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The sensational Suruchi Singh dominated a quality field to win her third straight individual ISSF World Cup gold medal in a thrilling women’s 10m air pistol final in Munich, Germany on Friday, reaffirming her position as Indian shooting’s latest golden girl. The 19-year-old shot 241.9 in the eight-woman final to leave France’s Paris Olympic silver medallist Camille Jedrzejewski (241.7) 0.2 behind in second place. China’s Yao Qianxuan (221.7) bagged the bronze medal.

National champion Suruchi had earlier won the event in the year’s first two World Cup stages in Buenos Aires and Lima as well. Buenos Aires was in fact her tournament debut and she has now won gold in all three of her first ISSF World Cup stages.

Continuing a run of form that stretches back to the Nationals in December, the Haryana girl shot 588 in qualification to equal the national record held by double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker. Yao topped the 110-field with a junior world record score of 589.

Bhaker ended 21st with a total of 574, while Palak was 30th with 570.

In the final, a 52.1 in the first series set her on course but by the end of the second five-shot series she was down to second. A 9.7 for her 11th brought her down to fourth and that seemed to have spurred her.

A cracking 10.8 gave her the lead back after the 12th and thereafter it was a battle of attrition. Camille and Yao were the prime chasers and the Frenchwoman took advantage of a few 9s by the Indian to go into the lead after the 18th shot.

Then Yao fired a 9.4 in her 22nd shot and the Indian took the second spot behind Camille going into the final two shots. She was 0.5 behind at that stage of the final.

That became 0.5 ahead after the 23rd shot when she fired a 10.5 to Camille’s 9.5, and despite both shooters finishing with 9s, Suruchi held on to win.

Bhaker, who was doing commentary in the final, expressed her delight after her younger compatriot’s gold medal and believed Suruchi looked a bit nervous in the final.

The gold medallist said she was a bit lucky to have claimed the top prize.

“It was the closest among all the finals that I have played (in three World Cups) and I think I was a bit lucky too,” Suruchi said after the win.

This is India’s first gold medal in the prestigious tournament after the bronze won by Anjum Moudgil and Sift Kaur Samra earlier this week.

Paris Olympics medallist Manu Bhaker and senior pro Chain Singh made it to the finals of their respective events but could not nail a podium finish as India endured a medal-less day at the ISSF World Cup on Wednesday. Double Olympic bronze-medallist shooter Bhaker finished sixth in 25m pistol after entering the eight-shooter final placed fifth with an aggregate ‘precision’ and ‘rapid fire’ score of 588. Chain made it to final of the men’s 50m rifle 3-positions event on the back of a fine qualification round score but finished seventh in the eight-shooter medal round.

On the opening day of the competition on Tuesday, India won a bronze through Elavenil Valarivan in women’s 10m air rifle event.

Bhaker shot 290 in precision and a superb 298 in the rapid fire round to aggregate 588 going into the finals.

The medal round, didn’t go as expected, as the winner of the Olympics bronze medals in women’s and mixed team 10m air pistol events was out gunned by the Chinese and Korean shooters.

China’s Sun Yujie took the gold with a score of 38, while Korea’s Oh Yejin and Yang Jiin bagged the silver and bronze notching up 36 and 32 points respectively. Bhaker couldn’t go beyond the third elimination round to finish with 20 points.

Multiple Asian Games medallist Esha Singh finished 11th with a combined ‘precision’ and ‘rapid fire’ score of 585 and could not make it to the eight-shooter final.

The other Indian in the fray Simranpreet Kaur Brar tallied 577 to finish 32nd.

India’s Chain Singh made it to final of the men’s 50m rifle 3-positions event on the back of a fine qualification round score but finished seventh in the eight-shooter medal round.

Chain, an Asian Games medallist who had recently won a bronze in the ISSF World Cup in Buenos Aires, Argentina, qualified for the final in sixth place with an aggregate of 592.

The other Indians in the event, Paris Olympics bronze medallist Swapnil Kusale and Ankush Jadhav shot 587 and 580 to finish 38th and 67th respectively.

Chain shot 198 in ‘kneeling’ position and a superb 199 in ‘prone’ but a below-par 195 in ‘standing’ saw him aggregate 592 and enter the final placed sixth.

The high-quality finals saw Chain becoming the second competitor to get eliminated and ending up seventh, while Norway’s Jon-Hermann Hegg won the gold with a score of 464.1.

Individaul Neutral Athlete Ilia Marsov took the silver with a score of 462, while the Czech Republic’s Jiri Privratsky (452) clinched the bronze.

On Thursday, Olympians Arjun Babuta and Sandeep Singh will be up against Paris Games gold medallist Sheng Lihao when the men’s 10m air pistol event begins.

Babuta has made it to four consecutive finals since the Paris Olympics last year where he finished fourth, and the Indian’s rivalry against Sheng will be keenly followed.

The Chinese started the 2025 season with a gold at the Lima World Cup, where Babuta finished just 0.1 point behind to settle for silver.

Sandeep Singh, who won the 10m air pistol mixed team bronze with Bhaker at the Paris Games, has also made his way back into the team.

