At 48, when most athletes have long hung up their gear, Zoravar Singh Sandhu stood tall at the ISSF Shotgun World Championships 2025 in Athens, firing his way into the history books.
The veteran trap shooter, with a score of 31 out of 40, clinched the bronze medal in the men’s trap event, marking one of Indian shooting’s most remarkable comeback stories. This bronze isn’t just another medal it’s a story of endurance, patience, and an unwavering love for the sport. Zoravar’s feat makes him only the third Indian in history to win an individual Trap medal at the World Championships, joining the elite company of Dr. Karni Singh (silver, 1962) and Manavjit Singh Sandhu (gold, 2006).
A Medal Two Decades in the Making
The Indian shooting community has waited nearly 19 years for a podium finish in Trap at the World Championships and Zoravar’s bronze finally ended that drought. It is also India’s first shotgun medal in seven years, underlining the magnitude of the achievement. Zoravar’s journey to Athens wasn’t sudden; it was a culmination of decades of consistency and quiet determination. Having made his Worlds debut back in 1998, this was his 12th appearance at the World Championships and the first time he reached the final. That long wait alone symbolizes the perseverance that defines his career.
The road to the final itself was a test of nerves and precision. In qualification, Zoravar shot a stunning 122 out of 125, emerging as India’s first finalist at the 2025 Worlds. That consistency carried him into the medal round, where he held his own against Olympic champions and world record holders.
The Final: A Battle of Experience
In the title clash, Rio 2016 Olympic Champion Josip Glasnović of Croatia displayed imperious form to win gold with 44/50, while Italy’s Giovanni Pellielo, a multiple Olympic medallist, took silver. Zoravar’s 31/40 was enough to secure bronze and to etch his name into India’s sporting legacy.
It wasn’t his highest career score, but it was easily his most important. Under the pressure of world-class competition and the weight of personal history, Zoravar’s composure stood out. Every shot carried years of experience and the poise of an athlete who knows the fine line between precision and panic.
The Ageless Warrior
At 48, Zoravar Singh Sandhu’s bronze medal is a testament to longevity rarely seen in elite sport. Few shooters, globally, have competed at this level across four decades. His story runs parallel to that of Karni Singh the prince who put India on the world map in the 1960s and Manavjit Sandhu, who carried that legacy into the 2000s. Zoravar’s medal ensures the flame of Indian Trap shooting continues to burn bright. It’s also a reminder that the sport rewards mental resilience over youthful exuberance. Age, in Zoravar’s case, became his greatest weapon the years of reading wind, rhythm, and recoil all converging into one bronze moment of brilliance.
Speaking after his win, Zoravar summed it up with characteristic calm:
From Chandigarh to the World Stage
Born in Punjab and now based in Chandigarh, Zoravar has long been a cornerstone of Indian shotgun shooting. His performances in national trials have been consistent for years, even when others moved on or faded away. Yet, global recognition always seemed to elude him until now. His return to the spotlight also underscores the importance of India’s renewed investment in the shotgun discipline. With the rise of skeet shooters like Ganemat Sekhon and Mairaj Ahmad Khan, the shotgun ecosystem has quietly built momentum. Zoravar’s bronze now adds Trap back to that narrative and does so through a veteran’s lens.
India’s strength in rifle and pistol shooting is well documented. Trap and skeet, however, have historically been tougher terrain expensive, technically demanding, and mentally grueling. Zoravar’s medal reopens the conversation about India’s potential in these traditional shotgun events.
It’s also a symbolic moment for the Indian Shotgun Team, which has seen a generational shift. The bronze validates the efforts of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) in balancing youth development with veteran mentorship. For India’s next line of Trap shooters, Zoravar’s podium serves as both inspiration and instruction proof that persistence, not just promise, defines champions.
With this bronze, Zoravar Singh Sandhu joins two giants of Indian shooting on the most exclusive list the sport offers.
Silver – Dr. Karni Singh (1962, Cairo) — India’s first-ever individual Trap medalist and a pioneer of the sport.
Bronze – Manavjit Singh Sandhu (2006, Zagreb) — The gold standard, both literally and figuratively, who became world champion.
Bronze – Zoravar Singh Sandhu (2025, Athens) — The late-blooming legend who bridged eras.
For nearly two decades, Indian shooting has celebrated successes in 10m and 50m events. Zoravar’s triumph in the classical, old-school discipline of Trap shooting feels like a return to roots and a reminder that India can still compete with the best on every range.
Zoravar Singh Sandhu’s story is not just about sport it’s about the power of perseverance. At an age when most have retired, he’s rewriting the narrative: that determination, discipline, and passion can outlast time. As the Tricolour rose in Athens, it wasn’t just a medal ceremony. It was an ode to patience, a salute to longevity, and a reminder that legends don’t retire they simply reload.
India’s third Trap Worlds medalist. The first in 19 years. The man who shot down age and doubt.
Legends don’t retire they reload.
