New Delhi
India has reclaimed its position at the summit of the medal tally at the ISSF Junior World Cup in Cairo, thanks to a stunning golden performance by Prachi Gaikwad. Competing in the junior women’s 50m rifle 3 positions event, Gaikwad showed incredible nerves of steel to edge out her competition in a nail biting final. Her victory marks India’s second gold of the prestigious tournament.
The final was a dramatic seesaw battle. Gaikwad started slowly, sitting in fifth place after the kneeling round, but surged into contention during the prone stage. In the final standing position, she briefly lost her lead to neutral athlete Darya Chuprys. However, with the pressure at its peak, the Indian shooter fired a series of near perfect shots to win by a tiny margin of 0.2 points.
India’s success wasn’t limited to Gaikwad. In the junior men’s 10m air rifle, Naraen Pranav displayed remarkable consistency to secure a bronze medal. He fought off tough competition from teammates and international rivals alike, narrowly missing out on the silver. With these latest wins, India’s total haul now stands at nine medals and those are two gold, four silver, and three bronze.
The momentum shows no signs of slowing down. Three more Indian shooters being Vanshika Chaudhary, Sejal Kamble, and Kanak have already qualified for the women’s 10m air pistol final, taking the top three qualifying spots. As the competition in Egypt continues, India’s young marksmen are proving they are the force to beat on the world stage.
