Can Arjun Babuta Outshine Sheng Lihao? Sandeep Singh Returns!
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Synopsis
As the ISSF World Cup unfolds in Munich, Arjun Babuta aims to dethrone Sheng Lihao, the reigning Olympic champion. With Sandeep Singh's return to the international scene, India's hopes for gold soar. Discover the dynamics of this thrilling competition and what it means for the athletes involved.
Key Takeaways
- Arjun Babuta aims to challenge Sheng Lihao for the top spot.
- Sandeep Singh's return brings renewed hope for India.
- Performances of Indian women shooters show promising potential.
- Varun Tomar's effort showcases the competitive nature of the event.
- Elavenil Valarivan sets the tone with a medal win.
Munich, June 11 (NationPress) Arjun Babuta is set to reignite his pursuit of Sheng Lihao, the current Olympic champion and world record holder from China, while Sandeep Singh makes his return to international competition post his Paris Olympics experience. This marks India's ongoing journey for the prestigious World Cup medals on the third day of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup (Rifle/Pistol) on Thursday.
On the third day, two finals are scheduled, starting with the women's 50m rifle 3 positions (3P) final, followed by the men's 10m air rifle in the latter half of the day.
Babuta has showcased his talent by reaching four consecutive finals since the Paris Olympics last year, where he narrowly missed a medal, finishing fourth. Sheng took home the gold in that event as well as in the previous Lima World Cup, where Arjun earned a silver medal, finishing just 0.1 points behind.
In the ISSF World Cup FINAL event held in New Delhi, Sheng triumphed while Babuta finished fifth. Earlier this year in Buenos Aires, teammate Rudrankksh Patil secured gold while Arjun placed seventh, again missing out on the medals.
Sandeep Singh, Babuta's teammate from Paris, is back on the team and aims to make an impression alongside Kiran Jadhav, who is eager to redeem himself after not qualifying for the finals in the men’s 3P event.
In the women’s 3P category, all three Indian shooters are performing well, with Sift Kaur Samra clinching gold in Argentina and Shriyanaka making it to the finals in Lima. The third contender, Ashi Chouksey, also put forth a strong performance, narrowly missing the final cut in Lima.
On Day One, Varun Tomar qualified for the men’s 10m air pistol final with a commendable score of 585, earning him second place during qualifiers. However, he struggled in the finals, finishing sixth after a slow start.
Varun exited at the 16-shot mark, scoring 160.3, while China’s Hu Kai secured his third consecutive World Cup gold with a score of 242.3. Debutants Nishant Rawat (national record holder) and Aditya Malra finished 10th and 27th, shooting 582 and 578, respectively.
Earlier, Elavenil Valarivan brought India its first medal of the Munich World Cup by winning bronze in the women’s 10m air rifle event.
Point of View
Our commitment lies with our nation's athletes. The ISSF World Cup is a platform showcasing their dedication and talent. With Arjun Babuta and Sandeep Singh representing India, we stand behind them in their quest for excellence and honor on the world stage.
NationPress
31/07/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What events are taking place on Day 3 of the ISSF World Cup?
Day 3 features the women's 50m rifle 3 positions (3P) final followed by the men's 10m air rifle final.
Who is Arjun Babuta competing against?
Arjun Babuta is competing against Sheng Lihao, the reigning Olympic champion and world record holder from China.
What was Sandeep Singh's recent achievement?
Sandeep Singh returns to international competition after his participation in the Paris Olympics.
How did Varun Tomar perform in the men's 10m air pistol final?
Varun Tomar qualified second but finished sixth in the final after a slow start.
What did Elavenil Valarivan achieve at the Munich World Cup?
Elavenil Valarivan earned India's first medal at the Munich World Cup by winning bronze in the women's 10m air rifle event.
