Asian Games 2026: Aishwary, Niraj Miss 50m Rifle 3P Podium After India Win Team Silver

Indian shooters Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and Niraj Kumar missed out on individual medals in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions final at the Asian Games 2026 on Friday, hours after helping India secure silver in the team event. Aishwary finished fifth with 327.6 points, while Niraj ended eighth with 299.0.

China completed a one-two finish in the individual event, with Liu Yukun taking gold on 360.5 points and Zhang Changhong claiming silver with 360.2. Kazakhstan’s Islam Satpayev won bronze after scoring 348.3.

Aishwary Finishes Fifth in Individual Final

Aishwary entered the eight-shooter final carrying strong momentum from qualification.

The Indian had shot 589-34x in qualification to finish third overall, putting himself firmly among the medal contenders. Niraj was also impressive earlier in the day, qualifying fourth with 588-34x.

Aishwary began the final strongly and was third after the early kneeling phase with 102.9 points, behind Mongolia’s Erkhembayar Batbayar and China’s Liu Yukun. Niraj, meanwhile, was eighth at that stage with 97.1.

The standings changed as the competition progressed. Aishwary slipped back during the prone phase and ultimately finished fifth with 327.6, leaving him outside the medal positions.

Niraj was unable to recover from his slower start and finished eighth with 299.0.

China Take Gold and Silver

The final developed into a tight contest between China’s two leading shooters.

Olympic champion Liu Yukun finished with 360.5 points to claim the Asian Games title, just 0.3 ahead of compatriot Zhang Changhong, who scored 360.2.

Kazakhstan’s Islam Satpayev completed the podium with 348.3 points.

The Chinese one-two also followed their success in the team event earlier on Friday, when they denied India the chance to retain the 50m rifle 3 positions team title.

India Had Earlier Won 50m Rifle 3P Team Silver

Despite missing the individual podium, the day still produced a medal for Aishwary and Niraj.

Alongside Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil, the two combined to win silver for India in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions team event.

India produced a combined total of 1762-94x, finishing four points behind China’s winning score of 1766-95x. South Korea took bronze with 1751-87x.

The Indian trio scored 587 across the two kneeling series, followed by 593 points in prone and 582 in standing.

The result added another shooting medal to India’s Asian Games campaign, although it also meant the team surrendered the title it had won at the previous Games.

Rudrankksh Patil Misses Individual Final

Rudrankksh was part of India’s silver-winning team but did not advance to the individual medal round.

He shot 585-26x to finish ninth in qualification. Aishwary and Niraj therefore became the two Indian representatives in the eight-man final.

Rudrankksh had already enjoyed individual success earlier in the Aichi-Nagoya Games, winning bronze in the men’s 10m air rifle competition as well as contributing to another team silver.

Aishwary and Niraj Had Dominated Asian Championships Earlier This Year

Friday’s result contrasts with the pair’s performance at the Asian Rifle and Pistol Championships in New Delhi in February.

At that competition, India swept the entire men’s 50m rifle 3 positions podium.

Aishwary won gold with 362.0 points, edging Niraj by just 0.2 points. Niraj took silver with 361.8, while Akhil Sheoran secured bronze.

The two Indians therefore arrived at the Asian Games with proven continental form, but neither was able to convert Friday’s individual final into a podium finish.

Aishwary Misses Chance to Repeat Hangzhou Individual Medal

Aishwary also entered Aichi-Nagoya as the defending Asian Games silver medallist in the individual 50m rifle 3 positions event.

He had been one of India’s strongest medal prospects in the discipline after a series of major international performances, including a World Championship silver medal and success at the Asian Championships.

His fifth-place result means he leaves the event with a team silver rather than adding another individual Asian Games medal.

For Niraj, reaching the final itself followed a strong qualification round, but eighth place ended his opportunity for a second medal on the day.

Key Facts

Individual final: Men’s 50m rifle 3 positions
Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar: Fifth — 327.6 points
Niraj Kumar: Eighth — 299.0 points
Gold: Liu Yukun, China — 360.5
Silver: Zhang Changhong, China — 360.2
Bronze: Islam Satpayev, Kazakhstan — 348.3

Team result: India won silver with 1762-94x
Indian team: Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Niraj Kumar, Rudrankksh Patil
Team gold: China — 1766-95x
Team bronze: South Korea — 1751-87x

Why the Result Matters

The individual result illustrates how quickly standings can change in rifle 3 positions shooting.

Aishwary and Niraj were third and fourth respectively in qualification and entered the final with realistic medal opportunities. Aishwary was also inside the top three during the early part of the final.

However, performance across the kneeling, prone and standing positions ultimately determines the result, and both Indians lost ground as the contest progressed.

The team silver nevertheless ensures India leaves the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions competition with another shooting medal from the Asian Games.

What Happens Next for India’s Shooters?

India’s shooting campaign continues with more rifle, pistol and shotgun medal events scheduled at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

Attention will now shift to the remaining competitions, including the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions event, where India is represented by Ashi Chouksey, Vidarsa K. Vinod and Tilottama Sen.

With shooting already contributing multiple medals to India’s overall campaign, the remaining events provide further opportunities to increase the tally.

FAQs

What position did Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar finish in the Asian Games 50m rifle 3P final?

Aishwary finished fifth with 327.6 points in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions individual final.

How did Niraj Kumar perform?

Niraj Kumar finished eighth with 299.0 points after qualifying fourth earlier in the day.

Who won the 50m rifle 3 positions gold?

China’s Liu Yukun won gold with 360.5 points, narrowly ahead of teammate Zhang Changhong on 360.2.

Did India win a medal in the 50m rifle 3P team event?

Yes. Aishwary, Niraj and Rudrankksh Patil won silver with a combined score of 1762-94x. China won gold.

What were Aishwary and Niraj’s qualification scores?

Aishwary qualified third with 589-34x, while Niraj was fourth with 588-34x.