Ganemat Sekhon on cusp of ISSF World Cup final, shoots 70 of 75 in Almaty
Synopsis
Ganemat Sekhon's 70-point opening at the ISSF World Cup Shotgun in Almaty leaves her tantalisingly close to the top-eight final berth — just one point adrift. With 50 targets remaining on Day Two, the Indian contingent, led by Olympians Mairaj Ahmad Khan and Anantjeet Singh Naruka in the men's draw, faces a critical window to convert qualification into medal finishes after a medal-less outing in Morocco.
Key Takeaways
Ganemat Sekhon shot 70 of 75 targets on Day One, sitting one point outside the top-eight qualification bracket at the ISSF World Cup Shotgun in Almaty, Kazakhstan .
Mairaj Ahmad Khan (Olympian) leads Indian men with 71 points , currently in 27th place ; Anantjeet Singh Naruka (Olympian) posted 69 points .
Gurjoat Singh Khangura (National champion) recorded 70 points in the men's event.
Raiza Dhillon (Women's National Champion, Olympian) carded 69 points ; Parinaaz Dhaliwal shot 66 points .
Remaining 50 targets of qualification and finals scheduled for May 5 ; India drew no medals at the season's first World Cup in Tangier, Morocco in April.
Ganemat Sekhon, India's top-ranked shotgun shooter, carded 70 out of 75 targets on the opening day of the ISSF World Cup Shotgun at the Asanov Shooting Club in Almaty, Kazakhstan, positioning herself just one point outside the top eight qualification bracket. The Chandigarh-based marksman, who claimed silver at the same venue three years prior, emerged as India's best-placed competitor heading into Day Two.
Men's field takes shape
Olympian Mairaj Ahmad Khan opened with a flawless 25 before recording 23 in each of his subsequent two rounds, accumulating 71 points to sit in 27th place after the first day. Fellow Olympic Games representative Anantjeet Singh Naruka matched Khan's opening perfect series but faltered with 23 and 21 in rounds two and three, finishing on 69 points. National champion Gurjoat Singh Khangura posted 70 points with a sequence of 22, 24, 24.
Supporting Indian contingent
Bhavtegh Singh Gill and Abhay Singh Sekhon, competing for ranking points rather than direct qualification, shot 71 points (24, 24, 23) and 70 points (23, 24, 23) respectively. The dual-shooter approach allows India to accumulate competitive data while protecting primary athletes for the final rounds.
Women's competition overview
Olympian and Women's National Champion Raiza Dhillon recorded 69 points with rounds of 22, 23, 24, while Parinaaz Dhaliwal managed 66 points across three rounds of 22, 21, 23. Ranking-point participants Vanshika Tiwari and Rashmmi Rathore shot 66 points (24, 21, 21) and 62 points (20, 21, 21) respectively.
Qualification path ahead
The remaining 50 targets of qualification rounds and finals for both women and men are scheduled for May 5. Sekhon's single-point deficit positions her as a strong contender to breach the top eight and advance directly to the medal rounds, contingent on consistent performance in the second day's shooting.
Season context
This marks the second ISSF shotgun World Cup of the season, following the inaugural event in Tangier, Morocco, in April, where the Indian delegation returned without medal honours. The Almaty leg offers a critical opportunity for India's shotgun contingent to break into the podium and establish momentum ahead of the international calendar's remaining fixtures.
Point of View
And Naruka's slide from 25 to 21 in successive rounds, suggest that consistency under pressure — not raw skill — remains the differentiator at this level. India's medal drought in Morocco, now compounded by narrow qualification margins in Almaty, points to a systemic execution gap against Europe's dominant shotgun nations, particularly in the final five targets where psychological resilience is paramount.
NationPress
6 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How close is Ganemat Sekhon to qualifying for the ISSF World Cup final?
Ganemat Sekhon is one point outside the top-eight qualification bracket after shooting 70 of 75 targets on Day One. With 50 targets remaining on May 5, she remains well-positioned to breach the top eight and advance to the medal rounds.
What was Mairaj Ahmad Khan's Day One performance?
Olympian Mairaj Ahmad Khan shot a perfect 25 in his first series, then recorded 23 in each of his next two rounds for a total of 71 points, placing him in 27th place after Day One.
When will the remaining qualification rounds and finals be held?
The remaining 50 targets of qualification and the finals for both women and men are scheduled for May 5 at the Asanov Shooting Club in Almaty.
How did India perform at the previous ISSF World Cup in Morocco?
India did not secure any medals at the first shotgun World Cup of the season, which concluded in Tangier, Morocco, in April.
Which Indian shooters are competing for ranking points versus direct qualification?
Bhavtegh Singh Gill, Abhay Singh Sekhon, Vanshika Tiwari, and Rashmmi Rathore are participating for ranking points rather than direct qualification, allowing India to accumulate competitive data while protecting primary athletes.
