India held firm at second place behind China at the ongoing ISSF World Shooting Championships in Cairo, Egypt, with a haul of three gold, five silver and three bronze medals.
The charge was led by 20-year-old Samrat Rana from Karnal, Haryana, who stunned the shooting world by winning the men’s 10m air pistol gold, adding another gold in the team event.
Rana’s Golden Debut
The son of a farmer with no formal sporting background, Rana shot 243.7 in the 24-shot final to edge out China’s Hu Kai by 0.4 points, while compatriot Varun Tomar took bronze.
A third-year student at Kurukshetra University, Rana was competing in only his second seni or international event. His win sparked excitement across India’s shooting fraternity.
It all started when I was 13. My father always loved shooting but didn’t know how to take it forward. I found a nearby range online, tried a pistol and fell in love with it. He bought me one and built a lane at home to practise. He’s still my coach.
Rana’s journey from a local range in Uplana village to the world stage includes medals at the Khelo India Youth Games and the 2022 Junior World Championships in Cairo. He switched to senior level this year, aiming for the biggest stage: the Olympics.
Mixed Team Silver for Samrat and Esha
Rana later teamed up with Olympian Esha Singh to win silver in the 10m air pistol mixed team event, losing 10–16 to China’s Hu Kai and Qianxun Yao in the final.
Anish Bhanwala Breaks Through with Silver
Olympian Anish Bhanwala clinched silver in the rapid fire pistol after surviving four tense shoot-offs. The 23-year-old from Sonipat stayed calm to beat Maksym Horodynets of Ukraine before falling narrowly to France’s Clement Bessaguet.
It’s difficult to describe the feeling. I’ve tried many times before, but this time I was better prepared. It’s been 11 years waiting for this medal.”
He added, “My sister was also an international shooter, so the inspiration was close. I wanted to qualify for the World Cup Finals, and winning a medal here helped me tick that box.”
Aishwary Equals World Record
Two-time Olympian Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar equalled the world record and claimed silver in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions, scoring 466.9; just 0.2 behind Olympic champion Liu Yukun of China.
In the women’s 3P event, Ashi Chouksey and Anjum Moudgil narrowly missed out on finals qualification, finishing 15th and 17th. Norway’s Jeanette Hegg Duestad took gold, followed by Switzerland’s Emely Jaeggi and Great Britain’s Seonaid McIntosh.
India’s Medal Tally Grows
With three gold, five silver and three bronze medals, India continues to trail China, which leads the table with eight golds and a total of 15 medals. The results underline India’s growing strength in shooting, with a new generation of stars making their mark on the world stage.
