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Saurabh Chaudhary
Saurabh Chaudhary
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Saurabh Chaudhary (born 12 May 2002) is an Indian sport shooter who specializes in the 10 m air pistol event.[2] He rose to fame after clinching the gold medal in the 10 m air pistol event at the 2018 Asian Games, becoming the youngest Indian ever to win an Asian Games gold at just 16 years old.[3][4] He set a world junior record with a score of 246.3 in the 10 m air pistol category in 2019, a record he still holds as of 2025.[5] In recognition of his achievements, he was honored with the Arjuna Award in 2020.[6]

Key Information

Early life

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Chaudhary was born in a Jat family of farmers in Kalina village, Meerut district in Uttar Pradesh. He took up shooting at 13 and practised daily, travelling 15 km each way on buses to his club run.[7]

Career

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Months before Tokyo Olympics, Chaudhary was effected by COVID-19.[8] But, sensational shooter Chaudhary[9] fired his way into the finals of the men's 10m air pistol event by topping the qualifications at 1st position with 586/600[10] with a mind-blowing performance in the Tokyo Olympics here on Saturday. Coach hard work at Aryangateways Sports Foundation[11][12] for Saurabh proved itself in Olympics. Unfortunately in finals medal slipped off even after the entry at first position.[13]

At the age of 16 years, he won Gold n 10m air pistol at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires. And shot 244.2 to finish on top ahead of South Korea's Sung Yunho (236.7) and Switzerland's Solari Jason (215.6), who bagged silver and bronze respectively.[14]

2018

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Chaudhary became the youngest Indian shooter to win a gold medal at the Asian Games. He participated in the Youth Olympic Games 2018 in Argentina and won gold. He won three golds in the Asian Airgun Championship in 2018:the 10m air pistol competition, the team competition and in the mixed team 10m pistol.[15]

2019

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In February he won the gold medal at ISSF World Cup in Delhi.[16]

In April, he participated in Mixed Team 10m pistol with Manu Bhaker and won gold at ISSF World Cup in Beijing.[citation needed]

In May he won gold and broke the world and junior records in 10m pistol ISSF World Cup in Munich.[17]

2020

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In January 2020, he won 63rd gold at the 63rd National Shooting Championship.in men's 10 metre air pistol.[18]

2021

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In the men's 10 metre air pistol event of the Tokyo Olympics he managed to reach the final finishing in 7th place.

2025

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Saurabh returned to shooting in January 2025, setting a national record in 10m men's air pistol shooting with a score of 591,[19] winning the national selection trials. [20]

Performance record

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Youth Olympic Games

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Year Championship Venue Event Rank Score
2018 Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 10m air pistol 1st place, gold medalist(s) Score:580,Final:244.2

World Championship

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Year Championships Venue Event Rank Note
2017 World Junior Championships Suhl 10m air pistol 4th Score:578,Final:198.0
2018 World Junior Championships Changwon 10m air pistol 1st place, gold medalist(s) score:581,Final:245.5
Changwon Mixed team 10m air pistol 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) score:761,Final:407.3

Asian Games

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Year Championship Venue Event Rank Score
2018 2018 Asian Games Palembang 10m air pistol 1st place, gold medalist(s) score:586,Final:240.7

World Cup

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10m air pistol

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Year Championships Venue Event Rank Score
2021 ISSF World Cup New Delhi 10m air pistol 2nd Score:587,Final:243.2
2019 ISSF World Cup ISSF World Cup New Delhi 10m air pistol 1st Score:587,Final:245.0WR
Munich 10m air pistol 1st score:586,Final:246.3WR Jr. Sr.
Rio de Janeiro 10m air pistol 3rd score:584,Final:221.9
2019 ISSF World Cup Final Putian 10m air pistol 6th Score:581,Final:159.8
2018 Junior World Cup Suhl 10m air pistol 1st Score:583,Final:243.7

