Indian shooters enjoyed a successful campaign on Tuesday at the Asian Para Games 2026, adding crucial medals to the national tally at the Aichi Prefectural General Shooting Gallery in Japan. Manish Narwal delivered a stellar performance to secure a silver medal in the men's P1 10-metre air pistol SH1 event.
His podium finish also ensured that India secured a quota place for the upcoming Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games. Narwal finished the competitive final with a total score of 224.2, cementing his status among the elite competitors in para-shooting globally.
The gold medal in the men's event was claimed by South Korea's Jo Jeongdu, who holds the current world record. Jo posted a total of 233.7 to take top honours and also established a new Asian Para Games record during the process.
The South Korean competitor surpassed the previous continental games record of 238.6, which had been set by China's Huang Xing at the previous edition in Hangzhou in 2022. China's Yang Chao rounded out the podium places by capturing the bronze medal with a total of 213.6.
Narwal's path to the silver medal saw him display remarkable composure in the final after navigating a competitive qualification round. He had initially finished fifth in the qualification stage with a solid total score of 570, including 15 inner 10s.
Reflecting his established pedigree in the sport, Narwal is a two-time Paralympic medallist who boasts both gold and silver medals from previous Paralympic Games. At the preceding Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, he had earned a bronze medal in this exact same event.
The second Indian finalist in the men's P1 10-metre air pistol event was Rudransh Khandelwal, who entered the competition as the junior world record-holder. Khandelwal ultimately finished in seventh position in the final with a score of 127.3.
Khandelwal had shown immense promise earlier in the day by finishing second in the qualification round with a total of 571 and 21 inner 10s, sitting just behind qualification leader Jo Jeongdu, who managed 575 with 22 inner 10s. At the Hangzhou Games, Khandelwal had secured a silver medal.
Meanwhile, the women's shooting events brought further success for the Indian contingent as Shrishti Arora clinched the bronze medal in the 10-metre air pistol SH1 event. Arora's achievement marked India's fourth shooting medal of the ongoing continental games.
Arora put on a resilient display in the final after safely navigating the qualification phase where she placed fifth with a score of 560 and 8 inner 10s. She ultimately finished behind an Iranian pair who dominated the top steps of the podium.
Faezeh Ahmadi of Iran captured the gold medal in the women's competition, while her compatriot Sareh Javanmardi claimed the silver medal. Interestingly, both Iranian shooters had qualified behind the Indian competitors, finishing sixth and seventh respectively in the preliminary round.
Sumedha Pathak, the other Indian representative in the women's 10m air pistol SH1 final, experienced a difficult conclusion to her event. Pathak finished at the very bottom of the standings in the medal round.
This result was particularly surprising given that Pathak had topped the qualification round earlier with an impressive score of 561 and 18 inner 10s, making her appear the more likely prospect to secure a medal prior to the final.
The collective achievements of Narwal and Arora add to a strong start for Indian shooters at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games. Narwal's qualification quota for Los Angeles 2028 follows earlier successes achieved by compatriots Mona Agarwal and Avani Lekhara.
Agarwal and Lekhara had secured quota places on Monday during the opening day of the shooting competition by winning gold and silver respectively in the women's 10m air rifle SH1 event. The steady accumulation of medals highlights the depth of Indian para-shooting talent.
The Asian Para Games 2026 continues to witness intense competition across multiple sports venues in Aichi and Nagoya, with athletes striving for continental glory and crucial ranking points. The shooting events have provided some of the most memorable moments for the delegation so far.
Coaches and officials have praised the resilience shown by the athletes in adapting to the demanding conditions of the international shooting range. The ability to bounce back from challenging qualification rounds has been a hallmark of the team's performances.
As the tournament progresses, attention will turn to remaining events where further medals and qualification opportunities are up for grabs. The Indian shooting squad aims to maintain its momentum in the upcoming days of the competition.
The ongoing success of athletes like Narwal underscores the continuous growth and institutional support for para-sports within the country. Performances at major continental meets serve as vital benchmarks ahead of the next Paralympic cycle.
With multiple medals already secured and quota places accounted for, the Indian contingent remains firmly focused on delivering strong results across remaining disciplines at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games.
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