Mairaj Ahmad Khan Asian Games 2026: From Cricket Bat to Shotgun
Mairaj Ahmad Khan Asian Games 2026 Journey Began With Cricket
At 50, Mairaj Ahmad Khan is preparing for his fourth Asian Games, but his sporting journey began with a cricket bat rather than a shotgun. Born in Khurja, Uttar Pradesh, Mairaj was a left-handed top-order batter who generally played at No. 3 and represented Uttar Pradesh in the CK Nayudu and Vinoo Mankad Trophy competitions. He later played inter-university cricket and featured in the Vizzy Trophy after joining Jamia Millia Islamia in 1996.
One of the most notable chapters of his cricket career came through his association with Virender Sehwag, who was among his university teammates. Mairaj recalled playing with Sehwag and facing him in the nets before the future India batter moved towards the national team.
Mairaj Ahmad Khan Asian Games 2026 Path Takes a Turn
Shooting gradually entered Mairaj’s life while he was still involved in cricket. His family had a background with firearms, and as a youngster he had tried air rifle and .22 rifle shooting. He also competed in a district-level three-position event in Bulandshahr, where he won Rs 30. Instead of keeping the prize money, Mairaj used it to buy a cricket bat.
His eventual move towards shooting came after he shifted to Delhi. A visit to the Karni Singh Shooting Range with his cousin, a Group Captain in the Indian Air Force and senior officer with the Air Force Sports Control Board, introduced him to the competitive shooting environment. Watching leading Indian shooters at the range sparked his interest in taking the sport seriously.
Mairaj Ahmad Khan Asian Games 2026 Career Takes Shape in Skeet
Mairaj began competing in both trap and skeet, but a decisive moment came at a 1999 competition in Chennai. He faced Ronjan Sodhi in a skeet shoot-off and eventually won after both shooters struggled with their targets in the opening stage.
That victory convinced Mairaj to commit fully to skeet. He stopped competing in trap and made skeet his main discipline from 1999. The decision eventually took him to the highest level of the sport.
Mairaj became the first Indian athlete to qualify for the Olympics in the shotgun skeet discipline, doing so for the 2016 Rio Olympics. He went on to compete at two Olympic Games and also won World Cup medals, including a gold and a silver.
Mairaj Ahmad Khan Asian Games 2026 Return Follows Setbacks
Mairaj’s career has also included narrow misses. He was unable to make India’s Asian Games teams for Jakarta 2018 and Hangzhou 2022, losing his place by small margins. Those disappointments made his return to the continental stage particularly significant.
His first Asian Games appearance came at Doha 2006. At the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, he finished fifth in the final, coming close to a medal without reaching the podium. Now, he is set to compete in Aichi-Nagoya as the second-oldest member of India’s contingent, behind equestrian Shruti Vora.
Mairaj Ahmad Khan Asian Games 2026 Chapter Comes With Experience
Mairaj has played down the pressure surrounding his fourth Asian Games appearance, saying he is approaching the competition like a new shooter. His longevity is particularly striking when compared with India’s youngest contingent member, teenage cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, with whom he shares a connection through the sport that first inspired his own career.
Reflecting on their age difference and contrasting journeys, Mairaj summed up his approach with the line, “He has the passion. I have the wisdom.” After more than three decades in competitive sport, two Olympic appearances and four Asian Games campaigns, the veteran shooter now heads to Japan with experience as his biggest asset.
