Athens: India’s veteran trap shooter Zoravar Singh Sandhu ended a nearly three-decade-long pursuit of glory by winning his first ISSF World Championships (Shotgun) bronze medal on Friday. The medal opened India’s account in the prestigious tournament, coming 19 years after Olympian Manavjit Singh Sandhu’s world championship in 2006.
The 48-year-old Delhi-based marksman displayed nerves of steel on the final day, hitting 31 out of 40 targets in the six-shooter final to secure bronze. Croatia’s former Olympic champion Josip Glasnovic won gold, while Spain’s Andres Garcia took silver.
Sandhu, a multiple-time national champion and two-time World Cup medallist, shot impressively during qualifications, scoring 122/125 across five rounds to enter the medal round in sixth place. In the final, he finished ahead of Croatia’s Anton Glasnovic to claim the historic bronze — the second individual world championship medal for India in trap.
“It was a great experience. It was a tough range, tough conditions to shoot but that’s how it is and here we are. I would like to thank my family and my coaches and teammates for their support,” Sandhu said.
The Indian team, comprising Sandhu, Vivaan Kapoor, and Bhowneesh Mendiratta, finished 10th with 352 points. In the women’s trap, Aashima Ahlawat, Neeru, and Kirti Gupta finished 8th with a combined score of 319.
“It is a historic moment for Indian shooting with Zoravar helping us win only a second individual world championship medal in trap. It shows the level of confidence of our shooting squad that with every international outing, new barriers are being breached,” said NRAI president Kalikesh Singh Deo.
The mixed trap team competition begins Saturday, with two Indian pairs — Sandhu and Aashima, and Bhowneesh and Neeru — in contention.
Zoravar Singh Sandhu Clinches India’s First Bronze At ISSF Shotgun World Championships
