Sport has a way of humbling those who take it for granted: India’s pistol coach Ronak
Indian pistol coach Ronak Pandit expressed deep disappointment following the team's poor performance at the Asian Games. Despite high expectations, the shooters failed to secure a medal, leading to calls for a detailed debriefing.
Why it matters
Highlights the intense pressure on elite athletes and the accountability expected from national sports programs.
What was expected to be India’s golden day at the Asian Games shooting range turned into a nightmare with two of the country’s biggest hopes stumbling, fumbling and faltering in the qualification round, shooting scores low enough to miss out on a medal as a team as well.
On the flip side, the skeet shooters made up for the disappointment in pistol to ensure the day did not end medal-less for India. The women’s 10m air pistol has been one of the most reliable medal events for India over the past few years, including a gold-silver double in the previous edition.
On Wednesday (September 23, 2026), the silver medallist from Hangzhou, Esha Singh, finished 15th in the qualifying round and Suruchi Phogat, on a roll in the last 18 months, further down at 26th.
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