In a stunning display of skill and nerve, 21-year-old Indian shooter Simranpreet Kaur Brar secured the gold medal in the women's 25m pistol event at the prestigious ISSF World Cup Final in Doha, Qatar, on December 7, 2025. The young athlete from Punjab triumphed over a formidable lineup of world champions, marking the biggest victory of her career so far.
A Dream Final Against the World's Best
The final in Doha featured a veritable who's who of international shooting. Brar, ranked World No. 31, found herself competing against the likes of Paris 2024 Olympic champion Yang Ji-in of Korea, World No. 2 Yao Qianxun of China, and 2023 world champion Doreen Vennekamp of Germany. The field also included Paris 10m air pistol gold medallist Oh Ye-Jin of Korea, World No. 3 Sun Yujjie of China, and Brar's compatriot, World Championship bronze medallist Esha Singh.
With the notable absence of India's Paris double medallist Manu Bhaker, who failed to qualify for the finals, the stage was set for a new champion to emerge. Brar, who had often watched videos of these elite shooters, dreamt of sharing the podium with them. On this day, she didn't just share it; she stood on the top step.
Overcoming Early Jitters to Claim Victory
The Faridkot native's journey to gold was not without its tense moments. She began the final shakily, missing four shots in the first two series and languishing in seventh place. However, displaying remarkable composure, Brar executed a spectacular comeback over the next 40 shots during the elimination phase, missing only five targets.
She built a three-shot lead over Qianxun and Vennekamp. With three shooters remaining, Brar sealed her victory in style by shooting a perfect five in the last series, edging out Yao Qianxun for the title. Her final score was just one point short of Korean Kim Yejin's world record of 42.
"When I missed the shots early in the final, I knew I had to forget about that. And after I hit the perfect series in the final then too I knew I had to forget and focus on the next series. That has been my thought process always," Brar shared after her win.
A Father's Sacrifice Paves the Way
Behind this golden achievement lies a story of immense familial sacrifice and belief. Simranpreet's father, Sharminder Brar, left his secure government teaching job three years ago to fully support his daughter's shooting ambitions. He and his wife, Harcharan Kaur, watched the final from home, their hearts filled with pride.
"I had left my government job as a teacher to support Simran's training," Sharminder Brar revealed. "Initially, a lot of people would tell us Simran being the only child and that too a girl, the focus should be her marriage. But we just thought about giving her the best."
The investment was significant, both emotionally and financially. "I had to take out money from our savings to get her pistols, whether it be 10m or 25m pistols, and her six pistols are like our family jewels," said the proud father, highlighting the family's unwavering commitment to her sport over traditional societal expectations.
Technical Revival and National Pride
Brar's path to Doha gold involved overcoming a dip in form. Indian shooting team's high-performance manager, Ronak Pandit, explained the technical adjustments made. "The dip in form came due to her trying extra, and it would also mean that the stability and trigger movement would take a hit. She also had a bout of illness," Pandit said.
The coaching team worked on specific exercises to make her trigger finger more independent, reducing disturbance in the wrist. Pandit also noted Brar's close bond with former world champion Heena Sidhu, his wife, whom Brar idolises. "She would get selfies with [Heena]. Now we told her that we need selfies with her with this gold," Pandit added with a laugh.
This victory in Doha builds on Brar's silver medal at the Lima World Cup earlier in the year, signalling her arrival as a consistent force in international shooting.
The ISSF World Cup Final in Doha proved to be a successful outing for the Indian shooting contingent overall. Earlier on the same day, world championships bronze medallist Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar won bronze in the men's 50m rifle 3P event. The day concluded with world championship silver medallist Anish Bhanwala securing a silver medal in the men's 25m rapid fire pistol final. Asian Games champion Sift Kaur Samra, however, did not qualify for the final in the women's 50m rifle 3P event.
Simranpreet Kaur Brar's gold medal is more than just a sporting triumph; it is a testament to resilience, technical refinement, and the power of a family's belief in challenging conventions to chase a dream.
