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Hindustan Times
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
India double their medal count in ISSF shooting World Cup, finish third behind China and Norway
The 36-member Indian contingent showcased a strong performance at the third 2025 ISSF World Cup in Munich, securing a total of four medals – two gold and two bronze. India finished an impressive third in the overall medal tally, trailing only the People's Republic of China and Norway. The team not only improved its standing from joint third last year, but also doubled its medal count, including the number of gold. Two-time Olympian Elavenil Valarivan, training at the Gun for Glory academy, opened India's medal account with a bronze in the women's 10m air rifle category, scoring 231.2. The 25-year-old also set a new national record during the qualification round of the same event, recording an exceptional score of 635.9. Adding to India's bronze medal count, rifle shooter Sift Kaur Samra secured third place on the podium in the 50m rifle 3 positions event with a final score of 453.1. Nineteen-year-old Suruchi Singh, who previously won gold in both the Buenos Aires and Lima legs of the 2025 ISSF World Cup, claimed her third gold in Munich in the women's 10m air pistol event, achieving a score of 241.9. The formidable duo of Arjun Babuta and Arya Borse further contributed to India's gold medal collection, registering a dominant 17-7 victory over the Chinese team to finish atop the podium in the 10m air rifle mixed team event. Another promising Gun for Glory athlete, Maddeneni Umamahesh, demonstrated his skill in the tournament, emerging as the only Indian athlete to rank within the top 8 in the qualification round for the men's 10m air rifle event, with a score of 632.3. "We train every day with the dream of winning something for our country," stated Elavenil Valarivan. "I am very grateful to the Gun For Glory setup, and specifically coach Neha Chavan, for their continued guidance and support in helping me excel in the sport I deeply love." Reflecting on her new national record, she added, "For me, breaking the record was reflective of all the effort my coaches and I put in before the tournament. I approached the qualifications with the intent of performing to the best of my ability, and I am glad it turned out well." Gagan Narang, a 2012 London Olympics bronze medalist and founder of Gun For Glory, commented on the team's performance: "It is so heartwarming to see Indian athletes doing so well on the international stage. I have always wanted to give back to the sport that has given me so much. Seeing these young men and women doing so well internationally makes me proud and grateful to have the opportunity to help support the development of sporting youth in India." The next event of the ISSF World Cup 2025 for rifle and pistol shooters is scheduled to take place in Ningbo, China, in September.
India Gazette
13-06-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
Sift Kaur Samra wins women's 3P bronze, her 2nd in two years in Munich
Munich [Germany], June 13 (ANI): World record holder Sift Kaur Samra, won bronze in the women's 50m rifle 3 positions (3P), on competition day three of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup (Rifle/Pistol) in Munich, giving India their second medal of the competition. The former world number one shot 453.1 in the final at the Olympic Shooting range, to finish behind Switzerland's Emely Jaeggi, who won silver with 464.8. Norwegian ace Jeanette Hegg Duestad won gold with 466.9. India now has two bronzes from the competition. Sift's second 3P bronze in Munich in as many years came on the back of a gold in the year's first Buenos Aires World Cup in April. In Munich on Thursday, she shot a characteristically strong and consistent qualification round with scores of 197, 199 and 196 each in Kneeling, Prone and the last Standing position respectively, to finish second in a top field. Agathe Girard of France pipped her to the top spot on the same score of 592, but with more shots in the inner 10 ring. While the Olympic champion Chiara Leonne of Switzerland missed out, so did India's Ashi Chouksey, a brilliant 589, giving her a ninth-place finish. Known to be a strong standing shooter in 3P, Sift ended the second Prone series of 15 shots in fourth position, behind Paris silver medalist Sagen Maddalena. Duestad and Emely were in a battle of their own for gold and silver quite early in the 45-shot final. Sagen then faltered in the first series of Standing shots and Sift gleefully accepted the window of opportunity to climb up to third, a position which she clinically maintained with a series of slim and mid to high 10s, right till the end of the penultimate 44th shot. On Friday, day four, the women's 10m Air Pistol final is also on schedule, as is the men's 25m rapid-fire pistol. Other Indian scores of the day Women's 3P- Shriyanka Sadangi 582 (43rd) Men's 10m Air Rifle- Kiran Ankush Jadhav 631.7 (10th), 629.1(39th), Sandeep Singh 628.3 (45th) Men's 25m Rapid Fire Pistol (Day 1-ongoing)- Anish 295, Vijavveer Sidhu 284. (ANI)
India Gazette
13-06-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
"The time is perfect for a shooting revolution": World record holder Sift Kaur Samra backs SLI
New Delhi [India], June 13 (ANI): Indian star athlete Sift Kaur Samra, who bagged a bronze medal on Thursday in the 50m rifle 3 positions women's event at the ongoing ISSF World Cup in Munich, voiced strong support for the upcoming Shooting League of India (SLI), calling it a 'game-changer for the sport in the country.' The 23-year-old from Punjab, who scripted history with a world record score of 469.6 in the women's 50m rifle 3 positions final at the 2022 Asian Games, believes that India's first-ever shooting league will open up new dimensions for shooters, fans, and future talent alike. 'This is the first time something like this is happening in Indian shooting, and I think it's a huge step forward. People still do not know much about shooting as a sport. A league format brings it closer to audiences and gives us shooters a whole new platform to grow--both competitively and personally,' Sift said as quoted from a press release from SLI. While she is no stranger to the international stage--with multiple medals including Asian Games gold and silver, and a previous ISSF World Cup bronze--Sift is especially intrigued by the league's format that will pit India's top shooters against each other in team-based rivalries. 'We are used to competing individually or as national teams internationally. But in the league, we will be playing against each other--possibly alongside international shooters too. That is new, that is exciting, and it will definitely be fun. It is a format where you win or lose in a single shot--there is no safety net of world rankings or qualification points. It is pure sport, and people will love watching that,' she added. Sift also highlighted the league's potential to inspire the next generation of shooters, likening its potential impact to the IPL in cricket and said, 'I have had people call my parents asking how to get into shooting. If a league like this can be seen on TV or social media, it will create a lot of awareness. Just like the IPL brought visibility to cricket's domestic talent, the Shooting League can do the same for us.' She is also looking forward to connecting with both junior shooters and international athletes through the league and added, 'There are juniors I have never interacted with because we are in different categories. This league will bridge that gap. We will learn from each other--and that is how the sport grows.' Reflecting on the cultural impact of a league, she said, 'People see us winning medals at the World Cup or Asian Games or maybe recognise us from an appearance on TV. But they do not really see the sport. A league will change that--it is fast-paced, it is dramatic, and it will show that shooting is more than just a serious Olympic discipline. It is also a lot of fun.' Sift concluded by expressing excitement for the upcoming season, which is scheduled to begin in November this year and said, 'We are all curious--who will be in which team, who will be rivals, how will it be structured? None of us have experienced this before. But one thing is for sure-- the time is perfect for a shooting revolution, and I cannot wait to be part of it.' (ANI)
News18
13-06-2025
- Sport
- News18
Sift Samra Looks Forward To New Shooting League: 'Perfect For A Revolution...'
