The curtain came down on the National Selection Trials 1 & 2 at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range in New Delhi on Sunday with two gripping 10m Air Pistol Trial 2 finals that underlined both the depth and the competitiveness of Indian shooting.
Chandigarh’s Sainyam and Uttar Pradesh’s Gaurav Kumar emerged as the standout performers in the women’s and men’s events respectively, producing composed and authoritative displays to claim top honours and end the trials on a high.
For Sainyam, already one of the brightest names in Indian women’s pistol shooting, it was a performance that reinforced her growing reputation. The World Cup Final silver medallist delivered a commanding final, finishing on 243.1 a margin of 5.4 points clear of her nearest challenger Rhythm Sangwan to cap off a weekend in which she repeatedly showed her ability to peak when it matters most.
Sainyam stamps her authority
The women’s 10m Air Pistol Trial 2 final was expected to be a tight affair given the quality of the field, but Sainyam quickly imposed her authority. Calm, controlled and rhythmically consistent, she built an early cushion and then steadily extended it as the final progressed. Her series of high-value shots ensured that she never looked under threat, even as others tried to mount a challenge.
Rhythm Sangwan, who had also qualified comfortably, fought hard to stay in contention and eventually secured second place with a strong total of 237.7. Meenu Pathak once again demonstrated her remarkable consistency at this level, finishing third with 218.5 to ensure another podium finish at the trials.
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What made Sainyam’s victory even more impressive was the strength of the competition she had to beat. The qualification round had been topped by Suruchi Singh, who shot an outstanding 587 with 31 inner-tens, a performance that suggested she would be a major force in the final. However, the unforgiving nature of finals shooting was once again evident as Suruchi could not replicate that form when it mattered most, eventually finishing eighth.
Palak, who had been second in qualification with 579-16x, also found the transition to the final challenging, ending in fifth place with a score of 178.2. Veteran Shwetha Singh, third in qualification with 578-18x, placed sixth in the final, underlining how little margin for error exists at this level.
The depth of the women’s field was reflected in the tightly packed qualification scores. Meenu Pathak shot 577-12x, Priya Muralidhar posted 576-16x, while Rhythm Sangwan and Sainyam both came through with identical 576 scores, differentiated only by inner-tens. Divya T.S completed the top eight with 575-19x, ensuring that the final was filled with athletes capable of challenging for top honours.
Yet when it came down to the final series of shots, it was Sainyam who looked the most assured, converting her opportunity with clinical efficiency and walking away as the Trial 2 winner.
Gaurav Kumar delivers under pressure
The men’s 10m Air Pistol Trial 2 final was even more dramatic, with margins razor-thin and momentum swinging repeatedly. Gaurav Kumar, who had finished second in Trial 1, showed admirable composure to go one better this time, edging a high-quality final with a winning score of 245.5.
Qualifying third with 584-21x, Gaurav did not enter the final as the top seed, but as the shots unfolded, he gradually worked his way into contention. His timing was impeccable. When the final reached its decisive stages, Gaurav produced a run of strong shots that allowed him to pull ahead just when it mattered. Yogesh Kumar pushed him all the way, finishing just 0.9 points behind on 244.6 in what was a thrilling duel for gold. Harsh Swami, also representing Uttar Pradesh, claimed third place with 221.9 after having been second in qualification with a solid 585-26x.
The men’s event once again highlighted how qualification form does not always translate directly into final success. While Harsh Swami had been one of the most consistent performers earlier in the day, and Gaurav had been a step behind in the ranking list, it was Gaurav’s ability to handle pressure in the final that proved decisive.
As the National Selection Trials 1 & 2 came to an end, the performances of Sainyam and Gaurav Kumar stood out not just for the medals they won, but for the manner in which they won them. Both showed that they could absorb the pressure of finals shooting, adapt to the demands of elimination-style formats, and deliver their best shots when the stakes were highest.
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For Indian shooting, that ability is crucial. With international competitions demanding not just technical excellence but also mental resilience, these trials once again served as a valuable testing ground. The depth in both women’s and men’s air pistol was evident, but the weekend belonged to two shooters who rose above the rest.
Sainyam, in particular, continues to build momentum as one of the country’s leading pistol shooters, while Gaurav Kumar’s Trial 2 triumph confirms that he is ready to be a serious contender in the men’s field. As attention now shifts to the next phase of the season, their performances in New Delhi will be remembered as a statement of intent.
