India's Shooting Stars Ignite Asian Championships: Gurpreet Singh Leads Gold Rush, Manini Kaushik Claims Silver

Indian sharpshooters continue to blaze a trail of glory, with Gurpreet Singh leading the charge for a spectacular gold in the men's 25m Centre Fire Pistol team event at the Asian Shooting Championships in Jakarta. This triumph was beautifully complemented by Manini Kaushik's exceptional silver medal in the women's 50m Rifle 3 Positions individual competition, further cementing India's formidable presence on the international stage.

The men's 25m Centre Fire Pistol team, comprising the seasoned Gurpreet Singh, alongside promising talents Adarsh Singh and Olympian Vijayveer Sidhu, delivered a stellar performance that left competitors trailing.

Together, the trio amassed an impressive total of 1731 points, comfortably outshooting strong contenders South Korea, who secured silver with 1720 points, and Kazakhstan, who took bronze with 1701. Gurpreet Singh's individual brilliance was particularly noteworthy, as he contributed a magnificent 585 points, placing him sixth overall in the individual standings – a performance that significantly boosted India's team total and secured the top spot on the podium.

Adding another gleaming medal to India's burgeoning tally, Manini Kaushik showcased immense composure and skill in the highly competitive women's 50m Rifle 3 Positions event.

Displaying precision under pressure, Manini secured the silver medal with a commendable final score of 457.1 points. While South Korea's Eunseo Lee claimed the gold with 461.3 points, and Kazakhstan's Arina Altukhova took bronze with 446.7, Manini's performance was a testament to her dedication and talent.

Fellow Indian shooter Nischal also made it to the final, finishing a respectable fifth, highlighting the depth of talent within the Indian contingent.

These outstanding performances have not only added to India's medal haul but also underscore the nation's consistent excellence in shooting sports.

India's cumulative medal tally at the championships now stands at an incredible 39 medals, including 15 gold, 16 silver, and 8 bronze, truly demonstrating their dominance. While India has already secured 12 Paris Olympic quotas, these championships serve as vital preparation and a crucial litmus test for the challenges that lie ahead on the global stage.

The consistent podium finishes by Indian athletes reaffirm their readiness to compete and excel at the highest levels, promising an exciting future for Indian shooting.