India’s Himanshu Dhillon produced a strong performance on his Asian Games debut, clinching the silver medal in the men’s 10m air rifle individual event at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games on Monday. His compatriot Rudrankksh Patil also finished on the podium, securing the bronze medal.
Dhillon Battles For Gold In Dramatic Finish
With only two shooters remaining in the final, China’s Sheng Lihao was in contention for gold, while Dhillon had a final opportunity to turn his unexpected rise into an Asian Games medal.
Both shooters recorded 10.6 with their final shots. Sheng eventually finished with a score of 233.0, while Dhillon ended on 231.0, earning the Indian shooter the silver medal.
Who Is Himanshu Dhillon?
At 20 years old, Himanshu Dhillon, from Jind, Haryana, is emerging as one of India’s promising 10m air rifle shooters.
His early sporting ambitions, however, were not focused on shooting. Dhillon initially tried wrestling before eventually switching to shooting after a coach recognised his potential.
He made an impression on the junior circuit by winning gold at the 2025 ISSF Junior World Cup in New Delhi. He later continued his rise at the senior level, winning a mixed-team bronze at the 2026 ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou.
From Wrestling To Shooting
Dhillon’s sporting journey began with an attempt at wrestling while growing up in Haryana. His family encouraged him to try the sport after being influenced by a family friend who had competed at the Olympics.
However, Dhillon spent only a few weeks pursuing wrestling before deciding that combat sports were not suited to him.
His family then took him to a shooting facility in his hometown. A coach noticed his calm temperament and felt he possessed the qualities needed to pursue shooting competitively.
Family Made A Major Investment In His Shooting Career
Dhillon’s transition to shooting also involved a considerable financial commitment from his family.
His first rifle reportedly cost around ₹3 lakh. Initially, the family had been assured that if shooting did not work out, the equipment could be resold with only a relatively small financial loss.