In women’s 50m rifle 3-Position, all three Indians are in good form, with Sift Kaur Samra winning gold in the World Cup in Argentina, while Shriyanka Sadangi made it to the finals in the World Cup in Lima. The third Indian, Ashi Chouksey, too shot well in Lima but missed the cut by a close margin.

India’s Arya Borse and Arjun Babuta dished out a thoroughly dominant performance and outplayed China’s reigning Olympic and world champion duo Zifei Wang and Lihao Sheng 17-7 to win the gold medal in the 10m air rifle mixed team event of the ISSF World Cup in Munich on Saturday. Arya and Arjun were in fine fettle when it mattered the most to win the top prize in the prestigious tournament, not giving the Chinese an inch. The Indian duo entered the gold medal round after aggregating 635.2 in the qualifications, just .7 behind Wang and Sheng (635.9), which is also the qualifications world record.

Arya had paired with Rudrankksh Patil to win the 10m air rifle mixed team silver in the World Cup in Lima, Peru, earlier this year.

The other Indian pair in the event, Elavenil Valarivan and Ankush Jadhav finished sixth in the qualifications with 631.8..

Norway’s Jeanette Hegg Duestad and Jon-Hermann Hegg bagged the bronze medal with a 16-14 victory over the UAS’s Sagen Maddalena and Peter Matthew Fiori.

This is India’s fourth medal and second gold in the ongoing World Cup after Suruchi Singh’s yellow mettle and the two bronze won by Sift Kaur Samra and Elavenil in their respective individual events earlier this week..

In the 10m air pistol mixed team event, the combo of Manu Bhaker and Aditya Malra ended sixth with a combined total of 577 in the qualifications, while the Suruchi Singh and Varun Tomar was placed 10th with 576.

The 36-member Indian contingent showcased a strong performance at the third 2025 ISSF World Cup in Munich, securing a total of four medals – two gold and two bronze. India finished an impressive third in the overall medal tally, trailing only the People’s Republic of China and Norway, as per the Gun for Glory academy press release. Two-time Olympian Elavenil Valarivan, who trains at the Gun for Glory academy, opened India’s medal account with a bronze in the women’s 10m air rifle category, scoring 231.2. The 25-year-old also set a new national record during the qualification round of the same event, recording an exceptional score of 635.9.

Adding to India’s bronze medal count, rifle shooter Sift Kaur Samra secured third place on the podium in the 50m rifle 3 positions event with a final score of 453.1. Nineteen-year-old Suruchi Singh, who previously won gold in both the Buenos Aires and Lima legs of the 2025 ISSF World Cup, claimed her third gold in Munich in the women’s 10m air pistol event, achieving a score of 241.9. The formidable duo of Arjun Babuta and Arya Borse further contributed to India’s gold medal collection, registering a dominant 17-7 victory over the Chinese team to finish atop the podium in the 10m air rifle mixed team event.

Another promising Gun for Glory athlete, Maddeneni Umamahesh, demonstrated his skill in the tournament, emerging as the only Indian athlete to rank within the top 8 in the qualification round for the men’s 10m air rifle event, with a score of 632.3.

“We train every day with the dream of winning something for our country. I am very grateful to the Gun For Glory setup, and specifically coach Neha Chavan, for their continued guidance and support in helping me excel in the sport I deeply love,” stated Elavenil Valarivan as quoted by the Gun for Glory press release.

Reflecting on her new national record, she added, “For me, breaking the record was reflective of all the effort my coaches and I put in before the tournament. I approached the qualifications with the intent of performing to the best of my ability, and I am glad it turned out well.”

Gagan Narang, a 2012 London Olympics bronze medalist and founder of Gun For Glory, commented on the team’s performance.

“It is so heartwarming to see Indian athletes doing so well on the international stage. I have always wanted to give back to the sport that has given me so much. Seeing these young men and women doing so well internationally makes me proud and grateful to have the opportunity to help support the development of sporting youth in India,” Gagan Narang said.

The next event of the ISSF World Cup 2025 for rifle and pistol shooters is scheduled to take place in Ningbo, China, in September.

The upcoming inaugural Shooting League of India (SLI) is generating plenty of interest as more than 400 athletes have already registered for the event, organisers National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) said on Wednesday. Shooters from India, Kazakhstan, Russia, Iran, Hungary, Croatia, Azerbaijan, United Kingdom, Australia, Grenada, Italy, Australia, Austria, Serbia, USA, Spain, Thailand, Germany, Czech Republic, Norway, San Marino and Romania have registered for the league and the number continues to grow. Expressing his excitement, NRAI President Shri Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo said, “We are truly delighted by the overwhelming response and the number of registrations we have received.

It’s a strong validation of our vision for the Shooting League of India. Our aim has always been to create a world-class platform that celebrates talent, promotes healthy competition, and inspires the next generation of shooters.” The registration process is open till mid July.

The first season of the SLI will have a window between November 20 and December 2, 2025 and will feature mixed team events across pistol (10m, 25m), rifle (10m, 50m 3 positions), and shotgun (trap and skeet), as outlined by the NRAI technical committee.

