Indian Shooters Fall Short in Men’s 10m Air Pistol Finals at ISSF World Cup
Synopsis
In a disappointing turn of events at the ISSF World Cup in Spain, Indian shooters failed to reach the finals in the Men's 10m Air Pistol event. Mukesh Nelavalli led the pack but could not qualify, finishing 14th. Aakash Bharadwaj showed promise but ultimately remained out of contention for medals.
Key Takeaways
Mukesh Nelavalli finished 14th in the Men's 10m Air Pistol.
Aakash Bharadwaj achieved 10th place with 580-26x.
Indian shooters faced tough competition in a field of 86.
Upcoming events include the Women's 25m Pistol finals.
New Delhi, April 8 (NationPress) Indian marksmen were unable to secure a spot in the finals of the Men's 10m Air Pistol category during the ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol at the Las Gabias shooting range in Granada, Spain, on Wednesday. Mukesh Nelavalli, who claimed gold in the 10m mixed team event the previous day, was the top-performing Indian, finishing in 14th position.
In a competitive qualification field of 86 shooters, Mukesh recorded a score of 579-21x (94, 98, 98, 97, 95), falling two points short of the final qualification threshold, which was achieved by Anton Aristarkhov, who scored 581-20x. The qualification leader was China’s Xie Yu, who topped the scoresheet with 588-18x.
Among the Indian contingent, Aakash Bharadwaj delivered an impressive performance, scoring 580-26x to finish in 10th place, although he was only vying for ranking points. Ujjawal Malik placed 22nd with a score of 577-17x, while Parmod Kumar came in 39th with a score of 574-16x. Varun Tomar, also competing for ranking points, ended the day in 63rd place with a score of 569-13x.
On a brighter note, Rhythm Sangwan and Divya TS made a strong start in the precision stage of the Women’s 25m Pistol event, both currently positioned within the top eight. Rhythm concluded the day with a score of 292-9x after rounds of 99, 96, 97, while Divya scored 291-8x with 96, 98, 97. Unfortunately, Simranpreet Kaur Brar struggled, finishing with a score of 282-5x (93, 94, 95), according to a release from the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI).
Abhidnya Ashok Patel and Chinki Yadav, who were also competing for ranking points, finished the precision stage with scores of 286-8x and 277-7x, respectively.
The rapid stage and finals for the Women’s 25m Pistol will take place tomorrow. Additionally, the qualification and finals for the Men’s 10m Air Rifle and the elimination round of the Women’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions are scheduled for Thursday.
Point of View
It is disheartening to see our talented marksmen miss out on finals in such a prestigious event. The ISSF World Cup represents a significant opportunity for Indian shooters to showcase their skills, and while they demonstrate promise, the results highlight the need for continued support and development in this sport.
NationPress
10 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Indian shooters not qualify for the finals?
Indian shooters missed finals due to scores that fell short of the qualification mark set by the leading competitors in the Men's 10m Air Pistol event.
Who was the top Indian shooter in this event?
Mukesh Nelavalli was the highest-ranked Indian shooter, finishing in 14th place.
What is the next event for Indian shooters?
The next events include the rapid stage and finals of the Women's 25m Pistol, along with qualifications for the Men’s 10m Air Rifle.
What were the scores of other Indian shooters?
Aakash Bharadwaj scored 580-26x, Ujjawal Malik scored 577-17x, Parmod Kumar scored 574-16x, and Varun Tomar scored 569-13x.
Where is the ISSF World Cup taking place?
The ISSF World Cup is taking place at the Las Gabias shooting range in Granada, Spain.
