A recurring theme has emerged across India’s shooting campaign at the 2026 Asian Games: agonisingly close finishes that end in fourth place rather than a spot on the podium.
## A Pattern Repeats Itself
Twice in the space of a few days, India’s shooters have entered medal-round finals with genuine podium chances, only to finish just outside the top three. The women’s 10m air pistol team lost bronze to Vietnam by two inner-10 shots after both nations tied on 1719 points. Days earlier, Elavenil Valarivan and Parth Mane finished fourth in the 10m air rifle mixed team final, a result examined in full in our dedicated breakdown of that campaign.
## Why Finals Are Different
Shooting finals use an elimination format that differs from the cumulative scoring of qualification rounds, meaning strong qualifying performances do not always translate directly into medal-round success. Small lapses in composure, often just a fraction of a point, can be the difference between bronze and finishing fourth, as both of India’s recent near-misses demonstrated.
## A Familiar Feeling for India
This is not a new phenomenon for Indian shooting. Mirabai Chanu’s own fourth-place finish in weightlifting at Hangzhou 2023 became a defining storyline of that Games, and a similar pattern has already emerged in Nagoya, where India’s silver-and-bronze-heavy shooting medal tally has yet to include a gold. Our feature on why India is still waiting for shooting gold at these Games explores this trend further.
## The Psychological Factor
Elite shooters and weightlifters often describe finals as a different sport entirely from qualification, given the head-to-head elimination pressure and the knowledge that every shot or lift is being watched live. India’s recent near-misses suggest the country’s rising young shooters are still building the composure needed to consistently close out finals.
## Looking Ahead
With several more shooting and wrestling finals still to come in Nagoya, India will hope these narrow misses become lessons rather than a lasting pattern before the Games conclude on October 4.