Mixed team

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Year Championships Venue Event Rank Score
2021 ISSF World Cup New Delhi Mixed team 10m air pistol 1st place, gold medalist(s) Score:384,Final:16
2019 ISSF World Cup ISSF World Cup New Delhi Mixed team 10m air pistol 1st place, gold medalist(s) Score:767,Final:478.9
Beijing Mixed team 10m air pistol 1st place, gold medalist(s) Score:482,Final16
Munich Mixed team 10m air pistol 1st place, gold medalist(s) score:591,Final:17
Rio de Janeiro Mixed team 10m air pistol 1st place, gold medalist(s) Score:-,Final:17
2019 ISSF World Cup Final Putian Mixed team 10m air pistol 2nd place, silver medalist(s) score:389,Final:13
2018 Junior World Cup Suhl Mixed team 10m air pistol 1st place, gold medalist(s) Score:767,Final:478.9

Honours

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The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi greeted Saurabh Chaudhary as Gold Medalist youth Olympian, in Delhi on 21 October 2018
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Kiren Rijiju (Minister) presenting the Arjuna Award, 2020 to Saurabh Chaudhary the shooter of Aryangateways Sports Foundation at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on 29 August 2020

See also

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References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Saurabh Chaudhary (born 12 May 2002) is an Indian sport shooter specializing in the 10 m air pistol discipline. Hailing from a rural farming background in , he rose to global prominence as a teenage prodigy by clinching the gold in the men's 10 m air pistol at the in , where he set an Asian Games record with a final score of 240.7. Despite entering the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as a medal favorite, he placed seventh in the event and also in the mixed team competition. Following a period of inconsistency, Chaudhary staged a notable resurgence in 2025, securing an bronze in the men's 10 m air pistol at the in alongside mixed team medals, including a gold with partner Suruchi Phogat. Born in Kalina village, , , Chaudhary grew up as the son of farmer Jagmohan Singh and assisted with family agricultural work during his early years. He discovered in 2014 at the Veer Shahmal Rifle Academy in nearby Bagpat, initially treating it as a before committing fully in 2016, often commuting 30 km daily to training facilities. Facing financial hurdles, his family secured a bank loan and contributions from acquaintances to buy his first and establish a home practice range, enabling consistent training despite limited resources. Chaudhary's career is marked by early dominance in junior and senior international events, including a at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games in and a gold plus bronze at the in . He set the junior world record of 246.3 in the 10 m air pistol in 2019 and has since collected nine golds, two silvers, and four bronzes across ISSF World Cups from 2019 to 2025. On the Asian stage, his accolades include two golds and three silvers at the between 2016 and 2025, underscoring his role as one of India's premier pistol shooters.

Early life

Family and upbringing

Saurabh Chaudhary was born on 12 May 2002 in Kalina village, located in the of , . He hails from a farming family, with his father, Jagmohan Singh, working as a sugarcane farmer and his mother, Brijesh Devi, handling household responsibilities. As the youngest of three siblings, Chaudhary grew up alongside his elder brother Nitin and sister Sakshi in this agrarian household. The family's rural environment in Kalina, characterized by limited resources and a focus on agricultural labor, instilled values of self-reliance and perseverance from an early age. Despite financial constraints, his parents provided unwavering support for his pursuits, including taking a to acquire his first air and constructing a basic shooting setup between rooms at home. This familial encouragement facilitated his initial steps toward competitive shooting. Chaudhary possesses a lean physique well-suited to precision shooting, standing at 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) tall.

Introduction to shooting

Saurabh Chaudhary first engaged with shooting at the age of 13 in 2015, when he accompanied a friend to a local shooting range in , , sparking his interest in the sport's demand for patience and composure. He soon joined the Aryangateways Sports Foundation in Binauli, Baghpat district, a facility run by local initiatives to promote sports in rural areas, where he began rigorous daily training under coach Amit Sheoran. Chaudhary commuted 15 kilometers each way by bus from his village in the Kalina area of Meerut to attend sessions, demonstrating early commitment despite the logistical hurdles. To supplement academy training, his family converted a cowshed at home into a basic 15-meter , allowing consistent practice with limited equipment despite rural infrastructure challenges. Family support enabled him to balance farm duties with his growing passion for . Chaudhary's initial focus was on the 10m air pistol event, selected for its relative accessibility using lighter equipment suitable for juniors starting in the discipline.

