Indian shooting has witnessed several defining moments over the past two decades, but few carry the emotional weight, resilience, and symbolism of Anish Bhanwala’s silver medal at the 2025 ISSF Rifle/Pistol World Championships in Cairo.
In the men’s 25m Rapid Fire Pistol final, the 23-year-old delivered a performance that blended maturity, nerve, and exceptional shot discipline to secure 28/40 and finish second behind France’s Clement Bessaguet, who finally claimed his long-awaited world title. Ukraine’s Maksym Horodynets completed the podium with bronze. For Anish, this is more than a podium finish it is the fulfilment of a trajectory that began when he burst onto the global scene as a 15-year-old prodigy at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Back then, he looked fearless, a talent of rare precision and instinct. But the years that followed were not a straight path to the top. They brought phases of inconsistency, struggles with form, and the immense pressure of living up to early expectations.
Cairo 2025, then, stands as a reaffirmation of his place among the world’s elite and a moment that repositions his career on the global stage.
A Final Defined by Nerve and Shoot-offs
The defining storyline of this final was not just Anish’s shooting, but how he survived it. Few events in shooting are as punishing under pressure as rapid fire pistol, where rhythm and mindset change with every series. Anish battled through not one, but multiple shoot-offs, each one carrying the weight of elimination. The ability to maintain clarity and tempo in such moments is a testament to his preparation and competitive temperament.
He entered the final with a strong qualification score of 585, placing him in the medal chase from the start. But it was what he did under the bright lights of the final that mattered most. Every series required recalibration, every shot demanded total control. His eventual tally of 28 hits secured silver—and with it, his first Senior World Championships medal in the event.
India’s First 25m RFP Medal at a Global Major Since 2012
This silver does more than add a milestone to Anish Bhanwala’s career it revives a legacy. India’s last global major medal in the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol event came at the 2012 London Olympics, when Vijay Kumar shot his way to an unforgettable silver. For years, that moment stood alone as India’s defining reference point in the event. Now, after 13 years, another Indian has stepped onto a world stage and created history in the same discipline. Anish’s medal is also the first-ever Indian individual medal in 25m RFP at a Senior World Championships, a breakthrough that solidifies his name in the sport’s record books.
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The narrative of Anish’s career is one of early brilliance followed by years of hard recalibration. From Commonwealth Games gold to phases where podium finishes became sparse, he has lived through the unforgiving cycles of elite sport. Over the last couple of seasons, however, he has shown steady growth marked by improved finals consistency, a greater command of match rhythm, and a visibly calmer presence under pressure.
This medal is not an overnight surprise it is the result of a long and disciplined rebuilding process. Cairo has already been a productive ground for India, but Anish’s silver stands out for its historic weight. It is also India’s second medal in an Olympic pistol event at these World Championships, enhancing the team’s profile as preparations intensify for upcoming global competitions.
Moreover, Anish’s podium finish earns him a spot in the ISSF World Cup Final, another stage where he will be counted among the best.
The Podium and What It Means
- 🥇 Clement Bessaguet (FRA): After back-to-back World Championships silvers in earlier editions, the French shooter finally captured gold.
- 🥈 Anish Bhanwala (IND): A breakthrough Worlds medal, four shoot-offs survived, and a 28-hit final under pressure.
- 🥉 Maksym Horodynets (UKR): Consistent throughout, sealing bronze.
A Landmark Moment for Indian Shooting
This medal is a reminder that Indian shooting, despite fluctuations in recent years, continues to produce athletes who can stand toe-to-toe with the world’s best. For Anish, it is the validation of years of perseverance. For Indian sport, it is the emergence of a champion ready to carry the country’s rapid fire legacy forward.
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From being the young sensation at 15 to standing as a Worlds medallist at 23 Anish Bhanwala’s journey has come full circle. And with this silver in Cairo, a new chapter begins.
