Key Highlights:

  • India secured a double podium in the men's 10m Air Rifle, with Himanshu Dhillon winning silver and Rudrankksh Patil claiming bronze.
  • China's Sheng Lihao defended his Olympic champion status, winning gold with a Games Record score of 254.2.
  • Rudrankksh led the field after the opening 10 shots, before India's medal battle turned into an all-Indian contest for silver and bronze.
  • Himanshu finished with 252.4 points, having reduced Sheng's lead to just 1.8 points with his penultimate shot.
  • The result marks another significant success for India's shooting campaign at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

A Double Podium Finish for India

India secured a double podium in the men's 10m Air Rifle at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Monday, with Himanshu Dhillon winning the silver medal and Rudrankksh Patil taking bronze after an intense final that came down to the closing shots.

Final Scores and the Gold Medallist

Himanshu finished with a total of 252.4 points, while Rudrankksh ended with 230.9 to secure third place. China's reigning Olympic champion Sheng Lihao won the gold with a Games Record score of 254.2, successfully defending his title at this edition of the Games.

A Strong Start for Both Indians

The Indian pair were in contention for a medal throughout the eight-man final, with Rudrankksh making a particularly strong start. He led the field after the opening 10 shots with 106.0 points, followed by Sheng on 104.9 and Himanshu on 104.8, giving India a commanding position at the very start of the competition.

Holding the Top Positions Through the Elimination Rounds

The Indians continued to hold the top two positions as the elimination rounds began. Rudrankksh remained in front, while Himanshu produced a series of high scores, including successive 10.9s, to move into second position, further strengthening India's overall standing in the final.

Sheng Begins to Close the Gap

The lead changed hands repeatedly as Sheng gradually closed the gap on the Indian shooters. Rudrankksh was still on top after the second elimination round, with Himanshu third, but the Chinese shooter eventually moved into first place as the final progressed.

India Assured of a Double Podium

With four shooters remaining, India was assured of a double podium after Mongolia's Bayaraa Nyantai was eliminated from contention. At that stage, Sheng led with 211.6 points, with Rudrankksh on 210.6 and Himanshu on 210.0, setting up a scenario where the battle for silver and bronze would now be decided entirely between the two Indian shooters.

An All-Indian Contest for Silver and Bronze

The battle for the silver and bronze then became an all-Indian contest behind Sheng. Himanshu pulled clear of Rudrankksh after a 10.8 from the former and a 9.7 from the latter, a shift that dropped Rudrankksh to third position in the standings.

A Tense Finish

Rudrankksh responded with a 10.6 on the elimination shot, but Himanshu held his position with a 10.4, maintaining his hold on second place. Sheng sealed the gold with a final 10.6, finishing on a Games Record 254.2, confirming his title defence with a strong closing shot.

Himanshu's Late Push for Gold

Himanshu, who had reduced Sheng's advantage to just 1.8 points with his penultimate shot, ultimately finished second with 252.4, having come remarkably close to challenging for gold before Sheng's final shot secured the title. Rudrankksh's total of 230.9 earned him bronze, completing India's double podium in the event.

The result gives India two medals from the men's 10m air rifle final and adds another major success to the country's shooting campaign at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, further building on what has already been a strong showing for Indian shooters across various events at this edition of the Games.