Himanshu Dhillon wins silver while Rudrankksh Patil takes bronze as China’s Sheng Lihao claims gold with a Games Record
Nagoya, September 2026 : India produced a strong performance in the men’s 10m Air Rifle final at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Monday, securing a double podium finish with Himanshu Dhillon winning the silver medal and Rudrankksh Patil claiming bronze after a closely contested eight-shooter final.
China’s reigning Olympic champion Sheng Lihao dominated the closing stages to take the gold medal with a Games Record score of 254.2 points. Himanshu finished second with 252.4 points, while Rudrankksh secured third place with 230.9 points.
The Indian duo remained firmly in medal contention throughout the final, with Rudrankksh making an especially impressive start. After the opening 10 shots, he topped the standings with 106.0 points. Sheng was second on 104.9, while Himanshu followed closely with 104.8.
The Indian shooters continued to occupy the top two positions as the elimination rounds began. Rudrankksh maintained his lead, while Himanshu responded with a series of high scores, including consecutive 10.9s, which helped him move into second place.
The battle for the top positions intensified as Sheng gradually reduced the gap. Rudrankksh remained in front following the second elimination, with Himanshu in third, but the Chinese shooter eventually moved into the lead as the competition entered its decisive phase.
With four shooters remaining, India was assured of two medals after Mongolia’s Bayaraa Nyantai was eliminated. Sheng led the standings with 211.6 points, followed by Rudrankksh at 210.6 and Himanshu at 210.0.
The contest for the remaining medals then became an all-Indian battle behind Sheng. Himanshu gained an advantage after producing a 10.8, while Rudrankksh recorded a 9.7, allowing Himanshu to move into second place and pushing his compatriot into third.
Rudrankksh responded strongly with a 10.6 on the following elimination shot, but Himanshu maintained his advantage with a 10.4. Sheng, meanwhile, remained composed under pressure and secured the gold medal with a final 10.6.
The Chinese shooter finished with 254.2 points, setting a new Games Record and successfully defending his Asian Games title. Himanshu had briefly reduced Sheng’s advantage to 1.8 points with his penultimate shot but ultimately finished second with 252.4.
Rudrankksh completed the podium with 230.9 points, giving India two medals from the same final.
The double podium marks another significant achievement for India’s shooting contingent at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. The performance also highlighted the depth of India’s strength in the 10m Air Rifle event, with both shooters maintaining their composure through a highly competitive final and securing silver and bronze for the country.
