At the ISSF Shotgun World Cup 2025 in Lonato, Italy, the Indian skeet shooting team faced disappointment as none of its members could secure a place in the finals. The team, composed of both seasoned Olympians and emerging talents, began their campaign with high hopes at the Trap Concaverde shooting range.
In the men's skeet competition, India was represented by Mairaj Ahmad Khan, a two-time Olympian, Angad Vir Singh Bajwa, and Anantjeet Singh Naruka. Despite their experience and consistent performances in previous ISSF events, they couldn't make it to the final round. Bhavtegh Singh Gill displayed exceptional precision on Day 2, hitting three perfect 25s out of four rounds for a total of 98. Veteran Mairaj Ahmad Khan matched Gill's score, also ending the day with 98 after a combination of 24s and 25s in his attempts. However, with 16 shooters tied at 98 and only six spots in the final, the competition was intense.
The women's skeet team included Maheshwari Chauhan, Raiza Dhillon, and Ganemat Sekhon. Ganemat Sekhon kept her composure and scored two consecutive 24s on Tuesday, bringing her total to 96 and placing her in eighth place provisionally. Maheshwari Chauhan also finished with 96, while Raiza Dhillon scored 93. Just like the men's team, the women's team also faced stiff competition, with five other shooters also locked at 96, making the battle for the final spots extremely tight.
The Lonato World Cup is the final ISSF World Cup of the season for shotgun shooters before the Finals in Doha in December. The Indian squad arrived in Lonato early to train, with the team having a mix of experience and world-ranked shooters. Live streaming of the finals was available on Olympics.com in India.
Despite the setback in Lonato, Indian shooters will have another opportunity to compete at the ISSF World Cup (Rifle/Pistol) in Ningbo, China, scheduled for September.