Indian shooters continued their impressive run at the ISSF Junior World Championship in Lima, Peru, claiming two bronze medals in the 10m mixed team events. This victory brought India’s total medal count to five – a testament to the nation’s burgeoning shooting talent.
The first bronze came in the rifle event. Gautami Bhanot and Ajay Malik combined for a score of 628.9 after 30 shots each, securing them third place among 34 pairs. This performance qualified them for a bronze medal match against the fourth-placed Croatian pair of Anamarija Turk and Darko Tomasevic, which they won convincingly with a score of 17-9. While China took the gold, defeating France in the final, India’s performance showcased the growing strength of the country’s rifle shooters.
The second Indian pair, Abhinav Shaw and Shambhavi Kshirsagar, finished sixth overall with a score of 628.1.
The mixed pistol event saw both Indian pairs qualify for the bronze medal match. Lakshita and Parmod, who finished third in qualification, faced off against Kanishka Dagar and Mukesh Nelavali, who finished fourth. Lakshita and Parmod emerged victorious, claiming the bronze with a score of 16-8. This marked Lakshita’s second medal of the competition, following her gold medal win in the air pistol team event on Saturday.
Germany ultimately took gold in the pistol event, while Ukraine secured the silver. This performance highlights the consistent growth of the Indian shooting team and reinforces their potential for future success on the global stage.