ISSF World C’ship Shotgun: Will India Renew Their Medal Hopes in Trap Events?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Neeru Dhanda leads the Indian women's trap squad.
- The competition features top global shooters, including reigning champions.
- Trap qualification rounds consist of three stages: 50, 50, and 25 targets.
- The finals will determine medal winners in both men's and women's categories.
- Indian shooters aim to enhance their performance and secure medals.
New Delhi, Oct 14 (NationPress) With the skeet events wrapped up, the spotlight now shifts to the trap competition as the International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) World Championship Shotgun 2025 enters its second phase in Athens, Greece.
Beginning Wednesday, six Indian trap shooters - Neeru Dhanda, Aashima Ahlawat, and Kirti Gupta in the women’s category, alongside Zoravar Singh Sandhu, Vivaan Kapoor, and Bhowneesh Mendiratta in the men’s category - will compete at the Malakasa Shooting Range in the Greek capital, facing off against the first 50 targets of the qualification round.
The women’s trap event boasts a formidable lineup, highlighted by the defending World Champion Lin Yi-Chun from Chinese Taipei. The field of 80 includes World No.1 Lada Denisova (AIN), World No.2 Silvana Stanco from Italy, World No.3 Alessandra Perilli of San Marino, and World No.4 Carey Jeana Garrison of the USA. Other prominent names feature Adriana Ruano, the Paris Olympic champion from Guatemala.
Leading the Indian squad is Neeru Dhanda, Asian Champion and currently ranked World No.8, who has demonstrated consistent performance this season with a fourth-place finish at the Lonato World Cup and a top-six result in the Buenos Aires Mixed Team event. She will be accompanied by Aashima Ahlawat, a bronze medalist at the Asian Championship, and Kirti Gupta, rounding out the trio.
In the men’s category, veteran Zoravar Singh Sandhu, ranked World No.12, will lead the Indian contingent alongside former Junior World Champion Vivaan Kapoor, and Bhowneesh Mendiratta, who earned silver at the Asian Championship in Kazakhstan.
The men’s trap event features participation from 141 athletes, including reigning World Champion Giovanni Cernogoraz from Croatia, along with his 2023 podium companions Marián Kovačócy from Slovakia and Khaled Al-Mudhaf from Kuwait. Paris Olympic gold medalist Nathan Hales of Great Britain and bronze medalist Jean Pierre Brol of Guatemala (World No.4) are also highlights in this competitive field.
The competition will showcase top-ranked shooters, including World No.1 Mauro De Filippis (Italy), William Hinton (USA, World No.2), Walton Eller (USA, World No.3), and Giovanni Pellielo (Italy, World No.5), promising a high-caliber battle for the podium.
Commencing Wednesday, the trap qualification rounds will feature 50 targets each for men and women, with another 50 set for October 16, and a final 25 on October 17. Following 125 targets in qualification, the top six from each category will progress to the finals for the World Championship medals. The women’s trap final is slated for 5:30 PM IST, succeeded by the men’s final at 7:00 PM IST on the same evening.