Rudrankksh Patil Secures Gold at Asian Shooting Championships in New Delhi
For Indian shooter Rudrankksh Patil, the Asian Rifle and Pistol Championship in New Delhi represented a moment of profound personal closure. Having earned only a single bronze medal across three prior attempts at this prestigious event, the Maharashtra native felt a growing desperation to deliver a stronger performance before his home crowd. On Friday, at the Karni Singh Shooting Ranges, Patil transformed that aspiration into reality, capturing the gold medal in the men's 10m air rifle discipline with a display of sheer determination and skill.
A Dream Fulfilled and Future Ambitions Declared
"It feels like closure," Patil expressed after his victory. "My only goals left now are the Asian Games and Olympic gold. For the achievements I have already secured, I aim to at least double them in the future." This triumph holds special significance as Patil's first international senior medal was the world championship title he claimed as an 18-year-old in 2022. Reflecting on his journey, he added, "I'm obviously very happy. I had been contemplating over the past few days that I often finished fourth in Asian Championships. I was determined to break that pattern."
Overcoming Early Struggles to Claim Victory
The path to gold was not without its challenges for the 22-year-old marksman. After leading the qualification round, Patil encountered a rocky start in the eight-shooter final, plummeting to last place following the initial five-shot series. However, demonstrating remarkable resilience, he gradually climbed the rankings in the subsequent series before ultimately surging to the top position. Patil attributed this comeback to his ability to maintain composure under pressure. "The situation almost went out of my hand, but thankfully I was able to salvage something from it," he remarked. "Bouncing back is one of my strong points, though I recognize the need to work on winning matches more smoothly and easily."
Final Scores and Team Success
Patil's final score of 251.9 points edged out compatriot Arjun Babuta, who secured the silver medal with 250.7 points, making it a double delight for the host nation. The individual bronze was awarded to Japan's Naoya Okada, who finished with 229.3 points. Additionally, Patil and Babuta teamed up with Vishal Singh, who placed fifth individually, to clinch the team gold medal for India. Kazakhstan earned the team silver, while Japan took home the bronze, highlighting a competitive field at the championship.
Patil's Career Trajectory and Recent Achievements
Despite his previous successes, including three gold medals in team events at earlier Asian Championships, Patil had not secured an individual medal at this level until now. His last individual medal came in Jakarta in 2024, and he has yet to win an individual medal at the Asian Games. However, he bolstered his resume with a gold from the 2025 Buenos Aires World Cup, underscoring his potential on the global stage. This latest victory in New Delhi not only marks a significant milestone in his career but also sets a promising precedent as he sets his sights on upcoming major competitions, including the Asian Games and Olympics, where he aspires to add more gold to his collection.
