Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar produced one of the most compelling performances of his career at the ISSF World Championships 2025 in Cairo, winning the silver medal in the men’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions (3P) event.
It was a campaign that combined world-class precision, qualification brilliance, and a heartbreaking final-shot twist a sequence that encapsulates the fine margins of elite rifle shooting.
For much of the final, Tomar looked set to become world champion. He held his nerve through kneeling and prone, transitioned cleanly into standing, and stayed in the gold-medal contest right until the last shot. Leading Olympic champion Liu Yukun of China by 0.1 going into the final trigger pull, Tomar seemed one solid shot away from the crown. But on a day defined by fractions, a 9.8 from the Indian handed Yukun just enough space to edge ahead with his 10.1, sealing the gold by 0.2 points.
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Tomar finished with 466.9, adding a world-level silver to his growing list of major achievements and reaffirming his position as one of the most consistent 3P specialists in global shooting. The gold went to Liu Yukun, while France’s Romain Aufrere claimed bronze.
A Historic Podium and a First for Indian Men in 3P
The silver also carried historical weight. Tomar became the first Indian male shooter to win a silver medal in the 50m 3P event at the ISSF World Championships, joining Akhil Sheoran and Swapnil Kusale as the only Indians to medal in this demanding discipline on the world stage.
For an athlete who has often been close to global podiums — and felt the weight of near misses at major events — this performance marked an important breakthrough. His composure across the near hour-long final, particularly under the mounting pressure of a tight battle with an Olympic champion, reflected the maturity he has developed over years of competing at the highest level.
The Peak: A Record-Equalling 597 in Qualification
If the final was dramatic, the qualification was near perfect. Tomar shot a stunning 597/600, including 40 inner 10s, equalling the world record in men’s 50m 3P qualification. His series were marked by rock-solid consistency, with his standing showing traditionally the toughest segment holding up impressively under pressure. It was one of the finest qualification performances ever by an Indian in the event and ensured he topped the field going into the final.
This level of shooting has often been the hallmark of world champions, and Tomar’s qualification effort alone will be remembered as one of the standout moments of the Championships. It also served as a reminder of his ceiling when he finds rhythm, he can challenge the best in the world in every section of the match.
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India’s other finalist, Niraj Kumar, also had an impressive outing. He finished fifth with 432.6 after navigating the early elimination phases confidently. His qualification of 592, including an excellent 198/200 in standing, reflected the depth of India’s 3P program and the increasing competitiveness of the squad. Niraj stayed in the top bracket through most of the final but fell behind during the late standing series, where the medal contenders began to accelerate. Still, a top-five finish at the World Championships underlines his trajectory as a reliable performer in the discipline.
A Day of Margins, a Career Milestone
In 3P shooting, momentum can shift on single decimals, and Cairo offered a reminder of that reality. Tomar’s 9.8 hardly a disastrous shot was enough to swing the gold out of reach. Yet across qualification and final, the Indian delivered a performance that showcased world-class discipline, technical sharpness, and the quiet resilience that has defined his career. For the Madhya Pradesh Shooting Academy product, this medal also represents a form of redemption. After seasons where he repeatedly came close to the podium in global competitions, often missing out by narrow margins, the World Championships silver stands as validation of his persistence and progression.
Tomar leaves Cairo with a world record–equalling qualification, a World Championships silver, and renewed stature in the 3P field.
The gold may have slipped away by two-tenths, but the performance as a whole reinforced that he remains one of India’s most accomplished rifle shooters and still has the tools to aim even higher.
