New Delhi, India — In a remarkable feat, India's Akhil Sheoran secured a bronze medal in the 50m rifle three-position event at the Shooting World Cup finals held on Wednesday. This achievement comes just a day after fellow shooter Sonam Maskar claimed silver in the 10m air rifle event, marking a commendable performance for India, despite some disappointments among other competitors. Akhil's victory provided a much-needed morale boost, particularly after his near-miss at the Paris Olympics, where he had earned an Olympic quota for India during the World Championships but was sidelined from the final squad due to an injury during the selection trials.
Reflecting on his journey, Akhil shared, "I have overcome disappointment. I have started preparations with the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics in mind. I worked hard for this competition. There was not much success in the kneeling method, but in the other two categories, I performed well and got the medal." In the qualification round, Akhil finished sixth with a score of 589 points, while compatriot Chen Singh, who scored 592 points, also advanced to the finals but ultimately placed seventh. Akhil triumphed in the final with a score of 452.6 points, outpacing even Olympic gold medalist Liu Yukun of China.
While Akhil's performance was a highlight, the day was less favorable for other Indian shooters. In the women's 50m rifle three-position event, Asian Games bronze medalist Ashi Chokse finished ninth in the qualifiers with 587 points, and Nischal followed closely behind in tenth place with 585 points. The men's 25m rapid fire event also saw Olympians Vijayveer Sidhu and Anish Bhavnla fail to deliver the expected results. As the Shooting World Cup finals continue, Indian shooters remain hopeful for future events, looking to channel their experiences into improved performances on the global stage.