Shapath Bharadwaj's two perfect series lead India on Day 1 of World Cup Shotgun in Almaty
Synopsis
Shapath Bharadwaj's flawless opening pair of rounds set the tone for India's trap contingent at the ISSF World Cup Shotgun in Almaty. With 71 hits from 75, he heads the Indian charge into Saturday's finals, while Manisha Keer's 69-hit effort keeps the women's hopes alive despite a crowded leaderboard.
Key Takeaways
Shapath Bharadwaj fired two perfect 25-shot series on Day 1 of the men's trap event at the ISSF World Cup Shotgun in Almaty .
Bharadwaj accumulated 71 hits from 75 across three series, leading Indian male shooters after Day 1.
Manisha Keer topped the Indian women's field with 69 hits , currently placed 17th in the standings.
Vivaan Kapoor (70 hits) and Ahvar Rizvi (68 hits) supported Bharadwaj in the men's competition.
Indian skeet shooters Mairaj Ahmad Khan (119 hits, 18th) and Anantjeet Singh Naruka (117 hits, 38th) missed the medal rounds.
Finals and the remaining 50 targets are scheduled for Saturday .
Shapath Bharadwaj fired two flawless rounds to top Indian performances on Day 1 of the men's trap event at the ISSF World Cup Shotgun in Almaty, Kazakhstan on 8 May. The shooter accumulated 71 hits from 75 across three series, beginning with consecutive perfect rounds of 25 each before managing 21 in the third series. Among women competitors, Manisha Keer led the Indian contingent with 69 targets after posting 24, 24, and 21 across her three attempts.
Men's trap standings after Day 1
Vivaan Kapoor contributed a solid performance with 70 total hits, including a perfect 25 in his second series sandwiched between 22 and 23 in the first and third rounds respectively. Ahvar Rizvi, the third Indian male competitor, posted an even 23, 22, 23 sequence to finish on 68 hits. Competing for ranking points, Udaivir Singh Jaijee matched Bharadwaj's 71 while Ali Aman Elahi registered 66.
Women's trap competition on Day 1
Manisha Keer began her campaign with consecutive 24-hit rounds before dropping to 21 in the third series, placing her 17th in the standings. National Champion Neeru Dhanda delivered consistent shooting with 23, 23, and 22 for a 68-hit total, securing 21st place. Pragati Dubey accumulated 65 hits (18, 23, 24) to occupy 35th position. Competing for ranking points, Varsha Varman shot 61 (20, 20, 21) and Vidhi Singh registered 62 (18, 21, 23).
Skeet shooters miss finals berth
In the skeet events, Indian shooters failed to advance to the medal rounds. Olympian Mairaj Ahmad Khan, who carried 71 points from Day 1, added 23 and 25 in the final two series to finish 18th with 119 total. Bhavtegh Singh Gill, competing for ranking points, matched Mairaj's 119 (24, 24, 23, 24, 24) to place 19th. Olympian Anantjeet Singh Naruka carded a perfect 25 in the fourth series followed by 23, ending his first World Cup outing of the season in 38th place with 117 hits.
What's ahead
The final 50 targets and medal matches for both men's and women's trap events are scheduled for Saturday. Bharadwaj will look to maintain his Day 1 momentum, while Keer aims to climb the leaderboard in the women's competition.
Point of View
But the 21-hit third round reveals the consistency challenge India's trap shooters face. Manisha Keer's 69 keeps the women's medal hopes alive, though she sits 17th — a crowded middle tier where small margins on Saturday could swing placements dramatically. The skeet team's failure to reach finals underscores India's uneven depth in shotgun disciplines; trap is emerging as the stronger vertical.
NationPress
28 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Shapath Bharadwaj perform on Day 1 of the World Cup Shotgun trap event?
Shapath Bharadwaj fired two consecutive perfect rounds of 25 each, followed by 21 in the third series, for a Day 1 total of 71 hits from 75. He led the Indian men's trap contingent after the opening day at the ISSF World Cup Shotgun in Almaty.
What was Manisha Keer's score on Day 1 of the women's trap event?
Manisha Keer scored 69 hits (24, 24, 21) across three series, making her the best-performing Indian woman on Day 1. She currently occupies 17th place in the standings.
When are the finals of the trap events scheduled?
The finals and the remaining 50 targets for both men's and women's trap events are scheduled for Saturday at the Asanov Shooting Club in Almaty.
Did Indian skeet shooters advance to the medal rounds?
No. Olympian Mairaj Ahmad Khan finished 18th with 119 hits and Anantjeet Singh Naruka placed 38th with 117 hits, both missing the cut for the skeet medal matches.
