India’s next generation of shooters delivered a stellar performance at the ISSF Junior World Cup in New Delhi, with multiple medals across rifle and pistol events, highlighted by Himanshu’s gold medal in the men’s 10m air rifle and a podium sweep in the women’s 10m air rifle.
The competitions at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range once again underlined India’s growing depth in shooting, with teenagers producing performances that rival senior standards.
In the men’s 10m air rifle, Himanshu was in supreme touch throughout. After topping the qualification with a score of 633.7, he carried his momentum into the final, holding his composure under pressure to finish with a score of 250.9 and claim the gold medal.
His victory was not just about precision but also consistency across 24 shots in the final, where each decimal point mattered. Himanshu’s ability to remain calm in the closing series, where the difference between gold and silver came down to tenths, was a hallmark of his mental strength.
India’s dominance was further underlined by Abhinav Shaw, who claimed bronze with a score of 228.4, after qualifying fifth with 628.4. The third Indian finalist, Vanitha Suresh, shot 629.5 in qualification (4th best) before finishing 5th in the final with 187.0.
Podium Sweep in Women’s 10m Air Rifle
The standout moment of the day came in the women’s junior 10m air rifle, where India completed a historic podium sweep.
- Gold – Ojasvi Thakur with 252.7
- Silver – Hrudya Shri Kondur with 250.2
- Bronze – Shambhavi Kshirsagar with 229.4
What made the sweep even more special was that the three shooters also dominated qualification: Shambhavi led with 632.0, Ojasvi was close behind at 631.9, and Hrudya secured third with 629.8.
In the final, Ojasvi held her nerve to finish 2.5 points clear of Hrudya, while Shambhavi did enough to clinch bronze and complete an all-India podium. It was a symbolic moment for the strength of India’s women shooters at the junior level, sending a clear signal of promise ahead of senior transitions.
Mukesh and Suraj On Podium in 25m Rapid Fire Pistol
India’s success was not confined to rifle events. In the 25m rapid fire pistol, Mukesh Nelavalli and Suraj Sharma produced strong performances to finish on the podium.
Mukesh, the reigning Junior World Champion, narrowly missed out on another gold, losing in a shoot-off to Kovalev (AIN) after both finished tied. Mukesh shot 571 in qualification and managed 27 hits out of 40 in the final, taking the silver medal.
Suraj Sharma added to India’s tally with the bronze, scoring 577 in qualification and securing 21 hits out of 35. Fellow Indian Sameer placed fourth, shooting 572 in qualification and managing 15 hits in the final.
Adriyan Karmakar Adds Another Medal in 50m Rifle 3 Positions
Young rifle talent Adriyan Karmakar continued his fine run in the 50m rifle 3 positions, winning silver at the New Delhi leg of the Junior World Cup. He had earlier claimed bronze in the first leg of the World Cup this year and struck gold at the Asian Junior Championships, where he also set an Asian junior record.
His silver in Delhi further consolidates his reputation as one of the most promising names in Indian rifle shooting. Adriyan’s steady progression across events is seen as a key sign of his ability to translate junior success to senior levels in the coming years.
Perhaps the most commanding performance came from Anushka Thokur, who won the 50m rifle 3 positions gold with a score of 461.0, finishing a clear 6.1 points ahead of her nearest rival.
For Anushka, this medal adds to an already glittering junior CV:
- Gold in 50m R3P at the Junior World Cup
- Gold in 50m prone at the Junior World Cup
- Gold in 50m R3P at the Asian Junior Championships
- Gold in the 50m R3P team event at the Asian Juniors
Her ability to dominate across multiple rifle events at a young age makes her one of the brightest prospects for India in the Olympic pathway.
The medal haul from Day 2 of the ISSF Junior World Cup highlighted the extraordinary depth of India’s shooting ecosystem. From air rifle to rapid fire pistol and 50m rifle events, Indian shooters consistently found themselves in finals, often competing against each other for medals.
Events like these also reflect the effectiveness of India’s junior development programmes, with shooters from across the country now transitioning smoothly from domestic training setups to international stages.
Results Summary
Men’s 10m Air Rifle
🥇 Himanshu – 250.9
🥉 Abhinav Shaw – 228.4
5th – Vanitha Suresh – 187.0
Women’s 10m Air Rifle (Podium Sweep)
🥇 Ojasvi Thakur – 252.7
🥈 Hrudya Shri Kondur – 250.2
🥉 Shambhavi Kshirsagar – 229.4
25m Rapid Fire Pistol
🥈 Mukesh Nelavalli – 571 (27/40)
🥉 Suraj Sharma – 577 (21/35)
4th – Sameer – 572 (15/30)
50m Rifle 3 Positions (Men)
🥈 Adriyan Karmakar – Silver
50m Rifle 3 Positions (Women)
🥇 Anushka Thokur – 461.0
Conclusion
From Himanshu’s composure in the 10m air rifle to Ojasvi, Hrudya, and Shambhavi’s podium sweep in the women’s event, and from Mukesh’s and Suraj’s fighting displays in pistol to Adriyan and Anushka’s medal-winning consistency in 50m rifle, India’s juniors lit up the World Cup stage in New Delhi.
These results are more than just medals; they are signs of a strong pipeline feeding into the senior ranks. With Paris 2024 now behind and Los Angeles 2028 on the horizon, India’s shooting future looks secure in the hands of this young and talented generation.
