India collects two gold, four silver, and one bronze on the opening day
The Asian Shooting Championship opened with a thrilling performance from India’s young shooters, led by Kapil Bainsla, who captured the spotlight in the junior men’s 10m air pistol event. The 19-year-old from Palwal, Haryana, kept his calm under immense pressure to defeat Uzbekistan’s Ilkhombek Obidjonov and secure a memorable gold medal.
Kapil finished with a score of 243.0, edging past his rival by just 0.6 points in a nail-biting contest. His teammate, Jonathan Gavin Antony, also made the podium with bronze, scoring 220.7. For Kapil, it was not just about winning but about proving his ability to deliver when it mattered the most.
Dramatic finish in junior men’s 10m air pistol
The junior final saw plenty of drama as Ilkhombek started strong and led the contest through the opening series. Kapil, however, never let the lead slip too far. With every round, the Indian reduced the gap, showing patience and composure. After 22 shots, Ilkhombek was still ahead 222.6 to 221.6. But the last two attempts changed everything.
Kapil fired an impressive 10.8 and followed it up with 10.6 in his final shots. Under pressure, the Uzbek faltered, shooting 10.4 and 9.4, which handed India the gold. It was a classic case of nerves versus composure, and Kapil came out on top in one of the most thrilling matches of the championship’s opening day.
The Indian junior team also impressed, with Kapil, Jonathan, and Vijay Tomar combining for 1723 points. Their effort earned them a silver medal, just one point short of Korea’s winning tally of 1734.
Senior shooters miss the podium
Asian Shooting Championship- While the juniors shone brightly, India’s senior men’s shooters missed out on individual medals in the 10m air pistol category. Anmol Jain was the only Indian to qualify for the final but finished sixth with 155.1 points. The event was dominated by China’s Hu Kai, who scored 241.6 to clinch gold. Korea’s Suhyeon Hong secured silver, while Iran’s Amir Joharikhou bagged bronze.
India did manage a silver in the senior men’s team event. The trio of Anmol Jain (580), Aditya Malra (579), and experienced campaigner Saurabh Chaudhary (576) combined for a score of 1735, finishing just behind China.
Girish Gupta leads the youth category
Asian Shooting Championship- Adding to India’s medal tally, Girish Gupta produced another golden performance in the youth men’s 10m air pistol final. The 17-year-old shot 241.3 to finish ahead of his compatriot Dev Pratap, who secured silver with 238.6.
The Indian youth team of Girish, Pankaj Jat, and Dev Pratap added another silver medal in the team category, finishing second behind Iran.
India’s medal tally on opening day
By the end of the first day of the Asian Shooting Championship, India’s shooters had collected two gold, four silver, and one bronze. Kapil’s heroics in the junior category, Girish’s dominance in the youth section, and consistent team efforts highlighted India’s depth in talent across age groups.
For Kapil, the win was particularly special as he overcame a strong field after qualifying only in fourth place with a score of 579. His ability to rise in the final round showed his maturity and mental strength. Meanwhile, the youth squad’s 1-2 finish reflected the promising pipeline of shooters ready to represent India on the bigger stage. Also Read: Durand Cup 2025: Kolkata Derby Between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan Promises High Drama
Conclusion:
The opening day of the Asian Shooting Championship was a mix of triumphs and close calls for India. While the senior shooters will look to bounce back in the coming days, the juniors and youth categories have already given the country plenty to celebrate. With Kapil Bainsla’s golden effort leading the way, India has begun the championship on a strong note and will be eager to build on this momentum as the competition progresses.
