India Secures Second Place at First ISSF Shooting World Cup of the Year
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Synopsis
The Indian shooting team impressively finished second at the ISSF World Cup in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with notable performances from young competitors. They secured a total of four gold, two silver, and two bronze medals, with standout achievements from medal winners like Suruchi and Saurabh Chaudhary.
Key Takeaways
- India achieved second place overall at the ISSF World Cup.
- Young shooters excelled with four gold medals.
- Suruchi and Saurabh won bronze in mixed team air pistol.
- Esha Singh took silver in the women's 25m pistol.
- Zoravar Singh Sandhu showcased experience and determination.
New Delhi, April 11 (NationPress) The Indian shooting team achieved a commendable second place in the inaugural International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun stage held in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The talented trap mixed team duo of Lakshay Sheoran and Neeru narrowly missed out on a medal, including gold, finishing just a point behind in the final event of the competition.
Thanks to a bronze medal earned by the mixed team air pistol pair of Suruchi and Saurabh Chaudhary earlier on Thursday (April 10), India concluded the event with a total of four gold, two silver, and two bronze medals. This impressive tally placed them in second behind China, which topped the medal standings with five gold, three silver, and three bronze medals, thanks to a 1-2 finish in the mixed team air pistol on the final day. The other gold medal of the day was claimed by Chinese Taipei in the mixed team trap.
Among the standout performances from India were the gold medals won by Sift Kaur Samra (women's 50m rifle 3 positions), Rudrankksh Patil (men's 10m air rifle), Suruchi (women's 10m air pistol), and Vijayveer Sidhu (men's 25m rapid-fire pistol). Notably, Vijayveer became the first Indian to win an ISSF World Cup gold in his category. Suruchi's impressive victory against a competitive field was also a highlight of the tournament.
The four medalists have an average age of just 21 years, with two of them, Sift and Vijayveer, already having competed in the Olympics.
Another notable mention is Esha Singh, a 20-year-old reigning mixed team world champion, who secured a silver in the women's 25m pistol event, demonstrating her strong intent following a less-than-ideal experience at her first Olympic Games.
Heartwarming performances also came from Chain Singh, an Asian Games medallist from over a decade ago, who won his first individual ISSF World Cup medal, and Saurabh Chaudhary, a former champion returning to the ISSF World Cup medals after a two-year hiatus.
The oldest member of the team, Zoravar Singh Sandhu, who has been active in ISSF World Cups since 1998, showcased remarkable determination by finishing seventh in the men's trap, just narrowly missing a spot in the finals after a five-way shoot-off for the sixth and final qualifying position.
The team is now set to travel to Lima, Peru, where the second leg of the ISSF World Cup stage will commence on April 15.