Last Updated: Indian shooter Sift Kaur Samra, who won bronze at the ISSF World Cup, supports the new Shooting League of India, calling it a "game-changer." Indian star shooter Sift Kaur Samra, who secured a bronze medal in the 50m rifle 3 positions women's event at the ongoing ISSF World Cup in Munich, has come forward, voicing strong support for the upcoming Shooting League of India (SLI), describing it as a 'game-changer for the sport in the country." The 23-year-old from Punjab, who made history with a world record score of 469.6 in the women's 50m rifle 3 positions final at the 2022 Asian Games, believes that India's first-ever shooting league will open new horizons for shooters and aspiring talent alike. 'This is the first time something like this is happening in Indian shooting, and I think it's a huge step forward. People still do not know much about shooting as a sport. A league format brings it closer to audiences and gives us shooters a whole new platform to grow—both competitively and personally," said Sift. Having already showcased her prowess on the international stage with multiple medals, including Asian Games gold and silver, and a previous ISSF World Cup bronze, Sift is particularly excited about the league's format. This new setup will see India's top shooters compete against each other in team-based rivalries. 'We are used to competing individually or as national teams internationally. But in the league, we will be playing against each other—possibly alongside international shooters too. That is new, that is exciting, and it will definitely be fun. It is a format where you win or lose in a single shot—there is no safety net of world rankings or qualification points. It is pure sport, and people will love watching that," she said. Sift also pointed out the league's potential to inspire the next generation of shooters, comparing its potential impact to the IPL in cricket. 'I have had people call my parents asking how to get into shooting. If a league like this can be seen on TV or social media, it will create a lot of awareness. Just like the IPL brought visibility to cricket's domestic talent, the Shooting League can do the same for us." She also wants to connect with junior shooters and international athletes through the league. 'There are juniors I have never interacted with because we are in different categories. This league will bridge that gap. We will learn from each other—and that is how the sport grows." Reflecting on the cultural impact of a league, she said, 'People see us winning medals at the World Cup or Asian Games or maybe recognise us from an appearance on TV. But they do not really see the sport. A league will change that—it is fast-paced, it is dramatic, and it will show that shooting is more than just a serious Olympic discipline. It is also a lot of fun." Sift expressed her excitement for the upcoming season, which is scheduled to begin in November of this year. 'We are all curious—who will be in which team, who will be rivals, how will it be structured? None of us have experienced this before. But one thing is for sure—the time is perfect for a shooting revolution, and I cannot wait to be part of it," she concluded. (with IANS inputs) First Published: June 13, 2025, 12:03 IST
Hans India
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Hans India
Shooting World Cup: Samra wins bronze
Munich: Indian shooting sensation Sift Kaur Samra added yet another accolade to her growing list of international achievements, securing a bronze medal in the women's 50m rifle 3 positions event at the International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) World Cup (rifle/pistol) here on Thursday. Competing in a strong international field, the 23-year-old from Faridkot, Punjab, scored 453.1 in the final to finish third, reaffirming her place among the elite rifle shooters in the world. The gold went to Norway's Jeanette Hegg Duestad, who shot a sensational 466.9 in the final, while Switzerland's Emely Jaeggi won silver with 464.8. Interestingly, Jaeggi, who initially placed ninth in the qualification round with a score of 590, only made it to the final after two shooters above her were declared ineligible for medals due to their 'ranking points only' (RPO) status. Samra, meanwhile, had a solid outing in the qualifying rounds, finishing second with an aggregate of 592 across the three positions – kneeling, prone, and standing. She was tied on the score with France's Agathe Cecile Camille Girard, who topped the chart by virtue of more inner 10s (Xs). Switzerland's Audrey Gogniat followed them in third place, heading into the final. This bronze adds to what has been a remarkable year for Samra so far. She began the 2025 season with a gold medal at the ISSF World Cup in Buenos Aires, a vital boost after a challenging 2024 Paris Olympics, where she had a below-par outing. Already a history-maker, Samra still holds the world record in women's 50m rifle 3 positions – a stunning 469.6 – which she set during her gold-medal winning performance at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou.
