India’s disastrous 10m air pistol campaign continues with the men’s team failing to qualify for the finals

India’s 10m air pistol campaign turned from disappointing to deeply frustrating at the Asian Games, with the men’s team failing to qualify for the finals on Thursday, September 24, a day after the women’s team and Manu Bhaker also missed out on medals.

The men’s trio of Kamaljeet, Kedarling Balakrishna Uchaganve and Aakash Bharadwaj finished fourth in the team qualifier with a combined score of 1727-53x. China led the way with 1743-70x, while Indonesia also scored 1743 points but finished second on the inner 10s. Japan won the bronze with 1730-54x.

Asian Games 2026 live: September 24 update

The result meant India missed out on another medal opportunity in one of the country’s traditional strengths at the Asian Games. More damagingly, none of the three Indian shooters could make it to the individual finals, bringing the 10m air pistol campaign to a premature end.

MANU BHAKAR WOMEN’S TEAM FAILS

The men’s disappointment followed an equally crushing outing for the women’s team on Wednesday.

India arrived in Aichi-Nagoya with considerable expectations, especially after the women’s 10m air pistol team had won gold at the previous Asian Games. This time Manu Bhaker, Esha Singh and Suruchi Inder Singh finished fourth after being tied with Vietnam on 1719 points. Vietnam won bronze thanks to having more inside 10s, 46 to India’s 44.

Bhaker then remained India’s sole representative in the singles final, but the Olympic medalist failed to translate her qualification into a podium finish. She qualified third with 579-20x before finishing fifth in the finals with 181.1. Esha qualified in 15th place, Suruchi in 26th place.

It marked a significant turnaround from Hangzhou 2022, where Palak Gulia won individual gold and Esha Singh took silver, while India also won team gold in the women’s 10m air pistol.

It brought some consolation to India at the range as both the men’s and women’s skeet teams won bronze medals. Attention now shifts to other shooting events, with India’s medal hopes still alive despite an unexpected blank in the 10m air pistol events.

Parinaaz Dhaliwal and Anant Jeet Singh Naruka also kept India’s hopes alive in the mixed team skeet after finishing fourth in the qualifiers with 138 points.

– The end

Issued by:

Kingshuk Kusari

Published on:

24 Sep 2026 12:00 PM IST