Could India’s Shambhavi and Ojasvi Achieve a 1-2 Finish at the Junior World Cup?

New Delhi, May 24 (NationPress) In an exhilarating showdown, two talented 16-year-old Indian rifle shooters, Shambhavi Kshirsagar and Ojasvi Thakur, captivated audiences by clinching a remarkable 1-2 finish in the women’s 10m air rifle final at the ISSF Junior World Cup held in Suhl, Germany on Saturday evening.

This impressive performance has propelled India back to the top of the medal standings at the International Shooting Sports Centre, where the country has amassed a total of two gold, three silver, and three bronze medals over five days of intense competition.

In this thrilling contest, Shambhavi secured gold with a score of 253.0 in the 24-shot final, while Ojasvi closely followed, earning silver with a score just 1.2 points shy. Italian competitor Carlota Salafia rounded out the podium in third place with 230.5 after 22 shots.

India's day was further brightened by Naraen Pranav earning a bronze in the men’s 10m air rifle and Mukesh Nelavalli adding another bronze in the men’s 25m rapid-fire pistol.

Outstanding 1-2 Finish in Women's Air Rifle

The day’s success was foreshadowed during the 60-shot qualification round, where the two Indian shooters delivered exceptional performances. Shambhavi scored 633.1 in the first relay, while Ojasvi topped the field with an impressive 633.2.

Facing a competitive final that included world number one and double Paris medalist Huang Yuting from China and Olympian Manon Herbulot from France, the two Indians rose to the occasion, consistently firing high 10s and showcasing their skill.

Initially, they were tied for second after the first five-shot series, with Shambhavi leading after the second. By the 12th shot, they held the top two positions, although the competition remained tight. Ojasvi briefly fell to fourth but regained her momentum with a perfect 10.9, ensuring her place on the podium.

Shambhavi maintained her lead, scoring a 10.9 on her 16th shot, and by the 18th shot, both shooters firmly held the gold and silver positions. Although Carlotta posed a late challenge, the Indians’ consistency shone through as they closed the final with five high 10s in their last eight shots, never dipping into the 9s.

Mukesh Wins Bronze

The gold medal in the men’s 25m Rapid-Fire Pistol was claimed by Thomas Chinours of France, who triumphed over Lukasz Kopiwoda of Poland in the second shoot-off round. Mukesh Nelavalli secured bronze after shooting 22, exiting after the seventh series.

Starting 13th due to a slow precision round, Mukesh rebounded with a score of 289 in the second rapid-fire round, concluding with a total of 573. He had to wait for the other competitors to finish before confirming his spot among the top six.

Despite a tie of scores among four athletes, Mukesh advanced to the final, benefiting from a higher count of inner 10 ring hits.

The final was electrifying, with early electronic scoring malfunctions complicating initial assessments. As the match progressed, Mukesh found his footing, moving from a slow start to a strong performance, which included a perfect five in the fourth series.

In a nail-biting moment, he entered the first shoot-off against Mate Redecsi, with both hitting three greens. However, Mukesh outperformed in the second shoot-off, ensuring India’s sixth medal of the event, even as the top two remained slightly out of reach.