India Dominates ISSF Junior World Championship With Eight Medals

Indian shooters dominated the second day of the 2026 ISSF Junior World Championship in Suhl, Germany, capturing five additional medals. The National Rifle Association of India confirmed that the country retained its lead atop the global standings, elevating its cumulative haul to eight medals.

The National Rifle Association of India reported another highly successful outing for the domestic squad on Saturday, as athletes secured five podium finishes during the second stage of global competition.

In the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol Men Junior final, Sameer captured the gold medal by delivering a composed performance to finish the tournament with 28 hits.

The 50m Rifle 3 Positions Men Junior final saw Rohit Kanyan secure the gold medal, further cementing the country’s dominant position at the global tournament.

The contingent added a silver medal through Prachi Gaikwad, who claimed the runner-up position in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions Women Junior event by registering a final score of 354.7.

The podium streak continued across the team divisions, where the trio of Rohit Kanyan, Vedant Nitin Waghmare, and Hithesh Srinivasan secured a bronze medal in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions Men Junior Team event.

A second bronze medal was achieved in the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol Men Junior Team category, where Sameer, Abhinav Choudhary, and Sahil Choudhary combined to book their place on the podium.

By capturing five medals on day two, the squad extended its overall tournament tally to eight distinctions, consisting of four gold, one silver, and three bronze medals. This sustained performance keeps the nation anchored at the peak of the competitive medal board.

During the opening sessions of the championship, Sejal Kamble secured the gold medal in the 10m Air Pistol Women Junior individual event, while fellow citizen Himanshi took home the bronze medal.

The opening day success concluded with another victory in the 10m Air Pistol Women Junior Team event, where Sejal Kamble, Vanshika Choudhary, and Navya Bishnoi posted a combined score of 1700 to win the world title.

Future Outlook

The exceptional momentum established by the junior shooting squad sets a high benchmark for the remainder of the 2026 international shooting calendar. With individual and team events showcasing deep talent pools across both pistol and rifle disciplines, national coaches are well-positioned to transition these junior athletes into senior international circuits. The focus now shifts to maintaining technical precision in the upcoming mixed team events, where the nation aims to solidify its absolute lead at the top of the international medal table.

FAQs

Who won the individual gold medals for India on day two?

Sameer won the gold medal in the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol Men Junior event, while Rohit Kanyan clinched the gold medal in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions Men Junior category.

What is India’s total medal count after the second day of the ISSF Junior World Championship?

The nation has accumulated eight medals in total, which includes four gold, one silver, and three bronze medals, keeping them at the top of the leaderboard.

Which athletes won team medals for India at the tournament?

Rohit Kanyan, Vedant Nitin Waghmare, and Hithesh Srinivasan won bronze in the rifle team event. Sameer, Abhinav Choudhary, and Sahil Choudhary won bronze in the rapid fire pistol team event, while Sejal Kamble, Vanshika Choudhary, and Navya Bishnoi won team gold on day one.

What score did Prachi Gaikwad achieve to secure her silver medal?

Prachi Gaikwad registered a final score of 354.7 to finish as the runner-up in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions Women Junior individual competition.