A minimum of six teams will participate in the competition, divided into two pools during the league stage.

Players will be selected and grouped into four tiers — elite champions, world elite, national champions, and junior and youth champions — to ensure a competitive mix of experience and emerging talent.

Nikhat Zareen opened her campaign with a clinical 4:1 win over Uttar Pradesh’s Rashi Sharma in the 48-51kg category on the opening day of the the Elite Women’s Boxing Tournament.

Two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen opened her campaign with a clinical 4:1 win over Uttar Pradesh’s Rashi Sharma in the 48-51kg category on the opening day of the the Elite Women’s Boxing Tournament in Hyderabad on Saturday. Haryana’s Anjali scored an upset win over World Championships bronze medallist Manisha Moun in the 57-60 kg category at the Hyderabad’s Saroornagar Indoor Stadium. Other notable Day 1 results included a win for 2023 world champion Nitu (Haryana) in 45-48kg over Rajani Singh (UP) 5:0 while Telangana’s Yashi Sharma defeated K Monisha (Tamil Nadu) 5:0 in the 60-65kg category.

Another standout performer from the TOPS setup, Laxmi, posted a dominant 5:0 win in the 51-54kg bout against Ragini (UP).

The gold and silver medallists in each of the 10 weight categories will be selected for the elite national camp to be held in Patiala.

Former youth world champion Ankushita Boro showcased her class on Day 2 of the Elite Women’s Boxing Tournament, advancing to the semi-finals in the 65kg category

Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 medalist Lovlina Borgohain eased past Punjab’s Krisha Verma in the 75 kg weight category with a unanimous victory, setting up a clash against Uttar Pradesh boxer Sneha in the penultimate round of the Elite Women’s Boxing Tournament in Telangana on Sunday. Former youth world champion Ankushita Boro showcased her class on Day 2 of the Elite Women’s Boxing Tournament, advancing to the semifinals in the 65kg category with a clinical 5:0 win over Rajasthan pugilist Parthvi on Sunday.

In the 51kg division, home favourite and two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen delighted the Hyderabad crowd with a dominant 5:0 victory over Kalpana.

Organised by the Telangana Boxing Federation under the aegis of the Boxing Federation of India and the Sports Authority of Telangana, the tournament brings together top-tier names and emerging prospects from across the country. With 15 participating units–including 12 from the recent Elite Nationals, host Telangana, the SAI NCOE Combined team, and the TOPS Talent & Development squad–the competition is part of BFI’s ongoing initiative to refine the national pool and scout future stars, as per a BFI press release.

Other notable quarterfinal results saw Preeti (54kg), Jyoti (51kg), and Devika Ghorpade (51kg) book their semifinal berths with clean, unanimous wins. Tamil Nadu’s V. Lakshaya (51kg) impressed with a 5:0 win over Laxmi Devi and will face Nikhat in the semi-finals, while Tanu (54kg), Shashi (65kg), and Yashi Sharma (65kg) also moved ahead after solid outings. Ankushita’s TOPS teammate Gitimoni Gogoi advanced in 70kg via RSC, and Babirojsana Chanu (57kg) registered a stoppage win in the second round.

The tournament, serving as a gateway to the elite national camp in Patiala, continues at the Saroornagar Indoor Stadium, Hyderabad, with semifinals scheduled for Monday.

As the Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 player auction approaches on May 31-June 1 in Mumbai, Aslam Inamdar stands as a symbol of determination.

As the Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 player auction approaches on May 31-June 1 in Mumbai, Aslam Inamdar stands as a symbol of determination. The versatile all-rounder, retained by Puneri Paltan, is ready to make his comeback after a challenging Season 11 that saw him play just seven matches before suffering a season-ending knee injury. “For a Kabaddi athlete, injury is a common issue – it’s a part of life and an important part of the game,” reflects Aslam. “I believe a player is truly recognized only when he shows his potential after an injury, how he prepares himself and makes himself fit.”

Aslam’s absence was keenly felt by Puneri Paltan in Season 11. The team that had conquered PKL in Season 10 with him as captain could only manage an 8th place finish. “I was able to play seven matches, and until then, my team was at the top of the table in Season 11,” Aslam recalls. “When I was ruled out, my team’s confidence level went down, I feel, and that affected our performance.”

As the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Season 12 auction approaches on May 31 and June 1, U Mumba’s captain Sunil Kumar is preparing for what he believes will be one of the most competitive bidding wars

U Mumba’s resurgence in Season 11 was nothing short of spectacular. The franchise secured their first playoff berth since 2019, winning 12 games – their most since Season 7. The U Mumba side’s journey to the latter stages was built on a foundation of experienced leadership and emerging talent, a formula Kumar believes will be crucial in the upcoming auction.

“If you want to make a good team, then you need both experienced players and young players,” Kumar explained. “Experienced players help the team move forward with their knowledge, while young players bring their passion to play and fitness. When both things work in harmony, the team moves forward.”

As one of PKL’s most successful defenders, