50 gold medals, India creates history at 16th Asian Shooting Championship in Shymkent, Kazakhstan

India achieved a historic milestone at the 16th Asian Shooting Championship in Shymkent, Kazakhstan, securing 50 gold medals to lead the medal tally for the first time in the championship’s history.
 
India’s total medal count reached 99, including 26 silver and 23 bronze medals. Host nation Kazakhstan finished second while China finished third in the medals tally.
 
India’s Ankur Mittal produced a world record-shattering performance on the final day yesterday to clinch gold in the men’s double trap event.
 
The senior team’s standout performances included Elavenil Valarivan’s second Asian title in women’s air rifle with an Asian record score. She also won gold with Arjun Babuta in the mixed team event.
 
Neeru Dhanda secured India’s first-ever Asian championship gold in women’s trap. Sift Kaur Samra claimed her first Asian title in women’s 50 metre rifle 3-position, while Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar successfully defended his 50 metre rifle 3-position title.
 
Manu Bhaker won three bronze medals, with one of them coming in an individual event – the women’s 10m air pistol.
 
The Indian senior shooting squad for the Asian competition comprised 35 members competing for medals in 15 events. A total of 129 Indian shooters also competed in the junior events at the Shymkent meet.
 
With a final tally of 99 medals, including 50 gold, India recorded its most successful campaign at the Championship, getting 35 more from their previous outing at the 15th Asian Championships in Changwon, South Korea.