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Key Points

Anish Bhanwala showcased exceptional skill on the first day of the National Shooting Trials, securing the top spot with a score of 293 in the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol event. His performance was closely matched by Vijayveer Sidhu, who finished just one point behind. These trials are crucial for selecting the Indian team for upcoming international competitions, including the Asian Shooting Championships. The event continues, promising intense competition and strategic positioning for the athletes involved.

Key Points: Anish Bhanwala Leads National Shooting Trials Day 1

  • Anish Bhanwala leads with 293 after Day 1
  • Vijayveer Sidhu closely follows in second with 292
  • Mandeep Singh secures third with 290
  • Trials shape Indian team for Asian Championships and ISSF World Cup
2 min read

National Shooting: Anish in lead after Day 1 of selection trials

Anish Bhanwala tops Day 1 at National Shooting Trials, closely followed by Vijayveer Sidhu.

"Anish delivered a solid and consistent performance. - Article"

Dehradun, June 24

The opening day of competitions at the National Selection Trials 3&4 (Group 'A' Rifle/Pistol) saw Olympian Anish Bhanwala emerge on top of the leaderboard in the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol (RFP) T3 Men's qualification Stage 1, held here at the Trishul Shooting Range, Maharana Pratap Sports College, Raipur.

Anish delivered a solid and consistent performance, shooting a series of 99, 97, and 97, to finish with a total of 293 at the end of Round One of qualifications. His Paris Olympics teammate Vijayveer Sidhu (99,99,94) followed closely to take second spot with 292, while Anish's teammate from Haryana, Mandeep Singh, stood third with 290.

Rounding off the top five were Pradeep Singh Shekhawat (Navy) with 290 and Uttarakhand's own Ankur Goel with 289.

The top six shooters after Stage 2 of qualification will advance to the final of the event.

The action continues tomorrow (Wednesday, June 25, 2025), with Stage 2 of the men's RFP T3 qualifications, preceding the final. Also scheduled on Day 2 are two more finals, the 50m Rifle 3 Positions Women and the 10m Air Rifle Men.

These trials will help in shaping the Indian shooting team for the 16th Asian Shooting Championships 2025 in Kazakhstan in August and the ISSF World Cup in Ningbo, China, in September.

The country's elite rifle and pistol shooters get into this selection phase following an encouraging run in the double-legged South American ISSF World Cup tour, which marked the beginning of the new international calendar, and the latest edition in Munich. Across both legs in Argentina and Peru, Indian shooters reached 32 finals, including mixed-team medal rounds, and brought home a total of 15 medals, six of them gold.

As per the selection Criteria, only eligible shooters in Group "A" will be allowed to participate. The National Selection Trials 3 & 4 will cover all Olympic Rifle and Pistol events and will be limited to a select group of top-ranked shooters. This includes 50 slots each for 10m Air Rifle (Men & Women) and 10m Air Pistol (Men & Women), 30 slots each for 50m Rifle 3 Positions (Men & Women), 20 slots for 25m Rapid Fire Pistol (Men), and 30 slots for 25m Sport Pistol (Women).

In Munich, India registered their third top-three finish this year in four World Cups, with two gold and two bronze medals. They not only improved their standing from joint third last year to sole this year but also doubled their medal count, including the gold count, from last year's Munich World Cup.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
Anish is proving why he's our best rapid fire pistol shooter! 🇮🇳 That consistency of 99,97,97 is world class. Hope he maintains this form for Paris Olympics. Our shooting contingent is looking strong this year 💪
P
Priya M.
So proud of our shooters! The competition between Anish and Vijayveer is intense - just 1 point difference! This healthy rivalry will only make our team stronger for international events. All the best for Stage 2 tomorrow!
A
Amit S.
Good performance but we need to see how they handle pressure in finals. Remember how we struggled in Tokyo? Hope the coaches are working more on mental conditioning this time. Still, bahut badhiya performance! 👏
N
Neha T.
The depth in Indian shooting is amazing! From Anish to Mandeep to Pradeep - all within 4 points. Our bench strength is looking good for Asian Championships and World Cup. Hope DD Sports shows the finals live tomorrow!
S
Sanjay P.
15 medals in South American tour is no joke! Our shooters are making India proud globally. But I wish government would invest more in shooting ranges across smaller cities. Talent is everywhere, not just in metros.
K
Kavita R.
As someone from Uttarakhand, so happy to see Ankur Goel in top 5! Shows how sports infrastructure in our state is improving. Trishul range is becoming a hub for shooting sports. Uttarakhand ki beti/betiyein bhi aage aayegi! 💖

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