India Strike Gold, Silver and Bronze at ISSF Junior World Championships as Sejal Kamble and Prachi Gaikwad Shine
India enjoyed a successful outing at the ISSF Junior World Championships as Sejal Kamble won gold in the women’s 10m air pistol, Himanshi claimed bronze, and Prachi Gaikwad secured silver in the 50m rifle 3 positions event.
India’s young shooters continued to make their mark on the international stage with an impressive medal haul at the ISSF Junior World Championships in Suhl, Germany, highlighted by Sejal Kamble’s gold medal in the women’s 10m air pistol, Prachi Gaikwad’s silver in the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions, and **Himanshi’s bronze in the 10m air pistol event.
The performances reinforced India’s reputation as one of the strongest emerging forces in world shooting, with the country’s junior athletes once again demonstrating their ability to compete at the highest level against top international talent.
The standout performance came from Sejal Kamble, who delivered an outstanding display in the women’s 10m air pistol final to capture the gold medal with a score of 240.2. Having qualified fourth with 573 points and 16 inner 10s, Sejal showed remarkable composure during the medal round, steadily climbing the standings before finishing on top of the podium. Her victory underlined her consistency across both qualification and final stages, where maintaining mental focus under elimination pressure is often as important as technical precision.
The triumph adds another significant achievement to India’s growing list of international successes in pistol shooting and highlights Sejal’s potential as one of the country’s future stars.
India’s success in the event was further enhanced by Himanshi, who claimed the bronze medal after finishing with 217.6 points in the final. She had entered the medal round in excellent form after placing third in qualification with 574 points and 15 inner 10s, setting herself up strongly for a podium challenge. Although she narrowly missed out on the top two positions in the final, her bronze medal ensured India celebrated a double podium finish in the women’s 10m air pistol competition.
The qualification round itself reflected India’s depth in the discipline, with Vanshika Chaudhary also producing an impressive performance by finishing fifth with 572 points and 18 inner 10s, narrowly missing out on a medal opportunity. Notably, the event did not feature participation from China, traditionally one of the world’s strongest shooting nations, but India’s shooters nevertheless delivered performances of exceptional quality to capitalise on the opportunity.
The celebrations continued in the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions event, where Prachi Gaikwad secured the silver medal after an impressive fight in the final. Prachi finished with 354.7 points, earning second place behind Taisia Tikhomirova, who won gold with 357.2. Her route to the podium was particularly noteworthy. In qualification, Prachi recorded 586 points with 29 inner 10s, finishing eighth and claiming the final available spot in the medal round.
Once in the final, however, she elevated her performance significantly. Demonstrating calmness across the kneeling, prone and standing positions, she steadily climbed the rankings and ultimately secured the silver medal with a composed display under pressure.
The performance once again showcased her ability to rise to the occasion during elimination finals, where every shot carries immense significance.
Prachi entered the competition as the reigning Asian Junior Champion, and her latest medal further strengthens her credentials as one of India’s most promising rifle shooters. Similarly, Sejal Kamble’s gold and Himanshi’s bronze underline the strength of India’s women’s pistol programme, which has consistently produced international medallists across junior and senior levels in recent years.
The ability of multiple Indian shooters to qualify comfortably for finals and convert opportunities into medals reflects the quality of the country’s development system and coaching infrastructure.
The ISSF Junior World Championships have long served as a proving ground for future Olympic and World Championship contenders, and India’s latest performances suggest that another talented generation is emerging. Beyond the medals themselves, the consistency shown in qualification rounds was particularly encouraging. Sejal, Himanshi and Vanshika all finished among the top five in qualification in the women’s 10m air pistol event, while Prachi demonstrated resilience by progressing from eighth place to a silver medal.
Such performances indicate not only technical excellence but also the mental toughness required to succeed in international competition.
India’s latest success in Suhl continues the nation’s rich tradition in shooting and reinforces its status as one of the sport’s global powerhouses. With junior athletes regularly reaching podium finishes at world events, the pipeline feeding into the senior national team appears stronger than ever.
For Sejal Kamble, the gold medal represents a career-defining achievement and a major confidence boost heading into future competitions. For Prachi Gaikwad, adding a World Championship silver to her Asian Junior title confirms her growing stature in rifle shooting, while Himanshi’s bronze highlights the remarkable depth in India’s pistol contingent.
As these young shooters continue their development, Indian fans can look forward to seeing many of them transition to the senior circuit, carrying with them the experience and confidence gained from competing—and winning—on the world stage.
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