Cairo’s shooting ranges echoed with Indian cheers as Vanshika Chaudhary and Chirag Sharma dominated the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team final at the ISSF Junior World Cup, clinching gold with a commanding score of 484.3. This triumph is India’s fifth gold, cementing their lead in the overall medal standings.
Facing off against neutral athletes Piatrova and Daubash (467.6), the Indian pair showcased precision and composure. Teammates Mohini Singh and Himanshu Rana added to the glory by securing bronze with 407.4 in the four-team showdown.
Qualification was no less impressive: Vanshika-Chirag led 14 teams with 582 points on Saturday morning, while Mohini-Himanshu secured third with 568. Vanshika’s golden touch continued from her individual women’s air pistol win, and Chirag built on his men’s junior bronze.
Trap events concluded with Zuhaire Khan (men’s, 115 in qualies) and Bhavya Tripathi (women’s, 108) reaching finals in sixth. Finals proved tougher—Bhavya eighth, Zuhaire seventh—as records fell elsewhere: Martina Montani’s 26/30 world record gold for Italy in women, and Egez Thomas’s 28-hit record for France in men.
With 14 medals total (5G, 5S, 4B), India’s junior shooters are signaling a bright future, dominating in rifle, pistol, and shotgun disciplines.
