India’s shooters delivered three medals in the men’s 10m air rifle on Monday morning, September 21, at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026. Himanshu Dhillon won individual silver, Rudrankksh Patil took bronze, and the pair had earlier joined Parth Mane for team silver.
That rush lifted India’s shooting haul to five medals after two silvers in the women’s 10m air rifle on Sunday. With rifle, pistol and shotgun events still ahead, shooting has quickly become a major source of India’s early medals.
Key Highlights
- Himanshu Dhillon won men’s 10m air rifle individual silver with 252.4 points.
- Rudrankksh Patil secured bronze after finishing the final on 230.9.
- Patil, Dhillon and Parth Mane won team silver with 1890.1 points.
- China’s Sheng Lihao won individual gold with 254.2 points.
- India’s shooting medal count reached five after Monday’s men’s individual final.
How India Collected Three Air Rifle Medals In One Morning
The first podium came through the team competition, where qualification scores were added together. Patil shot 631.8, Dhillon registered 630.0 and Mane contributed 628.3, taking India to 1890.1. China won gold with a world-record 1899.0, while South Korea took bronze, according to DD India’s team-event report.
Patil and Dhillon then reached the eight-man individual final. Dhillon stayed near Olympic champion Sheng Lihao and eventually finished second on 252.4, 1.8 points behind Sheng’s 254.2. Patil started strongly, led during the early phase and was eventually eliminated in third with 230.9.
The result gave Patil and Dhillon two medals each before the morning session had fully cleared. Mane missed the individual final, but his qualification score remained crucial to the team silver.
The President of India also congratulated Patil, Mane and Dhillon after the team result. “Heartiest congratulations to Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil, Parth Rakesh Mane and Himanshu Dhillon on winning the Silver Medal…” President of India on X
Why Shooting Has Become Central To India’s Medal Count
There is a strong recent history behind the attention on the range. India collected a record 22 shooting medals at Hangzhou: seven gold, nine silver and six bronze. India finished those Games with 107 medals overall, its best Asian Games total. The Prime Minister’s Office record of India’s Hangzhou campaign confirms the overall 107-medal finish.
Aichi-Nagoya has started on similar lines, although India is still waiting for its first shooting gold. On Sunday, Elavenil Valarivan, Sonam Maskar and Vidarsa Vinod won women’s 10m air rifle team silver with 1898.0. Elavenil then added individual silver.
Monday’s men’s event produced three more medals. Six Indian rifle shooters have now contributed to podium finishes across the opening events, showing that the early return has come from depth rather than one athlete carrying the campaign.
That structure helps in shooting because qualification can open two routes. A strong combined score can earn a team medal, while the leading individuals can continue into a separate final.
Can Shooting Keep Feeding India’s Asian Games Tally?
Five medals from the opening rifle events make shooting an important early contributor, but they do not guarantee another Hangzhou-sized haul. Pistol, shotgun and mixed-team events bring different opponents, formats and pressure.
There are encouraging signs. Dhillon arrived in Japan after winning 10m air rifle mixed-team World Cup bronze with Sonam Maskar in Hangzhou in July, a result recorded by the International Shooting Sport Federation. Patil also came into the Games with major international experience.
The wider Indian campaign is moving too. Suchika Tariyal has added bronze in women’s traditional MMA, Srihari Nataraj reached the men’s 50m backstroke final, and the women’s cricket team is already through to the gold-medal match. Shooting can add heavily to the tally without carrying it alone.
What Comes Next For India’s Shooters
Skeet qualification is underway, with Mairaj Ahmad Khan, Anant Jeet Singh Naruka and Bhavtegh Singh Gill in the men’s field. Maheshwari Chauhan, Parinaaz Dhaliwal and Raiza Dhillon are competing in the women’s event.
If India stays anywhere near its Hangzhou shooting volume, the range could account for a sizeable share of the final tally. Monday’s three-medal morning has already put shooting at the centre of India’s first-week story.
FAQs
Who won India’s men’s 10m air rifle individual medals?
Himanshu Dhillon won silver, while Rudrankksh Patil finished third and secured bronze for India today.
Who won the men’s 10m air rifle team silver?
Rudrankksh Patil, Himanshu Dhillon and Parth Mane combined their qualification scores to finish second overall.
What was India’s team score in men’s 10m air rifle?
India scored 1890.1 points, finishing behind China’s world-record team total of 1899.0 points on Monday.
How many shooting medals had India won by Monday morning?
India had five shooting medals after the men’s 10m air rifle individual final on Monday.
How many shooting medals did India win at Hangzhou?
India won 22 shooting medals at Hangzhou: seven gold, nine silver, and six bronze medals.
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