Asab, Anushka Win Double Trap Nationals

Veteran shotgun shooter Mohammed Asab of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan’s Anushka Singh Bhati emerged as the standout performers in double trap, clinching the men’s and women’s national titles respectively on the concluding day of the National Shooting Championship Competitions on Tuesday.

Asab stamped his authority in the men’s event with a composed and consistent performance across four rounds, shooting 27, 25, 28 and 21 to finish with an aggregate of 101 and claim the gold medal. The experienced campaigner once again underlined his pedigree in the discipline, adding another national title to a career that has seen him remain a fixture in Indian double trap shooting for over a decade.

Former world champion Ankur Mittal, representing ONGC, pushed Asab closely but had to settle for silver with a total of 99 (26, 25, 24, 24), while Gujarat’s Ketan Bhimjibhai Patel secured the bronze with 90 hits.

In the women’s double trap final, Anushka Singh Bhati topped the field with 77 hits (14, 18, 21, 24) to clinch the national crown, reinforcing her status as one of the country’s leading performers in the discipline. The remaining podium places were decided through a shoot-off, with Madhya Pradesh’s Varsha Varman claiming the silver medal ahead of Gujarat’s Yeshaya Hafiz Contractor, who finished with bronze.

Contractor, however, emerged as one of the most impressive shooters of the day, dominating the junior and youth categories. She won gold in both events, underlining her consistency and promise across age groups. Punjab’s Krishika Joshi took silver in the junior women’s category, while Maharashtra’s Avani Alankar Koli claimed bronze. The same trio repeated their podium positions in the youth section, highlighting a strong and competitive pipeline in women’s shotgun shooting.

Punjab showcased its depth in the junior men’s double trap event, sweeping all three medals. Bhai Shiraz Singh Sidhu clinched gold after a tense shoot-off, finishing with 89+2 hits following a tie at the top. State-mate Keshav Chauhan settled for silver with 89, while Tavrez Singh Sandhu completed the all-Punjab podium by taking bronze with 83.

In the youth men’s category, Gujarat’s Manavrajinsinh Chudasama topped the standings with a score of 80. Jagatveer Singh of Punjab claimed silver with 78, while Samarjit Pranil Ingle of Maharashtra finished third with 77 to take bronze.

The conclusion of the double trap events brought the curtain down on a highly competitive National Shooting Championship season, which witnessed participation from over 17,000 shooters across rifle, pistol and shotgun disciplines, spanning senior, junior and youth categories.

Although double trap is no longer part of the Olympic programme, the discipline continues to attract strong domestic competition in India and remains a key indicator of depth and technical excellence in shotgun shooting. With several established names and emerging talents delivering high-quality performances, the championship once again highlighted the strength of India’s shooting ecosystem and the importance of domestic events in shaping the future of the sport.