Archive · 13 Sep 2026
Rahi Sarnobat Rebuilds Her Shooting Career Before Asian Games
Rahi Sarnobat is an Indian pistol shooter preparing for the Asian Games.
She is 35 years old and has been shooting for 22 years.
In 2022, nerve pain made her so ill that she had to stay in bed.
It took a long time for her to recover, and she stopped taking medicine in 2025.
When she returned to shooting, she could practice for only about one minute.
Over 13 to 14 months, she slowly built her stamina back.
She now pays closer attention to signs of stress from her body and mind.
Rest, meditation, swimming and music help her relax.
Winning the T4 trials helped her return to India’s national team and compete for an Asian Games place.
Rahi Sarnobat, 35, is returning to India’s national pistol-shooting team after recovering from debilitating neuropathic pain.
The Maharashtra shooter was bedridden in 2022 and stopped taking medication only in 2025.
She initially could shoot for just one minute but took 13 to 14 months to build up to five or six hours of training.
Sarnobat says she now prioritizes listening to her body, managing stress and using rest, meditation, swimming or music to recover.
After winning the T4 trials, she moved into contention behind Esha Singh and Manu Bhaker for the Asian Games 25m pistol team.
- Who
- Rahi Sarnobat, a 35-year-old Indian pistol shooter from Maharashtra.
- What
- She has rebuilt her stamina and returned to India’s national shooting team after recovering from neuropathic pain.
- When
- She became ill in 2022, stopped medication in 2025, and took approximately 13 to 14 months to regain extended shooting capacity.
- Where
- Her recovery and training took place within India’s shooting system, including the national camp in Dehradun.
- Why
- She wants to compete at the Asian Games while managing her body and stress differently from earlier in her career.
- Age
- 35
- Sport
- Pistol shooting
- Health setback
- Neuropathic pain diagnosed after she became bedridden in 2022
- Medication
- She was completely off medication in 2025
- Stamina recovery
- Approximately 13 to 14 months to reach five to six hours of shooting
- Selection milestone
- Won the T4 trials
- Asian Games event
- 25m pistol