Indian Shooting’s journey in world shooting has been nothing short of spectacular a story of precision, patience, and progress. From Abhinav Bindra’s historic gold in 2006 to the modern dominance led by the likes of Rudrankksh Patil, Manu Bhaker, and Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Indian shooting has evolved into one of the most consistent medal-producing disciplines globally.
Over the past two decades, India’s rifle and pistol shooters have set new standards, transforming the country into a powerhouse in world shooting.
It all began with Abhinav Bindra’s gold medal in 10m Air Rifle Men at the 2006 World Championships, which marked India’s first world title in rifle shooting. Four years later, Tejaswini Sawant became India’s first woman world champion, winning gold in the 50m Rifle Prone Women event in 2010. That same year, Gagan Narang added a bronze in the 10m Air Rifle, solidifying India’s position among the elite shooting nations.
These early successes laid the groundwork for a new generation of shooters, who benefited from better infrastructure, exposure, and the confidence that India could compete with the best.
2014–2018: Building Depth and Momentum
By 2014, the results reflected India’s growing bench strength. Jitu Rai captured silver in the 50m Pistol Men, showcasing India’s prowess in pistol events as well. The 2018 season was particularly memorable India’s shooters collected an impressive haul across categories, signaling a breakthrough year for the nation.
Anjum Moudgil and Gurpreet Singh clinched silvers, while Om Prakash Mitharval struck gold in the 50m Pistol Men event. India’s women were equally dominant the trio of Anjum Moudgil, Apurvi Chandela, and Mehuli Ghosh secured silver in the 10m Air Rifle Women Team. The performances of Mitharval and the emerging Abhishek Verma, who won silver in the 10m Air Pistol Team, showcased the rapid growth in India’s pistol shooting.
The 2022 ISSF World Championships marked the true arrival of India as a global shooting power. The men’s 10m Air Rifle Team Rudrankksh Patil, Kiran Jadhav, and Arjun Babuta captured gold, while Rudrankksh himself went on to win the individual title, joining an elite club of world champions.
The women’s rifle contingent continued the medal streak. Elavenil Valarivan, Mehuli Ghosh, and Meghana Sajjanar earned bronze in the 10m Air Rifle Team, and Rhythm Sangwan emerged as a name to watch in the 25m Pistol events, picking up multiple medals.
India’s medal spread was impressive not just in numbers but in diversity medals came across air rifle, standard pistol, and rapid-fire events. The balance between men’s and women’s teams reflected depth and strategic development under the national shooting program.
2023: The Next Generation Delivers
The 2023 ISSF World Championships confirmed that India’s shooting ecosystem had reached a point of sustainability. A fresh set of names Shiva Narwal, Esha Singh, Tiyana, Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, and Ramita Jindal dominated the scorecards, ensuring India stayed among the world’s top three shooting nations.
Shiva Narwal and Esha Singh won gold in the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team, while Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Akhil Sheoran, and Niraj Kumar added another gold in the 50m Rifle 3 Position Team. These wins highlighted India’s adaptability and depth across formats. The women’s teams were again formidable. Manu Bhaker, Rhythm Sangwan, and Esha Singh claimed gold in the 25m Pistol Women Team, while Mehuli Ghosh, Tilottama Sen, and Ramita Jindal topped the 10m Air Rifle Women Team event underlining India’s double dominance in both rifle and pistol categories.
In team events, India’s shooters excelled under pressure Tiyana’s multiple medals, including gold and bronze in the Women’s 50m Pistol, further emphasized the emergence of strong performers outside the traditional air rifle and air pistol domains.
What stands out in this golden run is the generational relay. Where Bindra and Narang once stood as lone torchbearers, today there are over a dozen world-class shooters simultaneously competing for world titles. The Indian team is no longer about one or two stars it’s about a system producing excellence year after year.
As India enters the 2025 ISSF World Shooting Championships in Cairo, the expectations are sky-high. With Olympic champions, world medallists, and junior prodigies sharing the same platform, India’s shooting team now embodies balance and experience like never before. The challenge ahead will be consistency converting qualification brilliance into championship triumphs.
Yet, if the last decade is any indication, Indian shooting isn’t just in good hands it’s in golden hands.
