Will India's Medal Drought Continue at the ISSF World Cup?
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Synopsis
As the ISSF World Cup progresses in Ningbo, the Indian shooting team faces another day without a medal. Despite strong individual performances, the competition remains fierce with Italy's Danilo Sollazzo smashing records. Can Mehuli Ghosh and her teammates change India's fortune in the upcoming events?
Key Takeaways
- Danilo Sollazzo sets a new world record at 255.0 in men's 10m air rifle.
- India's shooters struggled in qualification, with Divyansh Singh Panwar finishing 19th.
- In women's 25m pistol, India's Abhidnya Ashok Patil narrowly missed the final.
- China leads the medal tally with two golds.
- Attention shifts to the women's 50m rifle 3 positions event where India hopes for a medal.
Ningbo (China), Sep 11 (NationPress) The quest for medals by Indian shooters at the ISSF Rifle/Pistol World Cup in Ningbo, China, extended into its third day on Thursday, as Divyansh Singh Panwar, Umamahesh Maddineni, and Rahi Sarnobat all fell short in the qualification rounds.
The standout moment of the day was delivered by Italy’s Danilo Sollazzo, who established a new world record in the men’s 10m air rifle final. Sollazzo, the 2022 Cairo World Championship runner-up to India’s Rudrankksh Patil and fifth-place finisher at the Paris Olympics, recorded an impressive score of 255.0, surpassing reigning Olympic champion Sheng Lihao’s previous record by half a point.
Sheng, the favorite from the host nation, secured the silver medal with 253.5, while Korea’s Park Haijun claimed bronze.
For India, former world No.1 Divyansh Singh Panwar achieved 630.0 in qualification, finishing in 19th place, falling behind the qualifying mark. Sweden’s Olympic silver medallist Victor Lindgren grabbed the final qualifying position with a score of 632.3. Umamahesh ended in 39th place with 627.7, and Niraj Kumar finished 54th with 626.1.
In the women’s 25m pistol event, Korea dominated as Olympic champions Yang Jiin and Oh Yejin claimed the gold and silver medals respectively, with China’s Xiao Jiaruixuan taking bronze. India’s Abhidnya Ashok Patil performed admirably with a score of 295 in the rapid-fire stage, totaling 583, but narrowly missed the final on an inner 10 count, finishing 11th.
France’s Camille Jedrzejewski, the silver medallist from the Paris Olympics, also exited with the same score. Divya T.S. (581) and Olympian Rahi Sarnobat (581) placed 16th and 17th respectively.
China leads the medal tally with two golds, followed by Norway, Italy, and Korea.
On Friday, all attention will turn to the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions final, where Mehuli Ghosh, Surabhi Rapole, and Manini Kaushik will carry India’s hopes of breaking their medal drought.
Point of View
The performance at the ISSF World Cup reflects the challenges faced by our shooters on the global stage. Despite individual performances, the lack of medals highlights the need for strategic development and support to elevate Indian shooting to new heights. The nation stands firmly behind our athletes, hoping they can turn the tide in upcoming competitions.
NationPress
14/09/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Indian shooters struggling at the ISSF World Cup?
Indian shooters are facing tough competition and have been unable to secure qualifying scores in several events, indicating a need for more strategic preparation and support.
What was Danilo Sollazzo's achievement at the World Cup?
Danilo Sollazzo set a new world record in the men’s 10m air rifle final with a score of 255.0, surpassing the previous record held by Sheng Lihao.
What are India's prospects in upcoming events?
With key athletes like Mehuli Ghosh, Surabhi Rapole, and Manini Kaushik competing in the women's 50m rifle 3 positions final, there is hope for India to break their medal drought.
