It was a day of mixed fortunes for India on the second day of the ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol at the Ningbo Olympic Sports Center in China.
Samrat Rana endured heartbreak in the Men’s 10m Air Pistol (APM) qualification, missing the finals berth by the slimmest of margins on inner 10s, while Divya T.S. kept the country’s medal hopes alive with a steady performance in the Women’s 25m Pistol (SPW) Precision Stage. The ISSF World Cup in Ningbo has attracted some of the best marksmen and women from across the globe, and for India, the competition has so far highlighted both the fine margins that define success in shooting and the resilience of its athletes.
Rana’s Agonising Exit in Men’s 10m Air Pistol
Samrat Rana entered the day with confidence, aiming for his maiden senior World Cup finals appearance. Over six series in qualification, Rana displayed solid shooting, finishing with a total of 582-20x (96, 98, 92, 95, 99, 97). His consistency kept him in the hunt throughout, but ultimately, it was not enough. The eighth and final qualifying spot went to Iran’s Vahid Golkhandan, who also shot 582 but with 25 inner 10s, compared to Rana’s 20. In ISSF competitions, when shooters tie on score, the number of inner 10s—the shots closest to the absolute center of the target serves as the tiebreaker. Rana fell short by just five, finishing 10th overall.
For the young Indian, it was a bittersweet outcome. While he proved he belongs in the company of the world’s best, the narrow miss underscored how unforgiving the sport can be. Among the other Indians in the APM field, Amit Sharma finished 28th with 576-18x (97, 96, 97, 93, 98, 95), while Nishant Rawat placed 42nd with 568-11x (97, 97, 95, 91, 92, 96). Both showed flashes of good shooting but were unable to mount a serious push for the finals.
The final, meanwhile, was dominated by the host nation. China’s Kai Hu, the reigning Asian Champion, continued his extraordinary 2025 campaign by clinching the gold with a score of 242.3. This was his fifth senior gold of the year, having already swept all previous World Cup stages and the Asian Championships. His compatriot Changjie You settled for silver with 241.5, while Switzerland’s Jason Solari took bronze on 220.4.
Hu’s dominance has become the story of the season in men’s pistol shooting, and his triumph in front of the home crowd reinforced his status as the man to beat ahead of the next Olympic cycle.
Divya T.S. Strong in 25m Pistol Precision Stage
If Rana’s narrow miss brought disappointment, Divya T.S. offered optimism in the Women’s 25m Pistol event. Competing in the Precision Stage of qualification, Divya produced a composed series of 291-14x (97, 94, 100) to stand seventh at the halfway stage. Her performance ensures that she remains well in the mix for the top eight, which will qualify for the finals after tomorrow’s Rapid-Fire Stage. The final is scheduled for September 11 at 9:15 AM IST.
At the top of the standings is China’s Qianxun Yao, who impressed with 298-11x, underlining the hosts’ depth across disciplines. Korea’s Yejin Oh is just ahead of Divya with 291-15x, demonstrating how tight the contest is likely to be when the second stage unfolds. Other Indians in the fray endured mixed results. Abhidnya Ashok Patil shot 288-7x (96, 96, 96), placing 19th, while Olympian Rahi Sarnobat finished 26th with 286-8x (95, 93, 98). For Rahi, a seasoned campaigner, the outing highlighted the challenges of regaining top form in a field increasingly crowded with younger talent.
Divya, however, remains India’s best hope in this event, and her ability to maintain composure in the rapid-fire stage will be key to her chances of making the final and pushing for a medal.
Big Names Await in Men’s 10m Air Rifle
Day 3 in Ningbo promises more action for India with the spotlight shifting to the Men’s 10m Air Rifle (ARM) qualification. India will field a strong trio of Umamahesh Maddenini, Divyansh Singh Panwar, and Niraj Kumar, who will all be eyeing places in the final scheduled for 12 noon IST tomorrow. The ARM field is stacked with world-class names. Reigning Olympic champion Sheng Lihao of China leads the line-up, alongside Sweden’s Paris Olympic silver medallist Victor Lindgren. World No.2 Istvan Peni of Hungary, World No.3 Ilia Marsov (Neutral), and Norway’s World No.4 Jon-Hermann Hegg who won the mixed team gold yesterday are all in contention.
Adding to the depth are China’s Lu Dingke and Korea’s Hajun Park, both medallists at the last Asian Championships. For India, the challenge will be significant, but with Panwar’s proven pedigree and Maddenini’s recent rise in form, there is quiet optimism that the tricolour could be represented in the final.
Day 2 in Ningbo was a reminder of the fine margins that define shooting at the highest level. For Rana, it was heartbreak on inner 10s, while for Divya, it was the satisfaction of still being in contention. With a tough field ahead in the coming days, Indian shooters will need to combine precision with consistency to turn promising starts into podium finishes.
All finals of the ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol Ningbo are being streamed live on the ISSF YouTube channel, allowing fans worldwide to witness the drama unfold in real time.
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