China’s dominance in shooting was once again evident at the recently concluded ISSF World Cup Final in New Delhi. Chinese shooters claimed eight medals, including five golds, reinforcing their supremacy in the sport.
India, with a 23-member contingent, finished ninth with four medals. Sonam Maskar and Vivaan Kapoor won silver in the 10m air rifle and trap events, respectively, while Akhil Sheoran and Anantjeet Singh Naruka secured bronze in the 50m 3P and skeet competitions.
Despite the absence of Paris Olympics bronze medallists Manu Bhaker, Sarabjot Singh, and Swapnil Kusale, India had nine shooters who had competed in Paris. However, only four – Arjun Babuta, Arjun Singh Cheema, Rhythm Sangwan, and Naruka – advanced past the qualification stage.
The event showcased the success of India’s young shooters. Maskar and Kapoor, both on the fringes of the first-choice team, secured their maiden senior individual World Cup medals. Maskar’s success adds to the intense competition in the women’s 10m rifle event, where Elavenil Valarivan, Mehuli Ghosh, and Ramita Jindal are also vying for top spots.
In the women’s pistol events, Surbhi Rao and Simranpreet Brar performed well in the absence of Esha Singh and Palak Gulia. In the men’s air rifle division, Divyansh Singh Panwar’s comeback bid ended in eighth place, while Babuta struggled with flashbacks of Paris.
However, the shotgun shooters provided a bright spot for India. Naruka’s World Cup Final bronze is another milestone in his upward trajectory, while Kapoor’s performance has him eyeing the 2028 Olympics.
NRAI president Kalikesh Singh Deo expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, highlighting the number of shooters who made the finals and came close to medals. He also praised the success in shotgun events, traditionally a challenge for India.
The competition was the first ISSF event post-Olympics, giving shooters limited time to peak. Despite this, Hungary’s Istvan Peni medalled in both his events.
As the international calendar closes for the year, Indian shooters will prepare for the Nationals in December, marking the start of another Olympics cycle.
