Rudrankksh Patil became a world champion at only 18 in 2022. Himanshu Dhillon made his senior international debut this year, aged 20. Their career paths could not have been more different but, at the 2026 Asian Games, they converged on the men’s 10m air rifle podium to continue the legacy of Indian shooting.
On Monday, Himanshu won the silver medal made on his multi-sport event debut while Rudrankksh won the bronze, in what must have felt like some redemption after missing out on a medal at the last edition by just 0.3 points.
The gold medal went to China’s prodigy Sheng Lihao – no surprises there – with a Games record score of 254.2. There is an unsaid understanding that the best a shooter can do in an Asian Games final with Sheng around is win silver and bronze, and the Indians did just that in a double podium finish. Together, they also won the team silver, with teenager Parth Mane, the India No 1, being the third shooter.
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The reigning Olympic champion, a former world champion and a debutant; aged 21, 22 and 20 years old. The men’s 10m air rifle podium in Aichi-Nagoya was a reminder of two things – China’s absolute dominance of this gold and India’s constant presence in a discipline that has given the country some of its biggest achievements.
The last time India didn’t have at least one winner in the men’s10m air rifle podium at the Asian Games was back in 2006 – 20 years ago. Since then, the honours roll reads Gagan Narang (silver), Abhinav Bindra (bronze), Deepak Kumar (silver) and Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar (bronze.) This time, there were two Indians on the podium.
Himanshu finished with a score of 252.4 and, though it was way behind Sheng’s impressive 254.2, it marked his biggest individual triumph so far, following up on a World Cup mixed team bronze. Indeed, he was shooting at junior competitions till earlier this year, before his big numbers at the national level and in selection trials thrust him under the Asian Games spotlight.
Double podium for Bharat ��������
Huge congrats to Himanshu Dhillon (Silver) and Rudrankksh Patil (Bronze) in the Men’s 10m Air Rifle.
Proud of our champions!
#Cheer4Bharat #AsianGames2026 https://t.co/3kMDKo3eO7
– Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) September 21, 2026
Indian shooting has never been short on young talent, as every international event squad shows. But not everyone has had the wherewithal to translate that talent into tangible results under pressure in an international arena.
Himanshu stayed calm and kept shooting in the 10s – except one 9 – and stayed in medal position all through the final after the first series. A poor shot from Rudrankksh elevated him to second after 20 shots, while he kept his triggering level and consistent to come home with a medal.
Rudrankksh ended with 230.9, dropping from gold and then silver position with a stray 9.8, under pressure to catch up and win gold. But even a bronze here can feel like absolution after four years of big-stage heartbreak since becoming the world champion, back when he actually beat Sheng.
Since his big moment in 2022, the Maharashtra shooter has been on a rollercoaster of sorts. He missed out on a medal at the 2023 Asian Games after finishing fourth in a shoot-off against teammate Tomar. He won the 2024 Paris Olympic quota place but could not make it to the top two in the rigorous Indian selection trials. He even appealed to be sent instead of the inexperienced Sandeep Singh, but the policy stood. He recovered and won an ISSF World Cup gold in 2025 and slowly worked his way back in to the Top 3 in India. He changed his rifle, his physical conditioning and even added the 50m rifle 3 positions to his repertoire.
And when he got another shot on the big stage, he made sure it was counted. A bronze after leading for 15 (out of 24) shots in the final will be disappointing, as will be that one 9.8 that put him behind his younger teammate. But for the youngster shooter known to be academic about his passion for the sport, is an achievement to write home about.
A team silver, the high of a first major medal, a redemption arc – the 2026 Asian Gamed men’s 10m air rifle will go down as a memorable event for Indian shooting, as it has always been.
