ISSF Junior World Championship 2026: Sameer, Rohit Kanyan win gold as India claims 8 medals in 2 days
Synopsis
India topped the medal tally at the ISSF Junior World Championship 2026 in Suhl after just two days, amassing 8 medals including 4 golds. Sameer's 28-hit gold in rapid fire pistol and Rohit Kanyan's rifle triumph on Day 2 underline a depth of junior shooting talent that few nations can match at this stage of the championship.
Key Takeaways
India reached 8 medals (4 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze) after Day 2 of the ISSF Junior World Championship 2026 in Suhl, Germany .
Sameer won gold in the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol Men Junior event with 28 hits .
Rohit Kanyan claimed gold in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions Men Junior event.
Prachi Gaikwad won silver in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions Women Junior event with a score of 354.7 .
Team bronzes went to the 50m Rifle 3 Positions Men Junior Team (Kanyan, Waghmare, Srinivasan) and the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol Men Junior Team (Sameer, Abhinav Choudhary, Sahil Choudhary).
India leads the overall medal tally, building on 3 medals from Day 1 including golds by Sejal Kamble and the 10m Air Pistol Women Junior Team .
India delivered another commanding performance at the ISSF Junior World Championship 2026 in Suhl, Germany, adding five medals on Day 2 of competition on 20 June to take their overall tally to 8 medals — 4 gold, 1 silver, and 3 bronze — while retaining the top spot on the medal standings.
Individual Gold Medallists
Sameer claimed gold in the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol Men Junior event with a composed final, finishing with 28 hits. In the 50m Rifle 3 Positions Men Junior event, Rohit Kanyan delivered a superb performance to secure India's second gold of the day, further consolidating the country's campaign at the championship.
Silver and Bronze Performances
Prachi Gaikwad earned India a silver medal in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions Women Junior event, finishing as runner-up with a score of 354.7. India also claimed two team bronzes: the trio of Rohit Kanyan, Vedant Nitin Waghmare, and Hithesh Srinivasan secured bronze in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions Men Junior Team event, while Sameer, Abhinav Choudhary, and Sahil Choudhary combined for bronze in the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol Men Junior Team event.
Day 1 Recap
India's strong start at the championship was built on Day 1 performances that yielded 3 medals. Sejal Kamble clinched gold in the 10m Air Pistol Women Junior individual event, while compatriot Himanshi took bronze in the same category. The team of Sejal Kamble, Vanshika Choudhary, and Navya Bishnoi combined for a total score of 1700 to win gold in the 10m Air Pistol Women Junior Team event.
India's Position at the Championship
With consistent podium finishes across both individual and team disciplines, the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI)-backed contingent has established itself as a dominant force at the ISSF Junior World Championship 2026. India's medal haul spans rifle and pistol events, signalling depth across shooting disciplines at the junior level. Competition continues in Suhl with more events scheduled in the coming days.
Point of View
And this championship is the latest proof. What is worth watching is whether this depth at the junior level translates into senior World Cup and Olympic medals over the next cycle, a conversion rate that has historically been India's weak link. The NRAI's investment in team events is also paying off: three of the five Day 2 medals came from team competitions, suggesting a shift from individual brilliance to collective consistency.
NationPress
20 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many medals has India won at the ISSF Junior World Championship 2026 so far?
India has won 8 medals — 4 gold, 1 silver, and 3 bronze — after two days of competition at the ISSF Junior World Championship 2026 in Suhl, Germany. India currently leads the overall medal tally.
Who won gold for India on Day 2 of the ISSF Junior World Championship 2026?
Sameer won gold in the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol Men Junior event with 28 hits, and Rohit Kanyan won gold in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions Men Junior event on Day 2 on 20 June 2026.
What did Prachi Gaikwad achieve at the ISSF Junior World Championship 2026?
Prachi Gaikwad won a silver medal in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions Women Junior event with a score of 354.7, finishing as runner-up on Day 2 of the championship.
Which Indian shooters won team medals on Day 2?
The team of Rohit Kanyan, Vedant Nitin Waghmare, and Hithesh Srinivasan won bronze in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions Men Junior Team event. Sameer, Abhinav Choudhary, and Sahil Choudhary claimed bronze in the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol Men Junior Team event.
What medals did India win on Day 1 of the ISSF Junior World Championship 2026?
On Day 1, Sejal Kamble won gold in the 10m Air Pistol Women Junior individual event, Himanshi won bronze in the same event, and the team of Sejal Kamble, Vanshika Choudhary, and Navya Bishnoi won gold in the 10m Air Pistol Women Junior Team event with a combined score of 1700.
