India delivered a stunning performance on the opening day of the 16th Asian Shooting Championship 2025 in Shymkent, Kazakhstan, clinching multiple medals across youth, junior, and senior events. The Indian shooting contingent showcased its depth and dominance, securing two gold and three silver medals on the first day itself.
The biggest highlight came from Girish Gupta, who won gold in the 10m air pistol men’s youth category with a superb score of 241.3 in the final. His composure and accuracy under pressure stood out, reinforcing India’s growing reputation in the global shooting arena. Right behind him was Dev Pratap, a prodigious talent at just 14 years old, who impressed everyone with a score of 238.6, winning silver in the same event. The double podium finish reflected India’s strong pipeline of young shooters ready to dominate in the coming years.
In another significant triumph, Kapil Bainsla from Palwal, Haryana, made history by securing India’s first gold medal of the championship. He topped the junior men’s 10m air pistol final with a phenomenal score of 243.0, narrowly edging out Ilkhombek Obidjonov of Uzbekistan, who scored 242.4 to claim silver. The bronze medal went to Jonathan Gavin Antony of India, who finished with 220.7. This medal sweep further underlined India’s command over the 10m air pistol events.
India also bagged a team silver medal in the junior men’s 10m air pistol category. The trio of Kapil Bainsla, Jonathan Gavin Antony, and Vijay Tomar delivered a combined score of 1723 points, finishing just behind South Korea, who took gold with 1734 points. The host nation, Kazakhstan, finished third to secure bronze.
Adding to the medal tally, India’s senior men’s 10m air pistol team also made the country proud by winning silver. The team comprised Anmol Jain, Aditya Malra, and Olympian Saurabh Chaudhary, who together scored 1735 points. Their consistent performance was enough to ensure a place on the podium, further proving India’s depth across age groups in shooting sports.
The stellar start in Shymkent has positioned India as a frontrunner in the championship. With young stars like Girish Gupta and Dev Pratap, alongside experienced names such as Saurabh Chaudhary, India’s shooting program is reaping the rewards of structured training and investment in grassroots talent.
The Asian Shooting Championship has always been a crucial platform for identifying future Olympic stars, and India’s success in the opening events signals a bright future ahead. As the tournament progresses, the Indian contingent will look to build on this momentum and continue adding to its medal tally.
