Cairo’s shooting ranges echoed with Indian cheers as Prachi Gaikwad delivered a masterclass to bag gold in the junior women’s 50m rifle 3P at the ISSF Junior World Cup. Her final score of 354.6 bested Daria Chupris’s 354.4, while Elena Kretinina took bronze with 343.3.
Qualifying in sixth with 578, Prachi’s journey was one of calculated climbs. She hit second after prone, just 0.6 behind the leader, then seized control in standing with perfect returns. A momentary dip to third fueled her final push—four 10-rings, two ultra-precise high 10s—securing the win.
Narayan Pranav’s bronze in men’s 10m air rifle complemented the haul. Qualifying third at 630.9, he outlasted Abhinav Shaw (630.0 qual) and Divyanshu Devangan in a fierce final battle against Uzbek Javokhir Sokhibov (gold, 251.2) and Cypriot Akilias Sophocleous (silver). India’s medal surge—two golds including Shiva Narwal’s earlier triumph, four silvers, three bronzes—propels them atop the standings.
Three Indian women—Vanshika (579), Sejal (577), Kanak (576)—lead junior 10m air pistol quals, promising more glory. This event highlights India’s robust junior pipeline, blending talent, training, and tenacity for global podiums.
