Lima, Peru/Patiala, April 22 (Sports Desk)
India concluded their campaign at the ISSF World Cup 2025 in Lima with a commendable haul of seven medals—two golds, four silvers, and one bronze—finishing third in the medal standings behind China and the USA. Simranpreet Kaur Brar shone brightly, securing a silver medal in the women’s 25m pistol event, marking her first-ever ISSF World Cup podium. Meanwhile, double Olympic medallist Manorath “Manu” Bhaker narrowly missed a medal, finishing fourth, as Indian shooters showcased their prowess in Peru.
Women’s 25m Pistol Event
The women’s 25m pistol event saw intense competition, with Simranpreet Kaur Brar emerging as India’s standout performer. She scored 33 hits in the final to clinch the silver medal, finishing just one hit behind China’s Sun Yujie, who won gold with 34 hits. China’s Yao Qianxun took bronze with 29 hits.
Key Performances
- Simranpreet Kaur Brar: Delivered a stellar performance, scoring 33 hits in the final. She climbed into the top three by the fourth series, holding her nerve through eliminations to secure silver. This was her maiden ISSF World Cup medal.
- Manu Bhaker: Scored 22 hits in the final, finishing fourth. Despite a strong qualification round (585, second place), she couldn’t maintain her momentum in the final, exiting after a shoot-off.
- Esha Singh: Finished sixth with 17 hits. As part of India’s world-champion mixed team pistol duo, she struggled in the final, bowing out after the first shoot-off.
Qualification Round
- Manu Bhaker: Led India with 585 points, securing second place.
- Simranpreet Kaur Brar: Scored 580 points, finishing fifth.
- Esha Singh: Qualified in eighth with 575 points.
Final Dynamics
- Early Stages: China’s Yao Qianxun, Sun Yujie, and Pengwan Zu dominated the first series, occupying the top three spots.
- Mid-Final Surge: Simranpreet broke into the top three by the fourth series, trailing Yao and Sun. Manu and Simranpreet both scored perfect fives in the sixth series, while Esha’s four triggered the first shoot-off.
- Shoot-Offs: Esha was eliminated in the first shoot-off. Manu outlasted Germany’s Doreen Vennekamp in the second shoot-off to reach the top four but fell in the next series.
- Final Standings: Simranpreet’s 23 hits after the shoot-offs placed her between Sun (25) and Yao (22), with the gap holding until Sun clinched gold with 34 hits, followed by Simranpreet (33) and Yao (29).
India’s Overall Performance
India’s seven-medal haul—two golds, four silvers, and one bronze—placed them third in the medal standings. China topped the table with 13 medals (four golds), followed by the USA with seven medals (four golds).
India’s Medal Winners
- Saurabh Chaudhary/Suruchi Singh: Gold in 10m air pistol mixed team.
- Suruchi Singh: Gold in women’s 10m air pistol.
- Manu Bhaker: Silver in women’s 10m air pistol.
- Simranpreet Kaur Brar: Silver in women’s 25m pistol.
- Rudrannksh Patil/Arya Borse: Silver in 10m air rifle mixed team.
- Arjun Babuta: Silver in men’s 10m air rifle.
- Saurabh Chaudhary: Bronze in men’s 10m air pistol.
Highlights
- 10m Air Pistol Dominance: Both of India’s golds came in the 10m air pistol events, with Suruchi Singh excelling individually and alongside Saurabh Chaudhary in the mixed team event.
- Simranpreet’s Breakthrough: Her silver in the 25m pistol marked a significant milestone, highlighting her potential as a rising star.
- Manu Bhaker’s Consistency: Despite missing a medal in the 25m pistol, Manu’s silver in the 10m air pistol and strong qualification performances underscored her reliability.
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The ISSF World Cup 2025 in Lima was the second shooting World Cup of the season, following India’s impressive performance in Buenos Aires earlier in April, where they secured eight medals (four golds, two silvers, two bronzes) to finish second. The Lima event saw India maintain their competitive edge, with young talents like Simranpreet stepping up alongside established names like Manu Bhaker and Saurabh Chaudhary.
- Medal Standings:
- China: 13 medals (4 gold, X silver, X bronze)
- USA: 7 medals (4 gold, X silver, X bronze)
- India: 7 medals (2 gold, 4 silver, 1 bronze)
- Venue: Lima, Peru, hosted the event, with the 25m pistol final concluding India’s campaign on April 20, 2025.
- Event Format: The 25m pistol event involves rapid-fire shooting, with finalists aiming for the highest number of hits across multiple series, followed by eliminations and shoot-offs to determine the medalists.
Key Moments
- Simranpreet’s Rise: Her steady climb from fifth in qualification to second in the final showcased her composure under pressure, earning her a historic first World Cup medal.
- Manu’s Near Miss: Despite a strong start, Manu’s fourth-place finish highlighted the fine margins in elite shooting, with her 22 hits falling short in the final series.
- China’s Dominance: Sun Yujie and Yao Qianxun’s gold and bronze, respectively, reinforced China’s strength in pistol events, with three Chinese shooters in the top five early in the final.
- Esha’s Exit: Esha Singh’s early elimination in the shoot-off was a setback, but her qualification performance (575) affirmed her potential.
ISSF World Cup 2025 Lima: India medal winners
Saurabh Chaudhary – bronze medal in the men’s 10m air pistolPost-Event Outlook
Saurabh Chaudhary/Suruchi Singh – gold medal in the 10m air pistol mixed team
Suruchi Singh – gold medal in the women’s 10m air pistol
Manu Bhaker – silver medal in the women’s 10m air pistol
Simranpreet Kaur – silver medal in the women’s 25m pistol
Rudrannksh Patil/Arya Borse – silver medal in the 10m air rifle mixed team
Arjun Babuta – silver medal in the men’s 10m air rifle
India’s seven medals in Lima reflect the depth and talent in their shooting contingent, building on their Buenos Aires success. Simranpreet Kaur Brar’s silver is a promising sign for the future, while Manu Bhaker’s consistent performances and Saurabh Chaudhary’s dual medals (gold and bronze) highlight India’s strength in pistol events. The team’s focus now shifts to upcoming international competitions, with the ISSF World Cup series providing crucial preparation for global championships.
