India’s dominance continued at the ISSF Junior World Championships in Lima, Peru, with Parth Rakesh Mane capturing the hearts of the audience and the coveted gold medal in the 10m air rifle. Not only did the 16-year-old secure the individual title, but he also led India to victory in the team event, claiming a double gold. This performance highlights India’s rising prowess in the world of shooting sports.
Mane, a rising star in the world of shooting, showcased his composure and accuracy throughout the competition. In a nail-biting final, he outperformed the reigning junior Asian champion, Huang Liwanlin of China, by a mere 0.7 points, scoring an impressive 250.7. Braden Peiser of the USA claimed the bronze medal, while Paris Olympics silver medalist Victor Lindgren of Sweden finished in fourth place.
Mane’s teammates, Ajay Malik and Abhinav Shaw, also performed exceptionally well, securing fifth and seventh place respectively. India’s dominance was further cemented by the junior women’s 10m air rifle team, comprising Gautami Bhanot, Sambhavi Kshirsagar, and Anoushka Thakur, who secured the gold medal with a junior world team record score of 1894.8.
Bhanot, who finished second in the individual qualification with a score of 634.7, narrowly missed out on an individual medal, finishing fourth in the final. Kshirsagar and Ojasvi Thakur, who finished fifth and seventh in the individual competition respectively, combined their skills with Bhanot to achieve the team victory.
In the junior men’s and women’s skeet competitions, India’s shooters couldn’t make it to the finals. Gurfateh Singh Sandhu and Bhavtegh Singh Gill finished 29th and 31st in the men’s skeet, while Mansi Raghuwanshi was the best-placed Indian in the women’s skeet, securing eighth place.
With a total of five gold medals, India continues to lead the overall medal tally at the championship, demonstrating their potential as a global force in shooting. The future of Indian shooting appears bright, with these young athletes showcasing their talent and dedication on the world stage.
