Manisha Keer and Bhowneesh Mendiratta emerged as the standout performers on an action-packed day of Trap T1 competition at the Shotgun Selection Trials 1 & 2, currently underway at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range.
With the domestic shotgun calendar entering a crucial phase, the finals across senior and junior categories underlined the depth and competitiveness within Indian trap shooting. In the senior women’s Trap T1 final, Manisha Keer produced a composed performance under pressure, hitting 27 targets to secure the top spot. She edged out Neeru Dhanda, who finished close behind with 25 hits after staying in contention for most of the final. Aashima Ahlawat claimed third place with 20 hits, rounding off the podium in a tightly contested final.
The women’s qualification round had earlier set the stage for a competitive final. Kirti Gupta topped the qualification chart with an impressive score of 118, though she was unable to convert that advantage in the final, eventually finishing seventh. Rajeshwari Kumari and Aashima Ahlawat followed with scores of 114, while Preeti Rajak qualified with 113. Manisha Keer made the cut with 110, while Neeru Dhanda (109), Varsha Varman (107) and Shagun Chowdhary (106) completed the top eight qualifiers.
The men’s Trap T1 final proved to be one of the closest contests of the day. Bhowneesh Mendiratta held his nerve in a high-quality duel to edge past Prithviraj Tondaiman 28–27, clinching the top position by the narrowest of margins. World Cup Final 2024 medallist Vivaan Kapoor finished third with 23 hits, maintaining his consistency at the national level.
Qualification in the men’s event was equally competitive. Kynan Chenai led the field with a superb score of 122, followed by Prithviraj Tondaiman on 120. Vivaan Kapoor and Ahvar Rizvi both qualified with scores of 119. Bhowneesh Mendiratta, Arshad Hasan Khan, Ali Aman Elahi and Udaivir Singh Jaijee all finished qualification on 118 to fill out the top eight. World Championship bronze medallist Zoravar Singh Sandhu also scored 118 but narrowly missed out on the final due to the cut-back criteria, highlighting the fine margins at this level.
The junior men’s Trap T1 final saw Zuhair Khan stamp his authority with a confident display, finishing first with 27 hits and enjoying a three-hit cushion over Lakshya Atree, who took second place with 23. Navjeet Bishnoi secured the third position with 18 hits. Despite topping qualification with a score of 120, Manitwa Singh Rawat could not carry that form into the final and finished eighth.
In qualification, Vinay Pratap Singh advanced in second place with 118, followed by Zuhair Khan on 117. Udhav Singh Rathore and Arjun both shot 114, while Lakshya Atree and Syed Ahyaan Ali qualified next with 113. Navjeet Bishnoi completed the top eight with a score of 112, setting up a final that showcased both emerging talent and competitive depth.
The junior women’s Trap T1 final was another closely fought affair. World Cup mixed team medallist Sabeera Haris clinched the top spot with 25 hits, edging past Addya Katyal by a single target. Addya, who had topped qualification with 114, finished second with 24 hits. Ishika Bhardwaj secured third place with 19 hits after qualifying with a score of 103.
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Sabeera Haris had qualified in second position with a score of 112, while Darshna Rathore (111), Bhavya Tripathi (109), Tanisska Senthilkumar (108), Tanisha Singh Chandrawat (104) and Nilaa Rajaa Baalu (103) completed the list of finalists.
With multiple close finishes and high qualification scores across categories, the Trap T1 competitions at the Shotgun National Selection Trials have reinforced the strength of India’s shotgun pipeline. As the trials continue, performances here will play a critical role in shaping future national squads, making every target count in the race for international representation.