Shooting career

Breakthrough achievements (2018–2019)

Saurabh Chaudhary's breakthrough came in 2018 at the age of 16 during his debut senior international competition at the in , where he won the gold medal in the men's 10m air pistol event, becoming the youngest Indian athlete to claim an gold in shooting. In the final, he set an Asian Games record with a score of 240.7, outpacing seasoned competitors including Japan's Tomoyuki Matsuda and India's Verma. This victory marked India's first shooting gold at the Games and highlighted Chaudhary's composure under pressure in a high-stakes arena. Later that year, Chaudhary dominated the Asian Airgun Championship in , securing three gold medals in the men's 10m air pistol individual junior event, the team event alongside Arjun Singh Cheema and Anmol Jain, and the junior team event. His performance in the individual junior category, scoring 239.8 in the final, underscored his growing prowess in junior competitions. These wins built on his early training foundation, propelling him toward global recognition as a junior prodigy. In June 2018, Chaudhary claimed gold at the ISSF Junior World Cup in Suhl, Germany, setting a then-world junior record in the final of the men's 10m air pistol junior event. Transitioning to senior events in 2019, he excelled at the ISSF World Cup in Munich, winning gold in the men's 10m air pistol with a world junior record score of 246.3 and another gold in the mixed team event partnered with Manu Bhaker. These achievements, part of his four World Cup golds that year, established him as a leading figure in international pistol shooting before turning 18.

Olympic debut (2020–2021)

In early 2020, Saurabh Chaudhary demonstrated his continued dominance in the 10m air pistol event by clinching the gold medal at the 63rd National Shooting Championship in , where he scored 583 in qualification and 246.4 in the final to edge out Sarabjot Singh. This victory served as a key milestone in his preparations for the Tokyo Olympics, building on his Olympic quota secured the previous year and reinforcing his status as a leading junior talent with multiple world records. As the delayed the Tokyo 2020 Games to 2021, Chaudhary entered the year with high expectations, having held the junior in 10m air since 2018 and ranked among the top senior competitors globally. His qualification for the Olympics stemmed from his 2019 quota win, positioning him as India's prime medal hopeful in the discipline amid a competitive field. Leading up to the Games, he partnered with to secure gold in the 10m air mixed team event at the in in March 2021, scoring 376 in qualification and defeating the Serbian pair in the final. In , the duo added a silver at the in , , after a strong comeback in the bronze match but falling 16-12 to the Russian champions in the gold medal bout. At the Tokyo Olympics, held in July 2021, Chaudhary made his senior international debut under immense pressure as the world junior champion and a pre-Games favorite. He topped the men's 10m air qualification round at the with a score of 586, including a perfect 100 in the fourth series, to advance as the top seed. However, in the eight-man final, a slow start with scores of 96.8 after the first 10 shots and multiple low 9s led to an early drop in standings, culminating in a total of 137.4 for seventh place as Chinese shooter Sheng Lihao claimed with 243.8. Despite the result, his qualification performance highlighted his potential, marking a solid Olympic entry for the 19-year-old prodigy.

Career challenges (2022–2024)

Following his seventh-place finish in the men's 10m air pistol final at the Tokyo Olympics, Saurabh Chaudhary experienced a significant dip in performance, marked by technical inconsistencies in trigger control and sight alignment that led to erratic scores in domestic competitions. In early 2023, he cited ongoing work on these fundamentals after scoring poorly in national trials, including a 557 at the National Games—his lowest among 56 ranked shooters—and finishing 203rd at the National Championships with a 569. During 2022 and 2023, Chaudhary failed to qualify for key events, including the in , where he did not make the national squad after underwhelming trial results, and the ISSF World Championships. Ranked 35th in the of India's provisional 10m air pistol standings by late 2023, he was omitted from the core squad amid self-taught adjustments and lack of structured coaching. This period was compounded by a bitter split from his childhood coach, Sheoran, shortly after ; the acrimonious fallout involved public accusations of fraud against Sheoran, leading Chaudhary to train independently before joining the National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) at Range in in 2023. In 2024, Chaudhary remained absent from the Paris Olympics, as he was not in contention for selection following continued domestic struggles and no quota secured. To address financial uncertainty during this career low, he secured a job with in 2024, providing stability as he focused on rebuilding at age 21 amid reflections on the immense pressure from early expectations. He made no major international appearances after 2023, with the Olympic disappointment deeply affecting his mental resilience, as noted by Olympic champion , who highlighted Chaudhary's lack of self-awareness in addressing .

