Bullseye! India Breaks an Asian Record at the Asian Games in Japan
Quick Summary
India had a golden day at the 2026 Asian Games! Two Indian shooters won a gold medal in the 10-meter air pistol team event — and they did it with a score that broke the all-time Asian record. The Games are being held in Nagoya, Japan.
What Happened?
The 20th Asian Games kicked off on September 19 in Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya, Japan. More than 10,000 athletes from 46 countries across Asia are competing in 43 different sports — from swimming and gymnastics to surfing, which is making its very first Asian Games appearance this year!
On Day 6 — September 25 — India’s Suruchi Singh and Kamaljeet stepped up to the shooting range for the mixed 10-meter air pistol team final. In this event, a pair of shooters — one man and one woman — take turns firing at a small target from 10 meters away. Ten meters is about the length of a school bus.
The Indian duo was outstanding from the very first shot. They opened a strong lead early and held it all the way to the end. Their final score was 484.6 points — enough to break the Asian record for the event. South Korea finished in silver medal position, and Iran took bronze.
This gold was India’s second of the Games. Their first gold came when India’s women’s cricket team won the cricket competition earlier in the week. By the end of September 25, India’s total medal count at the Games reached 19 medals — 2 gold, 8 silver, and 9 bronze — across eight different sports.
The Asian Games are held every four years. They are the biggest sports competition in Asia — roughly the same size as the Olympic Games, but only for countries from the Asian continent. The 2026 Games will continue until October 4.
Why Does It Matter?
Shooting has a long tradition in Indian sports, and this Asian record shows just how high the country’s athletes have risen. Breaking a continental record means no team in all of Asia has ever scored that high before. For the athletes, their families, and a whole nation of fans, moments like this are extra special.
Big Words
- Asian Games — a major multi-sport event held every four years for athletes from countries across Asia, similar to the Olympics
- Air pistol — a small, precision firearm powered by compressed air, used in Olympic and international shooting competitions
- Mixed team event — a competition where one male and one female athlete from the same country work together as a pair
- Continental record — the best score or performance ever achieved within an entire continent, such as Asia or Europe
- Medal tally — the running count of gold, silver, and bronze medals won by each country during a sporting competition
Fun Fact
In the 10-meter air pistol event, the target athletes aim at is only 11.5 centimeters wide at its outermost ring — about the size of a small dinner plate — and competitors must hold perfectly still while firing from 10 meters away!
Think About It
Team events in shooting are interesting because two people must work together — even though shooting is usually very individual. How do you think teammates in a sport like this can help each other do better?
Sources
- Olympics.com — Asian Games 2026 live, September 25: India scores, updates and results from Day 6
- Vajiramandravi — Asian Games 2026 Medal Tally, Country-Wise Medals and Rankings