With places in India’s Asian Games shooting squad hanging in the balance, some of the country’s biggest names delivered a gripping contest in the women’s 25m pistol event at the National Selection Trials 4. In a field packed with Olympic medallists, world champions and rising stars, it was veteran shooter Rahi Sarnobat who emerged on top, producing a composed and clinical display to secure victory ahead of double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker.
The trials, currently being held as part of the process to finalise India’s shooting contingent for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi and Nagoya, Japan, have become one of the most important domestic competitions of the year. With only a limited number of spots available in the national squad, every score and every final carries enormous significance.
Rahi, one of India’s most accomplished pistol shooters and the first Indian woman to win an Asian Games gold medal in shooting, showcased her experience under pressure. The Olympian remained in control throughout the women’s 25m pistol final and finished with 37 hits, comfortably ahead of Manu Bhaker, who secured the silver medal with 35 hits. The result marks another significant milestone in Rahi’s comeback journey. After battling injuries and spending periods away from international competition, the Maharashtra shooter has steadily rebuilt her form and once again established herself among the country’s leading pistol shooters.
While Bhaker fell short of the top spot, her second-place finish further underlined her consistency. The Haryana shooter continues to be one of India’s biggest medal hopes heading into future international competitions. Since becoming the first Indian athlete to win two medals at a single Olympic Games, Bhaker has remained a central figure in Indian shooting and continues to deliver strong performances across disciplines.
Karnataka’s Divya TS completed the podium after finishing third with 29 hits. Her performance reinforced her growing reputation as one of India’s promising pistol shooters and helped her remain firmly in contention for Asian Games selection.
Tamil Nadu’s Niveditha V Nair finished fourth with 24 hits, while Olympian Rhythm Sangwan secured fifth place with 22 hits. Punjab’s Arshdeep Kaur ended sixth with 18 hits, followed by Maharashtra’s Abhidnya Ashok Patil in seventh with 13 hits. Qualification topper Chinki Yadav, who had impressed earlier in the day, endured a difficult final and finished eighth with nine hits.
Earlier in qualification, Chinki had delivered the best score of the day, topping the standings with 586 points, including 22 inner tens. Bhaker qualified second with 584, while Arshdeep and Rahi followed with identical scores of 579. Niveditha secured fifth place in qualification, while Rhythm and Divya both recorded 578, with Rhythm placed ahead through count-back. Abhidnya Patil claimed the final qualifying spot with a score of 576.
The latest results also impacted the national rankings. World record holder Esha Singh retained her position at the top of the rankings despite not participating in the trials. The Hyderabad shooter has enjoyed a remarkable rise in recent years and remains one of India’s most successful young athletes on the international circuit.
Manu Bhaker continued to hold second place in the rankings, while Rahi’s victory helped her move up to third position. Divya dropped one place to fourth, while Rhythm Sangwan remained fifth. Chinki Yadav’s strong qualification performance enabled her to climb from ninth to sixth in the standings. The ongoing Selection Trials 4 carry immense importance as India finalises its squad for the 2026 Asian Games.
Shooting has traditionally been one of India’s strongest disciplines at the continental level, contributing a significant share of the country’s medal tally. At the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, Indian shooters produced a record-breaking performance, winning 22 medals, including seven gold medals, and finishing as one of the most successful shooting nations at the event.
For the upcoming Games, India will field 15 male and 15 female shooters across the 28 shooting events. The shotgun squad has already been announced, while the rifle and pistol teams will be finalised following the conclusion of the current selection process.
The depth of competition on display at the trials highlights the strength of Indian shooting. Established stars such as Rahi Sarnobat and Manu Bhaker are being challenged by a new generation of talented athletes including Esha Singh, Rhythm Sangwan, Divya TS and Chinki Yadav, creating healthy competition for national team places.
The trials continue on Tuesday with four highly anticipated finals. Shooters will compete in the men’s and women’s 10m air pistol events as well as the men’s and women’s 50m rifle three positions competitions. With Asian Games berths still up for grabs, every event is expected to produce intense battles and potentially shape India’s medal prospects for one of the most important sporting events of the year.
For now, however, the spotlight belongs to Rahi Sarnobat, whose commanding performance in the women’s 25m pistol final served as a timely reminder that experience remains a powerful weapon in India’s increasingly competitive shooting landscape.
