The NRAI National Selection Trials 2025, held at the Trishul Shooting Range in Dehradun, continued to showcase intense competition among India’s finest rifle and pistol shooters.
Strong performances at Dehradun trials shape Indian squad for Asian Championships and ISSF World Cup in Ningbo
On day three and four of the trials, Olympians and emerging stars delivered statement performances that have helped shape India’s shooting contingent for the upcoming Asian Shooting Championships and ISSF World Cup in Ningbo, China, scheduled for later this year.
Sift Kaur Samra Leads 3P Charge
Continuing her consistent form, Sift Kaur Samra shot an exceptional 594 in the qualification round of the women’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions (3P) event in Trial 4, reaffirming her position as one of the best in the country. Close on her heels was Mehuli Ghosh, who, despite being primarily known for her 10m Air Rifle prowess, registered an impressive 593.
However, it was Vidarsa Vinod of Kerala who edged out a world-class final field that included Sift, Anjum Moudgil, and Nischal. Vidarsa clinched the final with 462.7 points, finishing just 0.3 points ahead of Anjum (462.4), while Nischal took third.
With the trials concluded, Sift, Anjum, and Ashi Chouksey have earned their berths in the Indian team for the Asian Championships and ISSF World Cup in Ningbo in the women’s 3P category.
Esha Singh Reigns Supreme in 25m Pistol
Olympian and reigning world champion in the 10m mixed pistol, Esha Singh, underlined her class with a superb comeback win in the women’s 25m Pistol Trial 3 final. Esha, who qualified third with a score of 580, trailed Abhidnya Patil by two points after seven series in the final but delivered a flawless final push with perfect five-hit and four-hit series to end on 41 points.
Abhidnya, who had led with a 585 in qualifications, settled for silver with 36 points, while Tamil Nadu’s Niveditha Nair finished third with 30 points.
Esha’s late surge was a masterclass in composure and execution, reinforcing her status as one of India’s brightest prospects in pistol shooting heading into the 2025 international season.
Parth Mane Upsets Aishwary in Men’s 10m Air Rifle
In one of the most fiercely contested events, Maharashtra’s Parth Rakesh Mane stunned two-time Olympian Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar to win the men’s 10m Air Rifle T4 final. Aishwary had topped the qualification round with 633.5, while Parth qualified fourth with 631.9.
The final saw early dominance from Uma Mahesh Maddineni, but Parth gradually climbed up the standings. After drawing level with Aishwary on the 16th shot of the elimination stage, a brilliant 10.7 on the 17th shot gave him the lead. He held on strongly to win the final with 251.8, narrowly edging out Aishwary by 0.3 points, who scored 251.5. Uma had to settle for bronze.
Parth’s victory not only boosts Maharashtra’s medal tally but also adds depth to India’s already strong air rifle unit. Following the completion of all trials, Rudrankksh Patil, Arjun Babuta, and Kiran Ankush Jadhav have been selected to represent India in the men’s air rifle category at the Asian Championships and World Cup Ningbo.
Anish Bhanwala Secures Back-to-Back Wins in 25m Rapid Fire
India’s Tokyo Olympian Anish Bhanwala sealed his second straight victory in the men’s 25m Rapid Fire Pistol Trial-4, cementing his place at the top of the national rankings. Anish qualified in first place with a combined score of 584-20x (291 in Stage 1, 293 in Stage 2), and went on to shoot 30 in the final, edging out Navy’s Pradeep Singh Shekhawat who scored 29.
Haryana’s Adarsh Singh finished third with a score of 23, having qualified second with 581-14x. Other finalists included Mandeep Singh (579), Bhavesh Shekhawat (577), and Udhayveer Sidhu (576).
With this result, Anish, along with Neeraj Kumar and Adarsh Singh, top the national rankings and are expected to be selected for the Indian team for Ningbo and the Asian Championships.
Narmada Nithin Tops Women’s 10m Air Rifle Trial 3
In the women’s 10m Air Rifle T3 final, Narmada Nithin came out on top with a final score of 253.7, ahead of Sonam Maskar (252) and Rajshree Sancheti (230). The qualification round saw close competition, with Mehuli Ghosh leading the pack at 632.2, just ahead of Sonam (632.1) and Rajshree (631.9).
Though Narmada had a modest qualification at 629.5, her strong final performance ensured victory. Other top qualifiers included Shreya Agrawal (630.5), Vidarsa K Vinod (630.3), Ayonika Paul (629.4), and Dhyaneswari Patil (629.3).
Summary of Key Results: NRAI National Selection Trials 3 & 4
Women’s 50m Rifle 3P T4:
- 🥇 Vidarsa Vinod
- 🥈 Anjum Moudgil
- 🥉 Nischal
Women’s 25m Pistol T3:
- 🥇 Esha Singh
- 🥈 Abhidnya Patil
- 🥉 Niveditha Nair
Men’s 10m Air Rifle T4:
- 🥇 Parth Rakesh Mane
- 🥈 Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar
- 🥉 Uma Mahesh Maddineni
Women’s 10m Air Rifle T3:
- 🥇 Narmada Nithin
- 🥈 Sonam Maskar
- 🥉 Rajshree Sancheti
Men’s 25m Rapid Fire Pistol T4:
- 🥇 Anish Bhanwala
- 🥈 Pradeep Singh Shekhawat
- 🥉 Adarsh Singh
Selections for Asian Championship & ISSF World Cup Ningbo:
- Women’s 3P: Sift Samra, Anjum Moudgil, Ashi Chouksey
- Men’s Rapid Fire: Anish Bhanwala, Neeraj Kumar, Adarsh Singh
- Men’s Air Rifle: Rudrankksh Patil, Arjun Babuta, Kiran Jadhav
With trials concluded, the focus now shifts to the Asian Shooting Championships and World Cup in Ningbo, where India’s shooters will look to translate their domestic dominance into international success.
