India’s Shourya Saini showcased his exceptional shooting skills at the second World Deaf Shooting Championships in Hannover, Germany, securing the gold medal in the men’s 50-meter rifle 3-position event. Saini, a trainee of coach Anjali Bhagwat, shot a world record score of 580 in the qualification round before finishing the final with 452.4 points, edging out Oleksandr Kostyk of Ukraine by almost 10 points. Earlier in the championships, Saini had secured the silver medal in the 10m air rifle event, finishing behind fellow Indian Dhanush Srikanth. India’s success continued with Murtaza Vania claiming the bronze medal in the same event, while Khushagra Rajawat secured the fourth position. India also earned a bronze medal in the men’s 25m sports pistol through Chetan Sapkal.
Meanwhile, on the tennis court, young talents Vivaan Mirdha and Ranjhana Sangram dominated the AITA super series junior tennis tournament at the Harvest Academy in Ludhiana, each securing two titles. Unseeded Vivaan displayed remarkable performance, winning the under-16 boys title by defeating Abhinav Choudhari 6-3, 6-4 in the final. In the under-14 category, he secured the title with a dominant 6-1, 6-1 victory over the third seed, Viraj Choudhary.
Ranjhana Sangram, seeded second in the tournament, exhibited her prowess by winning both the under-16 and under-14 girls’ titles. She faced a tough challenge in the under-16 final, dropping a set before securing a 6-0, 6-2 victory over Jahnavi Tammineedi. She then went on to win the under-14 title with a 7-5, 6-1 win over Jahnavi. These victories highlight the exceptional talent and dedication of these young athletes.
India’s impressive performance at these international tournaments reinforces their growing prominence in the world of sports. These victories are not just individual achievements but also a testament to the dedication of coaches and the strong support system that fosters young talent in India.