Comeback and recent successes (2025)

In early 2025, Saurabh Chaudhary marked his return to elite competition by topping the national selection trials for the 10m air pistol event, where he established a new national record score of 591 during the qualification round at the National Shooting Championship in January, securing his place in the Indian national team after a two-year hiatus. This performance, confirmed in February trials, positioned him for international events and highlighted his renewed consistency. Chaudhary's international comeback began at the in in April 2025, where he partnered with Suruchi Phogat to claim in the 10m air mixed event, defeating compatriots and Rhythm Sangwan 16-8 in the bronze medal match. Just weeks later, at the , he secured a in the men's 10m air individual event with a qualification score of 583, followed by a strong final performance that opened India's medal tally for the competition, and a gold in the mixed event with Suruchi Phogat. In August 2025, Chaudhary contributed to a in the men's 10m air team event at the alongside Anmol Jain and Aditya Malra. These achievements were bolstered by targeted training adjustments at the National Centre of Excellence in , where Chaudhary refined his trigger control and breathing techniques under coach guidance, contributing to India's impressive haul of 15 medals across the first two ISSF World Cups of the year. The challenges of his previous hiatus motivated this focused resurgence, emphasizing mental resilience alongside technical improvements. As of November 2025, Chaudhary continues to build momentum, with his early-season medals signaling a strong trajectory toward regaining peak form for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Competition record

Olympic Games

Saurabh Chaudhary made his Olympic debut at the 2020 Games, postponed to 2021 due to the , where he competed in the men's 10 m air pistol event. He delivered a strong performance in the qualification round, scoring 586 points to top the field and advance to the eight-shooter final. In the final, Chaudhary accumulated 137.4 points but placed seventh overall, missing out on a . He also placed seventh in the mixed team competition. Chaudhary did not participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics, having failed to secure a quota place through the qualification process. The table below summarizes his Olympic results in the individual event:
OlympicsEventQualification ScoreFinal ScorePosition
2020 Men's 10 m air pistol586137.47th

World Championships and Youth Olympic Games

Saurabh Chaudhary achieved significant success in junior international competitions early in his career, particularly at the and the . At the in , , he competed in the junior category and secured gold in the men's 10m air pistol event with a qualification score of 581 and a final score of 245.5, setting a new junior at the time. He also earned bronze in the mixed team 10m air pistol junior event alongside a partner, with a combined qualification score of 761 and final score of 407.3. In the same year, Chaudhary represented at the Summer in , , where he won gold in the men's 10m air youth event, qualifying with 580 points and finishing the final with 244.2. Additionally, he claimed gold in the mixed international team 10m air youth event, paired with Pakistan's Nubaira , defeating the German team 16-8 in the gold medal match. These accomplishments highlighted his dominance in the 10m air discipline at the junior level. He also won gold in the 10m air junior event at the ISSF Junior in in 2018, with a qualification score of 580. Chaudhary has not medaled in senior ISSF World Shooting Championships since transitioning to the senior category, with his focus shifting to other international events amid career challenges. In 2019, at the ISSF World Cup in Munich, he established a lasting junior world record of 246.3 in the men's 10m air pistol final, which remains unbroken as of 2025.
YearEventDisciplineMedalDetails
2018ISSF World Shooting Championships, ChangwonMen's 10m Air Pistol JuniorGoldQualification: 581; Final: 245.5 (junior world record at the time)
2018ISSF World Shooting Championships, ChangwonMixed Team 10m Air Pistol JuniorBronzeQualification: 761; Final: 407.3
2018Summer Youth Olympic Games, Buenos AiresMen's 10m Air Pistol YouthGoldQualification: 580; Final: 244.2
2018Summer Youth Olympic Games, Buenos AiresMixed International Team 10m Air Pistol YouthGoldGold medal match win 16-8 vs. Germany (partner: Nubaira Babur, PAK)

