India’s performance at ISSF World Championship in Cairo a proof of talent the nation has

Samrat Rana (centre) poses with compatriot Varun Timar (right) and China's Kai Hu after winning the men's 10m air pistol final at ISSF World Championships in Cairo. (ISSF Photo)

The ongoing World Shooting Championship is the toughest competition in the sport. In fact, it is way more difficult than even the Olympic Games with more participants and more quality shooters in the fray. Compared to the multiple world cups, this one competition is a country mile more difficult. In sum, it is the real deal and is an index of where a country stands as far as its shooting depth is concerned. May I say it clear - India has already demonstrated how strong it is and indications are the sport is all poised to lead India’s Asian Games and Olympic charge in the next few years.

I don’t know how many people watched the 10m pistol final last night. As an avid follower of the sport, I did. And let me just describe to you the final shot of the competition. Samrat Rana, participating in the World Championship for the first time was embroiled in a gruelling contest with Hu Kai from China, arguably the shooter of the year with four World Cup titles already in his name. The Chinese was 0.6 behind going into the final shot and needed a very strong shot to put Samrat under pressure.

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In fact he was quick of the blocks and to the amazement of the crowd shot a spectacular 10.8. His reaction soon after was evidence that he felt it was almost done. For a 20-year-old Samrat who has never been there, it was a humungous ask. He needed to control his nerves, soak in the pressure and shoot a 10.3 to close out the contest.

It was tense. Samrat took his time, waited till the crowd had settled down and shot a superb 10.6. The roar was proof people were stunned. India had its first ever Pistol World Champion and the Chinese had been beaten. Varun Tomar, who had shot superbly all through, won the bronze and it was one and three for India on the podium.

Earlier in the day it was Esha Singh and Manu Bhaker who made the finals of the women’s 10m pistol. They finished sixth and seventh respectively but anyone who knows the sport will tell you making the finals at the World Championship is proof that you are good enough to win a medal at any stage. While Suruchi Inder Singh had a modest day, she still has the mixed event left for later on Tuesday.

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When you add the historic silver from Anish the day before in the 25m pistol and the bronze from Elavenil Valarivan in the women’s 10m air rifle, you know that the Indians are right up there as a shooting powerhouse when it comes to Olympic shooting events. Even in the non Olympic events the Indians have done well. Ravinder Chaudhary’s gold in the 50m pistol started the medal quest in Cairo.

Shooting is one sport where India can surely win more than 20 medals at the Asian Games. In fact we should with the depth of talent that there is in the country. And if things go right 5-6 medals in 2028 LA Olympics from the sport is a real possibility. I’d really like to see more people follow the sport and back these athletes. It will augur well for us all in India to do so with the nation all set to make a strong pitch for the 2036 Olympics.