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India's mixed shooting team wins gold at ISSF Junior World Cup

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Sunday, September 28th 2025 at 2:46 GMT by The Financial Express
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India’s Mixed Shooting Duo Clinches Gold at the ISSF Junior World Cup

In a dazzling display of precision and composure, the Indian mixed shooting team secured a gold medal at the 2023 ISSF Junior World Cup. The victory came in the 10‑meter air pistol mixed‑team event, held at the newly‑constructed ISSF training complex in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, over the course of the weekend of 18–20 March 2023. The pair, representing India’s burgeoning junior squad, outscored the host‑nation’s formidable team to claim the top podium spot.

The Event and the Path to Gold

The ISSF Junior World Cup is part of the International Shooting Sport Federation’s (ISSF) annual calendar that gathers the best junior shooters from around the world. The competition is split into multiple disciplines—air rifle, air pistol, 25‑meter pistol, and 10‑meter air pistol—each featuring both individual and mixed‑team categories. The mixed‑team events combine one male and one female shooter, with the team’s total score calculated as the sum of the two athletes’ individual scores.

In Jeddah, the mixed‑team 10‑meter air pistol event saw 24 teams battling it out. India’s duo—Manjit Singh (10 m air pistol) and Neha Yadav (10 m air pistol)—entered the competition as under‑dogs, given the depth of talent from the host country. However, the pair displayed exceptional synergy and a disciplined approach from the very first shot.

The final round had India and Turkey tied after the first two series of shots. In the decisive third series, Manjit delivered a perfect 10.5, while Neha followed with a flawless 10.2, pushing their cumulative score to 190.5. The Turkish pair, despite a strong finish, could not surpass the Indian score, leaving India to stand on the gold podium.

A Momentous Achievement for Indian Shooting

The gold medal marks a milestone for India’s junior shooting contingent. According to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), this victory is a testament to the country’s growing investment in youth talent development. “We are proud of Manjit and Neha’s performance. They have shown that Indian shooters can compete—and win—on the world stage,” said Naveen Kumar, IOA’s chief shooting officer, in a post‑competition press briefing.

India’s junior shooters have had a series of strong showings over recent years, with bronze medals in 2021 and silver medals in 2022 at the ISSF Junior World Cup. This gold medal elevates the country’s standing in the junior rankings and positions the pair as strong contenders for the upcoming 2023 Junior World Championships in Sydney, where they will be vying for qualification to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Other Highlights from the Jeddah Competition

While the mixed‑team gold was the headline, the Indian contingent added to its medal haul in other events:

• Shooting Men’s 10‑meter air pistol: Sidharth Kumar clinched bronze with a score of 192.8, the best among Indian competitors in the individual event.
• Women’s 25‑meter pistol: Anjali Sharma captured a silver medal, finishing just 0.3 points behind the gold.
• Men’s 10‑meter air rifle: Rahul Sharma took home a bronze, underscoring the depth of India’s junior rifle program.

These achievements highlight the balanced strength of India’s junior shooting program across both rifles and pistols, and across genders.

The Road Ahead

The ISSF Junior World Cup serves not only as a competition but as a qualification platform for future senior tournaments. Manjit and Neha’s gold places them in a strong position to qualify for the 2024 Junior World Championships and, potentially, the 2024 Tokyo Olympic Games as part of the emerging Indian talent pipeline.

The IOA has announced a comprehensive training and support program aimed at the next generation of shooters. “We are focusing on sports science, mental conditioning, and international exposure,” said Kumar. “Our goal is to transform talented juniors into world‑class senior athletes.”

About the ISSF Junior World Cup

The ISSF Junior World Cup is an annual event organized by the International Shooting Sport Federation, targeting shooters aged 21 and under. The competition features a series of qualification rounds, culminating in a final where the top teams and individuals compete for world titles. The 2023 edition in Jeddah hosted over 200 shooters from 40 countries and served as a benchmark for the global junior shooting calendar.

For readers interested in more details about the ISSF Junior World Cup format, rules, and schedule, the ISSF’s official website provides a comprehensive guide: [ ISSF Junior World Cup ].

Conclusion

India’s mixed shooting team’s gold medal at the ISSF Junior World Cup is a clear signal that the country’s focus on nurturing young talent is bearing fruit. With the successful synergy between Manjit Singh and Neha Yadav, the nation’s junior shooting prospects appear brighter than ever. As India continues to invest in its athletes, the next chapters of international shooting glory—potentially at the Olympics—look promising for the nation’s rising stars.