Shooting Competition
Meghana Sajjanar Clinches Bronze in 10m Air Rifle at ISSF World Cup
Indian shooter ends eight-year wait for a World Cup medal with stellar performance in Ningbo
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✍️By ZRIntel Editorial Team📍Ningbo, China
Indias Meghana Sajjanar made headlines by winning her first-ever World Cup medal, clinching bronze in the womens 10m air rifle event at the ISSF World Cup in Ningbo, China. This marked a significant personal achievement for the 31-year-old shooter, who had been working toward this milestone for eight years. Meghanas final score of 230.0 secured her third place on the podium behind Chinas Peng Xinlu, who set a new world record with a commanding 255.3 to take gold, and Norways Jeanette Hegg Duestad, who claimed silver. Meghanas journey to the medal was not without drama. She started the final slowly, placing her under early pressure, but demonstrated poise and consistency as the event progressed. By maintaining composure and adjusting to the competitions high stakes, she steadily climbed the leaderboard to hold off rivals and earn her spot on the podium. The achievement is a breakthrough moment in her career and a strong indicator that she has joined the top tier of international competitors. This bronze medal came on the heels of another strong performance by Indias Esha Singh, who won gold in the womens 10m air pistol event just a day earlier. Eshas victory was narrow, with a final margin of only 0.1 points over Chinas Yao Qianxun, but it gave India its first medal of the tournament and set the tone for Meghanas success. Together, their medals brought Indias total tally to two for the tournament and ensured the country finished fifth in the overall medal standings. The broader Indian shooting contingent had mixed results at Ningbo. Kiran Ankush Jadhav reached the final in the mens 50m rifle 3 positions event but struggled in the opening series and ultimately placed eighth. Olympic medallist Swapnil Kusale had a difficult outing, finishing 21st and missing the final. Despite these challenges, the performance of the women shooters demonstrated the strength and depth of Indias talent pool as they prepare for upcoming international competitions, including next years Olympic qualifiers. The ISSF World Cup in Ningbo was a showcase of top-level shooting talent from across the globe, and the high standard of competition made Meghanas bronze even more meaningful. With China dominating the medal tally with three golds, Meghanas podium finish disrupted their sweep and added a new name to the list of contenders on the world stage. This accomplishment is expected to boost her confidence heading into future events and may inspire the next generation of Indian shooters to aim higher.