The ISSF Shotgun World Championships 2025 concluded its skeet events with familiar champions at the top and an all-too-familiar frustration for India.
Despite spirited performances from the national squad, no Indian shooter managed to break into the individual finals, as the country’s best finish came from Raiza Dhillon, who placed 16th in the women’s skeet qualification. The competition, which brought together the world’s top marksmen and markswomen, once again underlined both the incredible global depth in shotgun shooting and the narrow margins that separate contenders from finalists.
In women’s skeet, where the cut-off for the final stood at 119 hits out of 125, India’s Raiza Dhillon came closest, scoring 116/125 to finish 16th among 58 competitors. Raiza started strong, staying within striking range of the qualification mark across the early rounds, but three dropped targets in the final series pushed her just outside the top-10 bracket. Her performance, though not enough for the finals, was a reminder of her growing consistency at the senior level.
Teammates Parinaaz Dhaliwal and Ganemat Sekhon, both experienced internationals, finished with 110/125, placing 44th and 47th, respectively. It marked an off week for the duo, who have previously medalled at World Cups and Asian events but struggled for rhythm in Athens. In the team competition, the Indian trio tallied 336 hits, securing 8th place among 12 teams a mid-table result in a field dominated by the United States, Italy, and Mexico.
The women’s event itself showcased a brilliant display of precision and composure, with Samantha Simonton (USA) clinching gold in emphatic fashion. Simonton shot 57/60 in the final, underlining the dominance of the American shotgun program, while Gabriela Rodriguez (Mexico) earned silver with 54/60, and Victoria Larsson (Sweden) claimed bronze with 44/50.
For the 24-year-old Simonton, it was her first world title a milestone that also reaffirmed the USA’s unmatched strength in skeet, especially with Olympic qualification points on the line.
Men’s Skeet: Hancock Reigns Supreme Again
In the men’s skeet field one of the strongest in recent memory the qualification cut-off stood at 122/125, reflecting near-perfect consistency from the global elite. India’s Bhavtegh Singh Gill, the country’s top-ranked skeet shooter, delivered the most solid performance with 119/125, finishing 38th out of 116 shooters. His series of 24s and 23s kept him competitive through Day 1, but a few crucial misses in the closing rounds put him out of contention for a finals spot.
Veteran Mairaj Ahmad Khan, making yet another appearance on the world stage, managed 117/125, finishing 53rd, while Anant Jeet Singh Naruka, the 2023 Asian Games silver medallist, struggled for rhythm and settled for 115/125, ending 83rd. The Indian men’s team combined for a total of 351 hits, placing 16th out of 27 teams, far from their medal-winning form at the Asian level.
At the other end of the leaderboard, American legend Vincent Hancock once again reminded the shooting world why he is regarded as the greatest skeet shooter of all time.
The 35-year-old from Georgia captured his fifth World Championship title, scoring a near-flawless 59/60 in the final to secure gold. His triumph adds to an already staggering career tally four Olympic gold medals and now five World titles making him the most decorated athlete in skeet history. Hancock has now reached the final at every major championship since 2018, a run that speaks to his longevity and precision.
Daniel Korcak (Czech Republic) took the silver with 55/60, while Emil Kristian Petersen (Denmark) earned bronze, scoring 45/50. India’s shotgun program has enjoyed success in trap events in recent years notably with Bhowneesh Mendiratta and Prithviraj Tondaiman securing Olympic quotas but skeet remains a work in progress. While the country’s top names, such as Ganemat Sekhon, Raiza Dhillon, and Anant Jeet Naruka, have shown flashes of international competitiveness, sustaining high scores across five rounds continues to be the challenge.
In skeet, where qualifying scores of 122–123 are now routine among the world’s best, even a single lapse can prove costly. For India, the next step will involve strengthening technical preparation, enhancing sports science support, and exposing athletes to more European circuits, where the majority of top-level competition resides. The team’s 2025 World Championship campaign may not have produced finals appearances, but it adds crucial experience in an Olympic qualification cycle that demands precision under pressure.
As the dust settles in Athens, the 2025 Shotgun Worlds reaffirm the sport’s competitive intensity. With the United States continuing its dominance in both men’s and women’s skeet, and European nations like Italy, Czech Republic, and Denmark maintaining their stronghold, the benchmark for excellence keeps rising. For India, bridging that gap will take time — but with young shooters like Raiza Dhillon and Bhavtegh Singh Gill steadily improving, the foundation for future breakthroughs is already being built.
ISSF Shotgun World Championships 2025 – Athens (Skeet Results)
Women’s Skeet:
- Raiza Dhillon – 116/125 (16th)
- Parinaaz Dhaliwal – 110/125 (44th)
- Ganemat Sekhon – 110/125 (47th)
Team: 8th/12
Men’s Skeet:
- Bhavtegh Singh Gill – 119/125 (38th)
- Mairaj Ahmad Khan – 117/125 (53rd)
- Anant Jeet Singh Naruka – 115/125 (83rd)
Team: 16th/27
Gold Medalists:
- Men’s Skeet: Vincent Hancock 🇺🇸 – 59/60
- Women’s Skeet: Samantha Simonton 🇺🇸 – 57/60
