Kinley Dema Competes in Women’s 10m Air Rifle at Asian Para Games 2026
Bhutanese para-shooter Kinley Dema finished 16th in the R2 – Women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 qualification at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games, scoring 611.3 points in the qualification round out of 21 participants. Competing against a strong international field, Kinley demonstrated her commitment and composure throughout the event. However, with only the top eight shooters advancing to the final, she was unable to secure a place in the medal round.
Kinley hails from Wangdue Phodrang and has been pursuing para-shooting as part of Bhutan’s growing efforts to develop opportunities for athletes with disabilities. Through her participation in national and international competitions, she has continued to gain experience and build her skills in a sport that demands precision, consistency, concentration, and mental strength.
The R2 event is the Women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing competition for athletes classified under SH1. It requires competitors to maintain stability and accuracy while shooting at a target from a distance of 10 metres. Athletes compete in a qualification round, with the eight highest-scoring shooters progressing to the final. In such a demanding event, even small variations in accuracy can influence an athlete’s overall ranking.
Kinley’s score of 611.3 points placed her 16th overall, bringing her qualification campaign to a close. Although she missed the opportunity to advance to the final, competing at a major continental event provided valuable exposure to high-level competition and offered an important benchmark for her continued development.
The experience will help Kinley and her coaching team assess her performance against some of Asia’s leading para-shooters, identify areas for improvement and establish targets for future training. International competitions also provide athletes with opportunities to strengthen their competitive confidence, refine their techniques and better understand the standards required to progress to the final stages.
Her participation in Aichi-Nagoya 2026 represents another step in her sporting journey and contributes to Bhutan’s continued presence in international para-sport. The Bhutan Paralympic Committee acknowledges Kinley’s dedication and the efforts of her coaches throughout her preparation. Appreciation is also extended to her family, friends, and supporters for their continued encouragement.
