Tokyo, Japan – In a stunning display of skill and precision, Abhinav Deshwal has clinched a gold medal in the 25m Sports Pistol event at the 2025 Deaflympics in Tokyo. The Indian shooter's victory marks a significant milestone for India, adding to the nation's impressive performance at the Games.

Deshwal's path to gold was paved with exceptional marksmanship. In the final, he shot an impressive 44 out of 50, narrowly edging out South Korea's Lee Seung Hwa, who scored 43. This hard-fought victory showcases Deshwal's composure and ability to perform under pressure. This medal is Deshwal's third medal at the current edition of the Deaflympics. It is his second individual medal, adding to the silver he won in the 10m Air Pistol event.

Earlier in the competition, Deshwal had already demonstrated his world-class talent by equaling the World Deaf record in the qualification round, scoring 575. Compatriot Chetan Sapkal also performed strongly in the qualification round, finishing behind Deshwal with a score of 573. However, Sapkal finished fifth in the final.

This is not Deshwal's only achievement at the 2025 Deaflympics. He previously won a gold medal in the 10m Air Pistol mixed team event alongside Pranjali Prashant Dhumal. The pair dominated their final against Ya-Ju Kao and Ming-Jui Hsu of Chinese Taipei, securing a 16-6 victory. In the qualification round for the mixed team event, Deshwal and Dhumal equaled the Deaf World and Olympic record with a combined score of 569-20x. Deshwal contributed 287-12x, while Dhumal scored 282-8x.

India has sent a strong contingent to the 2025 Summer Deaflympics in Tokyo, with 111 members, including 73 athletes (45 men and 28 women), and 38 support staff, competing across 11 sports. Jerlin Jayaratchagan was the flag-bearer for India during the opening ceremony.

India's shooters have been particularly successful at the 2025 Deaflympics. Prior to Deshwal's individual gold, Indian shooters had already secured multiple medals, including a gold for Dhanush Srikanth in the 10m air rifle event and a silver for Murtaza Vania in the same event. Kushagra Singh Rajawat also won a bronze medal in the 50m Rifle Prone event.

With several events still to come, India has the opportunity to further improve its medal count at the 2025 Deaflympics. Wrestlers Amit Krishan and Sumit Dahiya have reached the finals in the men's 86 kg and 97 kg freestyle categories, guaranteeing India at least two more medals. Ghan Shyam will compete for a bronze medal in the 125 kg category.