By the time the dust had settled inside the shooting range in Suhl, Germany, India had its first gold medal of the ISSF Junior World Cup 2025—and it came from a name the shooting fraternity has kept an eye on for a while now.
Kanak, a silver medallist at the 2023 Junior World Championships, rose above early nerves and a slow start to seal the Women’s 10m Air Pistol title with a score of 239.0 in a high-pressure final that tested the mettle of every athlete on the line.
For those who’ve tracked Kanak’s progression over the last couple of years, this victory wasn’t unexpected. But the manner in which she seized the moment—after trailing in 5th place midway through the final—is what made this gold medal stand out. It was less about technique and more about temperament, something that separates good shooters from great ones.
Slow Start, Big Finish
The 19-year-old from Haryana didn’t have the best start. After 14 shots, Kanak was in fifth—still in the mix, but by no means in control. Moldova’s Anna Dulce, a two-time Olympian and current European champion, was leading the field and looked poised to convert her experience into gold. But that’s where Kanak flipped the script.
She hit a critical 10.5 on her 15th shot, a moment that shifted the entire rhythm of the final. From then on, her series included three more high 10s, a 10.1, and several near-perfect 9.7s and 9.9s. In a final that was steadily becoming a war of attrition, she kept her cool while her competitors struggled for consistency.
What particularly stood out was her control in the back half of the final. While others were reacting to pressure, Kanak was building with each shot, eventually pulling 1.7 points clear of Dulce by the final shot. Even though she signed off with a slightly underwhelming 9.4, the match was already beyond reach for the others.
The Jitu Rai Effect
Much credit must go to Jitu Rai, the former Asian Games and World Cup medalist who is now transitioning into coaching. Kanak is one of his wards, and her tactical patience and shot control were clear indicators of a shooter molded with a deep understanding of competition psychology.
This is Jitu Rai’s first big success as a coach at an international event, and it bodes well for India’s shooting ecosystem, which continues to evolve with former champions stepping into mentoring roles.
Prachi’s Brave Effort Ends in Fifth
India had two shooters in the women’s final—Prachi, who qualified with 571, just a point behind Kanak’s 572. For most of the final, it looked like she was the one who’d make it to the podium. She stayed within the top three through the early stages and looked steady. But the margins in shooting are razor-thin. One errant 8.6 in her 15th shot derailed her rhythm, just as Kanak was beginning her surge.
From a medal position, Prachi found herself fighting to stay in the final, eventually finishing fifth. It was a heartbreaking finish but one that offered enough positives—she held her nerve for the most part and will surely take away critical lessons from this final.
Men’s 10m Air Pistol: Chirag Fourth, Bisla Misses Final
On the men’s side, Chirag Sharma produced a gritty effort to finish fourth in the final. He had just scraped through qualifications in 7th place with a score of 574 (14x), but his performance in the finals was anything but scrappy. He stayed in contention for a bronze till the very end, ultimately missing out by a narrow margin.
There was disappointment, though, for Shubham Bisla, the 2023 Junior World Champion. He couldn’t quite find the precision required in the qualifiers this time, finishing 11th with a score of 572 (11x)—just three spots off a finals berth.
What’s Ahead
The Indian shooting camp now turns its focus to the Skeet and 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team events, scheduled for May 22. With momentum on their side, especially after Kanak’s gold, expectations will naturally rise.
Kanak’s victory is more than just a medal—it’s a validation of the systems being put in place around young Indian shooters. From state-level grooming in Haryana to international exposure and now top-class mentoring from the likes of Jitu Rai, it’s clear that India is investing well in its shooting future.
This gold won’t be her last. But the way she won it—calm under fire, technical under pressure—is what truly sets Kanak apart.
