World champion Samrat Rana secured a bronze medal in the men's 10m air pistol event at the Asian Championship on Wednesday. Despite a strong performance in the qualification round, Rana couldn't replicate his form in the final. The Asian Championship is being held in New Delhi.

Rana, who had won gold at the World Championships in Cairo last year, entered the final with high expectations after shooting 581 in the qualification round, placing him second. However, the 21-year-old shooter from Karnal managed a total score of 221.5 in the medal round, which was not enough to secure a higher position. China's Hu Kai, the world number one, won the gold medal with a score of 243.0, while Kazakhstan's Valeriy Rakhimzhan claimed the silver with 241.0. Sharvan Kumar, another Indian finalist, finished fourth.

In the team event, the Indian team, consisting of Rana, Sharvan Kumar, and Varun Tomar, secured the silver medal. The team combined for a total score of 1,732. However, Uzbekistan clinched the gold medal with an identical score but edged past India due to a higher 'inner 10' count of 58 compared to India's 52. Kazakhstan finished third with 1,731 points. Individually, Rana scored 581, Sharvan Kumar scored 578, and Varun Tomar scored 573.

India has fielded a strong contingent of 118 shooters at the championship. Other countries participating include Kazakhstan, South Korea, Japan, Chinese Taipei, Vietnam, and Hong Kong. The Asian Shooting Championship 2026, held at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range, will continue until February 13. The championship features competitions in rifle and pistol events.