After 18 shots in the high-stakes final, Sonam bowed out with 188.5 points, trailing leaders by a mere 0.8. China’s Wang Jifei, the top-ranked shooter, sealed gold at 252.9. Silver went to Norway’s Janet Hegg Dustaad (252.4), and bronze to China’s Han Jiayu (231.5).

This opening World Cup of the season saw India deploy its mid-tier domestic shooters. Despite seven finalists, only Mukesh Nelavalli and Palak’s mixed air pistol gold lit up the scoreboard on day one. China topped the medals with 13, including eight golds, leaving India in third.

Qualification saw Sonam top Indians at 632.8 (7th). Mehwuli Ghosh followed at 627.3 (44th), Shrutii at 624.8 (63rd). RPO participants Narmada Nitin Raju (629.0) and Rajshree Sancheti (628.1) showed promise.

Sonam’s final started strong at 10.6, dipped to 9.8, but she survived three elimination threats, peaking with a 10.9 in round 14. Chasing a second personal World Cup medal, her final 10.5 wasn’t enough to bridge the gap.

In the morning’s men’s 50m rifle 3P quals, Neeraj Kumar’s 589 earned 15th, Akhil Sheoran’s 588 got 22nd, and Chain Singh exited early.

As India reflects on a solid third-place finish, the single gold signals growing prowess ahead of major events like the Olympics.

In the 60kg division, Sachin battled fiercely but earned silver. Kazakhstan topped with six golds, but India’s five golds and overall 16 medals painted a picture of supremacy. The women’s team stole the show, clinching top spot with four golds from Meenakshi, Preeti, Priya, and Arundhati, plus silvers from Jasmine and Alfiya Pathan, and four bronzes.

Vishwanath’s path to gold was paved with upsets, including a victory over the world’s top-ranked boxer. His technical prowess and mental fortitude have positioned him as a rising star in Indian boxing.

Reflecting on the success, BFI President Ajay Singh said, ‘Our women’s team topping the tally with four golds is historic. The men’s side, led by youngsters like Vishwanath, proves our talent pool is deeper than ever. Even with roster changes post-Worlds, they dismantled Asia’s elite.’

This championship signals India’s evolution from contenders to champions. The blend of experience and youth promises sustained excellence, setting the stage for Olympic dreams and beyond.

From the outset, the final was a three-way battle with Isha Singh stealing the show early via a flawless first series. Manu and Nguyen trailed but stayed close. The lead changed hands repeatedly, with Nguyen seizing a two-point advantage after a perfect sixth series.

Indians responded fiercely; by the eighth series, Isha topped the charts at 30 points. Her ninth-series collapse handed bronze to her, paving the way for Manu’s late surge—three hits in the final series against Nguyen’s two, forcing extra time.

Tied after the first shoot-off (2-2), Manu’s second-round blanks gifted gold to Nguyen. Isha’s bronze was her second medal here, a bright spot amid the tension. Rhythm Sangwan placed fourth, showing depth in India’s squad.

Junior action delivered joy: Naimya Kapoor, the youngest World Championship medalist, triumphed in shoot-off glory over Aisyifa (29-29 tie), hitting three to nil. Anjali Bhagwat’s 24 earned bronze; Parisha Gupta scored 14 for fifth.

Team golds in senior and junior categories boosted India’s medal haul to 60—37 gold, 13 silver, 10 bronze. Bhaker’s resilience promises more glory ahead, as India cements its shooting supremacy in Asia.

India’s team, comprising Prathmesh, Aman, and Rishabh, triumphed over France with a score of 235-233. The close match was decided after four sets, highlighting the competitive spirit of both teams.

After the first set, India trailed 57-59. The second set ended in a tie at 117-117. Both teams also tied in the third set at 176-176, making the fourth and final set crucial for India. India scored 59 points in the fourth set, while France scored 57, leading to India’s victory with a final score of 235-233.

Rishabh Yadav, along with Jyothi Surekha, also secured a silver medal in the mixed team event. They were defeated by the Netherlands with a score of 155-157.