Indian shooting sensation Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar delivered a spectacular performance at the ISSF World Championships in Cairo, Egypt, on Tuesday, securing a silver medal in the men's 50m rifle 3 positions event and equalling a world record. This stellar achievement highlighted a successful day for the Indian contingent, which also saw the duo of Samrat Rana and Esha Singh claim a silver medal in the 10m air pistol mixed team event, solidifying India's hold on second place in the overall medal standings.
Tomar's Nail-Biting Finale
In a thrilling 45-shot final that went down to the wire, Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar scored an impressive 466.9 points, finishing a mere 0.2 points behind China's Olympic champion Liu Yukun, who took gold with 467.1 points. This hard-fought silver medal marks Tomar's first individual world championship medal, a significant milestone in his burgeoning career. France's Romain Aufrere secured the bronze medal.
A Record-Equalling Qualification Round
The foundation for Tomar's podium finish was laid in the qualification round, where he displayed absolute mastery. The two-time Asian champion was in sublime form, scoring perfect 200s in both the Kneeling and Prone positions. He dropped only three points in the challenging Standing position to top the qualification leaderboard with a superb 597 points. This outstanding score matched the existing world record held jointly by his Chinese rivals, Liu Yukun and Linshu Du. Fellow Indian shooter Niraj Kumar also put in a strong performance, qualifying fifth with a score of 592.
Final Rollercoaster and Team Success
The eight-man final was a test of nerve and resilience. Tomar experienced a minor setback with an 8.6 in his sixth Kneeling shot but mounted a powerful comeback in the Prone position. With impressive series scores of 53.3, 52.7, and 52.7, he climbed his way back to second place. Niraj Kumar, in his debut world championship final, finished fifth after fluctuating across the three positions.
In the 10m air pistol mixed team event, the Indian pair of Esha Singh and Samrat Rana showcased their skill by topping the qualifications. Both shooters registered identical individual scores of 293, for a combined total of 586. They advanced to the gold medal match against China's top-ranked pair, Kai Hu and Qianxun Yao. The match was intensely close, tied at nine points after nine rounds, but the Chinese team eventually prevailed, winning 16-10.
This result ended Esha Singh's reign as the defending champion in this event. For Samrat Rana, however, it was a remarkable world championship debut, concluding his campaign with two gold medals and one silver. Another Indian pair, Suruchi and Shravan Kumar, finished eighth in the qualifications with a score of 579.
India Shines in Medal Tally
These stellar performances reinforce India's strong position in international shooting. With these latest medals, India's tally at the championships now stands at an impressive three gold, five silver, and three bronze medals. The Indian team firmly holds second place in the overall standings, trailing only behind China, which leads with eight golds among its total of 14 medals.
