Kapil Bainsla from Palwal, Haryana, brought glory to India by winning the nation’s first gold medal at the 16th Asian Shooting Championship in Shymkent, Kazakhstan. Competing in the men’s junior 10m air pistol final, Kapil displayed nerves of steel as he registered a winning score of 243.0. In a nail-biting finish, he edged past Uzbekistan’s Ilkhombek Obidjonov, who settled for silver after trailing behind Kapil by just 0.6 points. The victory not only highlighted his talent but also set a strong tone for India’s campaign in the championship.

India’s medal tally for the juniors was further boosted when Jonathan Gavin Antony bagged the bronze medal with a score of 220.7. The combined efforts of Kapil, Jonathan, and Vijay Tomar secured another achievement for the country as the trio won silver in the team event, scoring a collective total of 1723 points. This double podium finish reflected the depth of talent in India’s emerging shooters and showcased their growing dominance in international shooting arenas.

Meanwhile, in the senior men’s category, India continued its strong run by claiming team silver. The trio of Anmol Jain, Aditya Malra, and celebrated shooter Saurabh Chaudhary came together to secure the second spot in the competition. With one gold, two silvers, and one bronze on the opening day itself, the Indian contingent made a powerful start at the championship, raising hopes for more victories in the upcoming days. The early triumphs underline India’s increasing strength in shooting sports and inspire confidence for future international events.