Indian Skeet Shooters Miss Finals at ISSF World Cup in Almaty
Almaty, May 4: Indian shooters were unable to secure a place in the finals of both men’s and women’s skeet events at the ISSF World Cup Shotgun, currently underway at the Asanov Shooting Club in Kazakhstan.
In the men’s competition, Olympian Mairaj Ahmad Khan emerged as the top Indian finisher. He improved his performance on Day Two with scores of 23 and 25 in the final rounds, ending with a total of 119 and finishing 18th overall.
Bhavtegh Singh Gill, competing for ranking points, also registered a total of 119 but placed 19th based on qualification standings.
Anantjeet Singh Naruka showed a strong start in the fourth series with a perfect 25, followed by 23, finishing 38th with a score of 117 in his first World Cup appearance of the season.
National champion Gurjoat Singh Khangura finished 54th with 115, while Abhay Singh Sekhon ended 71st with a total of 113.
In the women’s skeet event, Raiza Dhillon recorded the best finish among Indian participants, placing 17th with a score of 115.
Ganemat Sekhon, who had been close to qualification after Day One, slipped to 33rd place after scoring 22 and 20 in her final rounds, finishing with 112.
Parinaaz Dhaliwal secured 32nd position with the same score of 112, while Vanshika Tiwari and Rashmmi Rathore finished 29th and 47th respectively.
Despite some strong individual rounds, Indian shooters were unable to break into the top eight required for final qualification. The results highlight areas for improvement as the team continues its international campaign.
Our Final Thoughts
While the absence from finals is a setback, consistent participation at the international level remains key for building competitive depth. The focus now shifts to refining performance under pressure.