16-Year-Old Pritam Kendre Wins 10m Air Rifle Gold at ISSF Junior World Championship, Becomes Junior World Champion

Sixteen-year-old Pritam Kendre announced himself on the global stage with a sensational gold medal-winning performance in the men’s 10m air rifle event at the ISSF Junior World Championship. 

The young Indian shooter delivered under pressure to clinch the title with a score of 251.3, edging out Neutral Athlete Timofei Aleinikov (AIN), who settled for silver with 250.9. The victory marks another significant achievement for India’s thriving shooting programme and adds yet another world champion to the country’s growing list of junior stars. It also continues India’s impressive medal haul at the championship, taking the nation’s tally to five gold, one silver and six bronze medals.

Competing against a strong international field, Pritam displayed remarkable composure throughout the final. The 16-year-old maintained consistency across every elimination stage before producing the decisive shots that secured him the world title. His final score of 251.3 was enough to narrowly overcome Aleinikov’s 250.9 in what turned out to be a gripping contest for the gold medal. Norway’s Jens Oestli claimed the bronze with 228.4 after being eliminated earlier in the final.

Winning a world title at such a young age highlights not only Pritam’s technical ability but also his temperament under immense pressure, qualities that are essential in precision shooting.

India had another strong contender in the final through Piyush Sharma, who performed admirably but endured the disappointment of finishing fourth. Despite missing out on a medal, Piyush remained in contention deep into the elimination stages before narrowly falling short of the podium places. His performance further underlined the depth of talent emerging from India’s junior shooting system.

Having two Indian shooters challenge for medals in one of the marquee rifle events demonstrates the country's growing strength in the discipline and provides optimism for future international competitions.

Pritam Kendre’s triumph represents India’s fourth individual junior world title at the ongoing championship and reinforces the nation’s status as one of the global powerhouses in shooting sports. Over the past decade, India has consistently produced world-class junior shooters who have gone on to achieve success at senior international events. The current generation appears equally promising, with athletes like Pritam continuing that tradition through standout performances on the biggest stages.

The success is also a testament to the country’s investment in grassroots development, scientific coaching and exposure to high-level competition.

The men’s 10m air rifle final showcased the razor-thin margins that define elite shooting. Pritam’s winning score of 251.3 left him just 0.4 points ahead of Aleinikov, underlining how every shot carried enormous significance. Maintaining concentration across multiple elimination rounds is one of the greatest challenges in rifle shooting, and Pritam demonstrated exceptional control to stay ahead when it mattered most.

https://www.indiasportshub.com/articles/india-continue-issf-junior-world-championship-dominance-as-sameer-and-rohit-kanyan-win-gold-in-suhl

His ability to deliver consistently under pressure suggests a maturity beyond his years and positions him as one of India’s brightest prospects in the sport.

With Pritam’s gold medal, India’s campaign at the ISSF Junior World Championship has become even more impressive. The nation has now collected five gold medals, one silver medal and six bronze medals, reflecting sustained excellence across multiple events. The performances of India’s junior shooters continue to reinforce the country’s reputation as a leading force in international shooting, particularly in rifle and pistol disciplines where young athletes have regularly challenged for top honours.

At just 16 years of age, Pritam Kendre has already achieved what many shooters aspire to accomplish in an entire career—a Junior World Championship title. His calm execution, technical consistency and ability to thrive under pressure suggest he possesses the qualities needed to succeed at the senior level in the years ahead.

While the spotlight rightly shines on the newly crowned world champion, Piyush Sharma’s fourth-place finish also deserves recognition, highlighting the depth of India’s junior talent pool.

For Indian shooting, Pritam’s gold medal is more than just another addition to the medal tally—it is a glimpse into a promising future. As the country continues to nurture young talent, performances like these reinforce confidence that the next generation is ready to compete with, and beat, the very best in the world.