Asian Games and Championships

Saurabh Chaudhary established himself as a prominent figure in Asian competitions during his early career, particularly in the 10m air , where he excelled in both individual and team formats. At just 16 years old, he debuted as the youngest medalist in these events, showcasing exceptional precision and composure under pressure. His breakthrough came at the in , , where he secured the gold medal in the men's 10m air pistol event. Chaudhary topped the qualification round with a score of 586 and dominated the final with 240.7 points, setting an Asian Games record and defeating seasoned competitors from across the continent. This victory highlighted his focus on the individual 10m air pistol, marking India's first shooting gold at the Games. Earlier that year, at the 2018 Asian Airgun Championship in , , Chaudhary claimed three gold medals in the 10m air events: the men's , , and junior categories. These triumphs underscored his versatility in team-based competitions alongside individual prowess, contributing significantly to India's medal haul in airgun disciplines. Following these successes, Chaudhary faced challenges with his form, leading to his non-participation in the in , , and the 2023 Asian Shooting Championships in , . This period allowed him to address technical and mental aspects of his performance, emphasizing the demanding nature of consistent excellence in 10m air pistol events at the Asian level. In 2025, he won mixed team bronze at the Asian Shooting Championships in with Suruchi Phogat.
YearEventDisciplineResult
2018Asian Games, Men's 10m air (individual) (final: 240.7, record)
2018Asian Airgun Championship, Men's 10m air (individual)
2018Asian Airgun Championship, Men's 10m air (team)
2018Asian Airgun Championship, Men's 10m air (junior team)
2022Asian Games, -Did not participate (form issues)
2023Asian Shooting Championships, -Did not participate (form issues)
2025Asian Shooting Championships, Mixed Team 10m air Bronze (partner: Suruchi Phogat)

ISSF World Cups

Saurabh Chaudhary has competed in the series since 2018, showcasing strong performances in the 10m air pistol events, particularly during his breakthrough years. In 2019, he achieved multiple golds, including the men's individual event in where he set a final score of 246.3, and mixed team golds in and alongside . He also excelled in junior competitions, winning gold in the 10m air pistol junior event at the ISSF Junior World Cup in in 2018, with a qualification score of 580, though his 2019 junior appearances were limited. He won individual gold in 2019 (qualification 587, final 245.0) and bronze in Rio 2019 (qualification 584, final 221.9). In 2021, Chaudhary secured a mixed team gold in with Yashaswini Singh Deswal and a silver in with , while earning silver in the individual event in (qualification 587) and bronze in . His 2023 season featured limited participation, including the and Rio de Janeiro World Cups, where he placed outside the medals—33rd in and did not advance to finals in Rio—amid career challenges. Returning strongly in 2025, Chaudhary won bronze in the mixed team event in with Suruchi Phogat and bronze in the individual event in (final score not specified in reports), followed by a in the Lima mixed team with the same partner, defeating 17-9 in the final. These results marked his first World Cup medals since 2021. The following tables summarize his key performances in the specified sub-events across seasons, focusing on medal-winning results and notable participations.

10m Air Pistol Men (Individual)

YearLocationMedalQualification ScoreFinal ScoreNotes
2019MunichGold586246.3World and junior world record in final.
2019New DelhiGold587245.0Olympic quota.
2019Rio de JaneiroBronze584221.9-
2019Beijing---Did not medal in individual.
2021New DelhiSilver587243.2Competed in finals.
2021OsijekBronze581220.0First medal of the event.
2023Cairo---33rd place overall.
2023Rio de Janeiro---Did not reach finals.
2025Buenos Aires---18th in qualification.
2025LimaBronze--First individual medal since 2021.

10m Air Pistol Mixed Team

YearLocationMedalPartnerQualification ScoreFinal ResultNotes
2019BeijingGoldManu Bhaker-16-2Defeated China in gold match.
2019MunichGoldManu Bhaker--Third consecutive mixed team gold for the pair.
2019New DelhiGoldManu Bhaker778483.4Team qualification success.
2021New DelhiGoldYashaswini Singh Deswal--Team qualification success.
2021OsijekSilverManu Bhaker-12-16Lost gold match to Turkey.
2023-----No mixed team appearances.
2025Buenos AiresBronzeSuruchi Phogat--Shared bronze with China.
2025LimaGoldSuruchi Phogat57917-9Defeated China in gold match.

Awards and honors

References

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