NAGOYA, Sept 24: Veteran Indian shooter Mairaj Ahmad Khan finally secured an Asian Games medal as India won bronze in the men’s skeet team event at the Aichi-Nagoya Games.
Mairaj, competing alongside Anant Jeet Singh Naruka and Angad Vir Singh Bajwa, played a key role in India’s podium finish in the team competition. The medal marked an important milestone in the veteran’s long international career, coming after two decades of appearances at major championships.
The Indian trio remained in contention throughout the competition and eventually finished third, adding another shooting medal to India’s growing tally at the continental sporting event.
For Mairaj, the result carried particular significance. The shooter had competed at multiple editions of the Asian Games but had previously been unable to finish on the podium. His bronze in Nagoya finally ended that wait.
The skeet team event requires athletes to maintain consistency across a series of targets, with the combined performance determining the final team standings. Mairaj’s experience was an important part of India’s effort as the team competed against some of Asia’s leading shooting nations.
The bronze also added to India’s strong showing in shooting at the 2026 Asian Games. The discipline has traditionally been one of the country’s important medal sources at major continental competitions, and the latest result again demonstrated the depth of India’s squad.
Mairaj’s achievement comes after a career that has included appearances at the Olympic Games and other major international competitions. His persistence across several cycles of competition eventually brought him an Asian Games podium finish.
The Indian team faced strong competition in the skeet event, with athletes required to maintain accuracy over multiple rounds. The pressure increased as the competition moved towards the medal positions, but the Indian shooters managed to secure third place.
Naruka has also established himself as an important member of India’s skeet programme, while Bajwa brought additional experience to the team. Their combined scores with Mairaj were enough to put India among the medal-winning teams.
The bronze came on a busy day for India’s shooting contingent in Nagoya. Indian shooters were also competing in the men’s 10m air pistol events and the mixed-team skeet competition, giving the country several opportunities to add to its medal tally.
The result underlined the importance of experience in a sport where consistency can determine the final standings. Mairaj’s long career gave him extensive exposure to high-pressure competitions, and his contribution helped India reach the podium.
The medal also added another chapter to India’s Asian Games shooting campaign. The country entered the competition with an experienced group of shooters as well as younger competitors seeking their first major continental success.
Mairaj’s bronze was particularly notable because of the length of his wait. After competing for years without an Asian Games medal, he finally achieved the result he had been pursuing.
His success also provides a reminder of the longevity possible in shooting, where athletes can remain competitive at the highest level for many years. Mairaj’s experience was valuable to an Indian team combining established competitors with younger talent.
The bronze-winning performance strengthened India’s overall medal tally at the Aichi-Nagoya Games and added another podium finish to the country’s results on September 24.
For Mairaj, however, the achievement was more personal. After 20 years of trying, he finally became an Asian Games medallist, giving his long career a memorable continental milestone.
India’s shooting contingent will continue competing in the remaining events at the Games, with further medal opportunities available across individual and team competitions.
Mairaj’s achievement therefore represents both an individual breakthrough and another contribution to India’s medal campaign in Nagoya.