Aishwary Tomar Seals Asian Gold in Dramatic Rifle Final Showdown
In a heart-stopping climax at the Asian Rifle and Pistol Championships in New Delhi, Aishwary Tomar delivered a masterclass in composure to snatch the gold medal in the men's 50m Rifle 3 Position event. Trailing Niraj Kumar by a mere 0.2 points heading into the final shot, Tomar fired a near-perfect 10.7 to overtake his compatriot, who managed a 10.3, securing victory by the slimmest of margins.
Redemption from World Championship Heartbreak
This high-pressure scenario was hauntingly familiar for Tomar. Just months earlier, at the 2025 Cairo World Championships, he found himself in the opposite position—leading by 0.1 points against China's Yikun Liu before succumbing to pressure with a 9.8 shot, losing the gold by 0.2 points. "It still hurts. You come so far and don't become world champion. That takes time to process," Tomar admitted, reflecting on the painful memory. However, that silver medal served as a crucial confidence booster, proving to him that he could compete at the highest levels, equivalent to the Olympics.
Record-Breaking Performance and Indian Medal Sweep
Tomar's gold-winning score of 362.0 not only clinched the title but also set a new world record in the event, which featured a recently introduced final format. Niraj Kumar took silver with 361.8, while Akhil Sheoran claimed bronze with 343.5 after being eliminated before the final shot. India further dominated by winning the team gold, with Japan and Kazakhstan securing silver and bronze, respectively.
Pressure and Perseverance: Insights from the Champions
Tomar highlighted the intense pressure of chasing the leader. "When you are behind, you have to shoot very well to catch up, so the pressure is high," he explained. "There are many matches where Niraj and I are left till the end. We are learning how to handle that." Niraj, despite the disappointment, remained philosophical about his performance. "I gave my best. My position was stable and everything felt right. I can't really explain why I lost. But I will still say that I need to work 200 per cent harder to handle pressure situations," he stated.
TOPS Support Concerns and Future Aspirations
Niraj Kumar expressed hope that his strong showing at the Asian Championships would help him regain entry into the sports ministry's Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), from which he was removed last year. "My performance was good last year too, but I was removed from the TOPS team. I don't get government support anymore. I'm struggling," he revealed, noting that using old ammunition from the Navy had hampered his training. Both shooters emphasized the importance of such competitions in building momentum for future global events, including the Olympics.
