ISSF World Cup: Sonam Maskar and Elavenil Valarivan Reach 10m Air Rifle Final, Finish Fifth and Sixth

India's Sonam Uttam Maskar and Elavenil Valarivan delivered strong performances to reach the women's 10m air rifle final at the ISSF World Cup (Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun) on Saturday, but both shooters narrowly missed out on medals after finishing fifth and sixth, respectively.

The duo had impressed during qualification, raising hopes of India's second medal at the competition. However, they were unable to carry that momentum into the eight-shooter final as China's shooters once again dominated the event.

With no medal added on Saturday, India's tally at the ongoing World Cup remains at one silver medal, won by Sainyam in the women's 10m air pistol event on Friday.

Sonam Uttam Maskar produced one of the best qualification performances of her international career to comfortably book her place in the final. The 20-year-old shot an impressive 634.3, finishing second in the qualification standings. Only China's Du Yuchen managed a better score, topping the field with 634.4, just one-tenth of a point ahead of the Indian.

Sonam's consistency throughout the 60-shot qualification round was particularly encouraging. Maintaining high scores across every series, she demonstrated the composure required to compete with some of the world's finest rifle shooters. The qualification performance continued her steady rise on the international circuit.

Already a silver medallist at the 2024 ISSF World Cup Final in New Delhi, Sonam has increasingly established herself among India's next generation of elite rifle shooters.

Joining Sonam in the medal round was Elavenil Valarivan, one of India's most experienced rifle shooters. The two-time Olympian secured qualification with a score of 632.8, finishing sixth in a highly competitive field. For Elavenil, qualifying for another ISSF World Cup final was another reminder of the remarkable consistency she has displayed over the past several seasons.

The multiple World Cup gold medallist entered the competition after an excellent campaign at the Asian Championships in New Delhi, where she claimed two gold medals earlier this year. Her latest qualification further reinforced her reputation as one of India's most dependable performers in the 10m air rifle discipline.

Despite entering the final in strong positions, neither Indian shooter managed to challenge for the podium. The elimination format of ISSF finals leaves little room for error, with every shot carrying enormous significance as athletes are progressively eliminated. Sonam remained in medal contention during the early stages but was eventually eliminated in fifth place after narrowly falling behind the leading group.

Elavenil followed shortly afterwards, finishing sixth. Although both Indians demonstrated moments of brilliance, they were unable to match the consistency displayed by the eventual medallists.

China once again showcased its extraordinary depth in rifle shooting. Sixteen-year-old Du Yuchen produced a composed performance to claim the first ISSF World Cup medal of her career, winning the gold medal with a final score of 254.6. Japan's Nobata Misaki secured the silver medal, while China's former world champion Han Jiayu claimed bronze to complete another successful outing for the host nation.

The double podium finish further underlined China's dominance in international shooting.

While the absence of medals will disappoint the Indian camp, there were several positives to take away from the competition. Sonam Maskar's qualification performance once again demonstrated her ability to compete alongside the world's best. At a relatively young age, she continues to gain valuable experience in major international finals, an important factor as she builds towards future World Championships and the Olympic qualification cycle.

https://www.indiasportshub.com/articles/sainyam-wins-silver-at-issf-world-cup-hangzhou-opens-india-s-medal-account-in-china

For Elavenil, another World Cup final adds to an already impressive resume. Making finals consistently at the highest level remains one of the biggest indicators of elite performance, and the Indian Olympian continues to achieve exactly that. Although neither shooter converted qualification success into a podium finish this time, both remain among India's strongest medal prospects in international rifle shooting.

India's only medal at the ongoing World Cup continues to come through Sainyam, who produced a breakthrough performance in the women's 10m air pistol event. The youngster displayed remarkable composure under pressure to score 243.4 in the final and secure the silver medal against a world-class field. Her performance opened India's medal account and highlighted the country's growing strength across multiple shooting disciplines.

With several events still remaining in the competition, India will hope to add to that tally over the coming days.

The host nation has once again established itself as the dominant force at the ISSF World Cup. China currently tops the medal standings with an impressive 11 medals, including four gold, three silver and four bronze. Germany and the United States occupy joint second place with one gold and one silver each, while Great Britain and Qatar share fourth position with one gold medal apiece.

India currently sits joint sixth, courtesy of Sainyam's silver medal.

Across the opening eight events, a total of 24 medals have already been decided, reflecting the depth of competition on display.

Although Saturday did not produce another podium finish for India, the performances of Sonam Uttam Maskar and Elavenil Valarivan offered plenty of encouragement. Reaching an ISSF World Cup final is an achievement in itself given the exceptionally high standard of international shooting. Sonam continued her emergence as one of India's brightest young rifle shooters, while Elavenil once again demonstrated the consistency that has defined her career. 

With several medal events still to come, India will look to build on these performances and convert strong qualification rounds into podium finishes before the World Cup concludes.