India produced one of their finest-ever collective performances at the ISSF World Cup Final (WCF) Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun in Doha’s Lusail Shooting Complex, returning with six medals — two gold, three silver and one bronze — across four action-packed days. Only China finished ahead in the medal tally, but India’s mix of rising teenagers and seasoned Olympians ensured a memorable end to the 2025 season.
Teenage Debutants Steal the Show
The opening day belonged to India’s young 10m air pistol sensations. Suruchi Phogat, still in her teens, stunned the field by winning gold with a junior world record score of 245.1, while Sainyam claimed silver as India recorded a historic double podium in the WCF’s elite year-ending competition. China’s Yao Qianxun took bronze.
Suruchi, who had qualified second, recovered from an early deficit to unleash a series of brilliant 10.9s and clinch her sixth ISSF medal of the year — four of them gold. Manu Bhaker, twice a WCF gold medallist, finished fifth.
Later, Samrat Rana ensured India ended Day 1 with another medal, bagging bronze in men’s air pistol. He challenged for the top spot till the 20th shot but an 8.4 in his 21st meant he settled for third — his first WCF podium. Varun Tomar finished fourth.
Aishwary Seals Career ‘Full Set’ with 3P Silver
India’s men’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions champion Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar added another glittering chapter to his remarkable year, winning silver in the new 40-shot 3P final. It completed a rare full set of medals across world and continental championships.
Tomar surged through Prone and Standing to briefly take the lead, but Czech shooter Jiri Privratsky held firm to win gold. Olympic champion Liu Yukun claimed bronze.
In women’s 3P and 25m pistol, Sift Kaur Samra and Manu Bhaker missed out on the finals.
Simranpreet Kaur Brar Delivers a Sensational Gold
Day 3 marked the arrival of another teen star. Simranpreet Kaur Brar, competing in only her second WCF final, produced a masterclass to win gold in the women’s 25m pistol, equalling the junior world record of 41 hits. After a slow start, she dominated the middle and end phases, leaving China’s Yao Qianxun and Germany’s Doreen Vennekamp behind.
It was India’s second gold of the event and Simranpreet’s first senior international title. Esha Singh finished seventh after making her maiden WCF final.
In the men’s 25m Rapid Fire Pistol, India’s Anish Bhanwala displayed characteristic grit to win silver, upgrading his 2023 bronze. He shot 31 hits in a tense final that saw Olympic legend Li Yuehong take gold. It was India’s third silver of the tournament.
Final Day Awaited with Trap Medal Shot, but in Vain
World Championship bronze medallist Zorawar Singh Sandhu finished seventh in men’s trap final with seven hits in the first 10 targets. Zorawar was the only Indian representative on the concluding Shotgun Day at the Lusail Shooting complex in Doha, which saw all four individual Shotgun finals played out on Monday.
India’s Final Tally:
- 2 Gold: Suruchi Phogat (10m Air Pistol), Simranpreet Kaur Brar (25m Pistol)
- 3 Silver: Sainyam (10m Air Pistol), Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar (50m Rifle 3P), Anish Bhanwala (25m RFP)
- 1 Bronze: Samrat Rana (10m Air Pistol)
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