India, China set for shooting showdown at Asian Championships

The 16th Asian Shooting Championship (Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun), beginning in Shymkent, Kazakhstan on August 18, is set to be another battle for continental dominance between India and China, the two powerhouses of the sport. The championship will run until August 29.

India had finished second behind China in the last edition at Changwon, collecting 59 medals (21 gold, 22 silver, 16 bronze). China dominated the table with 78 medals, including 35 gold. With their largest-ever squad of 182 shooters, India are aiming to close that gap and even upstage their arch-rivals.

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The Indian squad will feature in 46 individual and 12 mixed team events across categories and disciplines, with team medals also on offer in all individual events depending on participation.
While the majority of athletes will compete in Olympic events, several will also line up in non-Olympic disciplines such as Centre-Fire, Standard and Free Pistol, Rifle Prone, and Double-Trap.

The championship, first held in Tokyo in 1967, has traditionally been dominated by China, but India’s rapid rise on the world stage has made the contest for the top spot increasingly competitive.

Hosts Kazakhstan have entered the second-largest squad with 111 shooters, followed by South Korea (70), China (41), Iran (29), Chinese Taipei (24) and Vietnam (20). Strong challenges are also expected from Middle Eastern shooters, especially in the Shotgun events.