At the ISSF Junior World Cup 2025 in New Delhi, India showcased its dominance in shooting sports by securing both the gold and silver medals in the 10m air rifle mixed team event. The gold medal was won by the dynamic duo of Isha Taksale and Himanshu, who demonstrated remarkable resilience and skill to defeat their compatriots, Shambhavi Kshirsagar and Naraen Pranav, in a thrilling final.
The gold medal match was a captivating display of talent and determination, held at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range. Taksale and Himanshu faced a significant challenge when they trailed Kshirsagar and Pranav 9-15 at one stage. However, demonstrating their composure and expertise, they rallied to win four consecutive series, ultimately clinching the gold medal with a final score of 17-15. The match was characterized by high-quality shooting from both teams, with Shambhavi Kshirsagar achieving two 10.9 scores and Isha Taksale adding one. Only a mere five out of the 64 shots fired dipped below a score of 10, highlighting the precision and skill of the young athletes.
Earlier in the competition, Himanshu had already distinguished himself by winning the gold medal in the men's individual 10m air rifle event. This victory further solidified his reputation as a rising star in the world of shooting.
In addition to the gold and silver in the 10m air rifle mixed team event, India also secured a bronze medal in the men's trap final, courtesy of Vinay Pratap Singh Chandrawat. Chandrawat's score of 34 earned him the bronze, while his teammate Arjun finished fourth with a score of 29. Croatia’s Toni Gudelj won gold in the men's trap, hitting 44 targets, while Spain’s Isaac Hernandez took silver with 41. In the women's trap junior event, Czechia's Lea Kucerova won gold with 41 hits, followed by Italy's Sofia Gori with silver at 37 and AIN's Kseniia Samofalova with bronze at 30.
The ISSF Junior World Cup 2025 also saw Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN) Varvara Kardakova and Kamil Nuriakhmetov win the bronze medal in the 10m air rifle mixed team event, defeating fellow AIN athletes Mariia Kruglova and Timofei Aleinikov with a score of 17-9.
With these victories, India maintained its stronghold at the top of the medal tally, amassing a total of 23 medals, comprising 7 gold, 9 silver, and 7 bronze. The strong performance of the Indian contingent, consisting of 69 members, at the ISSF Junior World Cup 2025 underscores the country's growing prowess in shooting sports.
