympics”. The test is whether India’s recent revival can stand up to the best.Lovlina Borgohain has experience and authority. Alongside her, Sakshi Chaudhary, Preeti Pawar, Priya Ghanghas and Sachin Siwach represent a generation that has already tasted success. The challenge is to convert the momentum into medals when every match is a continental crossroads.And then comes archery, where India’s rise has been surprisingly rapid. However, the game will have its absence in 2026. Ojas Pravin Deotale, who won three golds in Hangzhou, was absent from the selection. The omission of established names like Atanu Das, Deepika Kumari and Abhishek Verma further highlights the changing landscape.The three sports share a common requirement: the ability to remain composed when the moment becomes huge. Trigger, punch and arrow may seem worlds apart, yet each discipline has the firepower to add to India’s medal tally under the brightest continental light.