Bronze Bullet: Samrat Rana Powers India at Asian Shooting Championship
New Delhi: Haryana’s pistol prodigy Samrat Rana etched another milestone, clinching bronze in men’s 10m air pistol at the Asian Shooting Championship 2026 here. The 21-year-old world champ’s podium push, alongside team silver, underscores India’s pistol prowess amid a medal-loaded opener.
Finals Firefight
Rana blazed into finals ranked second on 581 quals points but tallied 220.3-221.5 in medal match, yielding gold to China’s Hu Kai (243.0) and silver to Kazakhstan’s Valeriy Rakhimzhan (241.0). Teammate Sharvan Kumar’s fourth spot highlighted depth.
Team Triumph
- Rana (581) + Sharvan (578) + Varun Tomar (573) = 1732 total for silver.
- Uzbekistan matched score but won on inner-10 tiebreak (58 vs India’s 52).
- Kazakhstan bronze at 1731.
Deep Performance Dive
Strengths
Peak quals consistency; Worlds gold pedigree shines in quals; clutch mid-final 10s series.
Areas to Hone
Finals pressure dip; sustain quals sharpness under elimination duels.
India Context
Day 1: 9 medals (6 gold); Esha Singh double gold; 118-strong squad eyes quota spots.
Stats Snapshot
| Shooter | Quals | Finals | Placement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samrat Rana (IND) | 581 | 220.3-221.5 | Bronze |
| Hu Kai (CHN) | – | 243.0 | Gold |
| Valeriy Rakhimzhan (KAZ) | – | 241.0 | Silver |
| Sharvan Kumar (IND) | 578 | – | 4th |
Olympic Outlook
With Paris quotas and rankings at stake till Feb 13, Rana’s haul fuels medal hauls. Backyard-to-world champ journey—from Karnal roots—inspires J&K youth amid national surge.
