India’s campaign at the ISSF World Cup in Munich entered a crucial phase on Day 4, with several key qualification rounds on the agenda.
While Day 3 brought mixed results, it was Sift Kaur Samra who delivered a moment of pride for the Indian contingent by clinching a hard-fought bronze in the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions event. Her medal lifted spirits on a day when the men’s 10m air rifle team fell short of expectations.
Day 4 Schedule – Indian Shooters Look to Rebound
The spotlight on Day 4 shifts to the pistol events, with both men and women set to compete across qualification relays and potential finals. Here is the full Indian schedule:
- 12:30 PM IST: 25m Rapid Fire Pistol Men – Stage 2
Participants: Anish Bhanwala, Vijayveer Sidhu, Ankur Goel
(RPOs: Gurmeet and Adarsh Singh) - 12:45 PM IST: 10m Air Pistol Women – Relay 1
Participants: Manu Bhaker
(RPOs: Sainyam and Simranpreet Kaur Brar) - 2:45 PM IST: 10m Air Pistol Women – Relay 2
Participants: Suruchi Inder Singh, Palak - 5:00 PM IST: 10m Air Pistol Women – Final
Subject to qualification - 8:00 PM IST: 25m Rapid Fire Pistol Men – Final
Subject to qualification
With Manu Bhaker and Palak leading the charge in air pistol, and Anish Bhanwala well-positioned in the rapid fire event, Day 4 presents an opportunity for India to return to the podium.
Day 3 Recap – Sift’s Bronze Highlights a Mixed Outing
Sift Kaur Samra Keeps Her Calm to Clinch Bronze
Sift Kaur Samra’s campaign in the 50m rifle 3 positions was the highlight of the day. She began strongly in qualification, posting a score of 592-29x to comfortably secure a place in the final. Her prone shooting stood out with a near-flawless 199, building on a solid kneeling stage (197). Going into the finals, she remained composed under pressure.
In the final, Sift scored 152.9 in the kneeling stage and moved up to fourth place with a 309.5 after the prone series. She edged into the bronze medal position late in the contest with a stunning 10.9 and a 10.7 in the final rounds, sealing India’s first medal in the Munich leg of the World Cup.
10m Air Rifle Men – No Finalists for India
The men’s 10m air rifle qualification, however, ended in disappointment. Four Indian shooters were in action, but none managed to reach the final. Umamahesh emerged as the highest-ranked Indian with a score of 632.3 but was ineligible for the final due to competing as a Result-Performance-Only (RPO) shooter.
Kiran Jadhav, who has shown flashes of brilliance in the past, narrowly missed out on qualification with a score of 631.7, finishing 11th. Neeraj Kumar (629.6) and Arjun Babuta (629.1) finished a distant 36th and 43rd respectively, highlighting India’s continued struggle in this Olympic discipline. The absence of an Indian shooter in the final once again raises questions about consistency and preparedness in this category.
Encouraging Start in 25m Rapid Fire Pistol
There was better news from the 25m rapid fire pistol qualification, where Anish Bhanwala began Stage 1 with an impressive 295-14x. His performance placed him provisionally at the top of the table heading into Stage 2, which is scheduled for today. Should he maintain his momentum, India could see another finalist in this discipline.
Vijayveer Sidhu and Ankur Goel also participated, along with RPO shooters Gurmeet and Adarsh Singh. With final slots on the line later today, a strong performance from Anish could give India another shot at a podium finish.
Day 4 provides India with a fresh slate and realistic medal hopes, especially in pistol events. Manu Bhaker, one of the country’s most experienced pistol shooters, is expected to lead the charge in the 10m air pistol relays. The women’s field is competitive, but India has the depth to challenge for final spots.
In the men’s 25m rapid fire pistol event, Anish’s solid start has raised expectations. A final appearance and a potential medal could mark a strong finish to the World Cup for India in pistol events, especially after the underwhelming rifle results.
With the Olympic cycle heating up and qualification windows narrowing, performances here in Munich will carry significant weight. India’s shooting contingent will be eager to make Day 4 count.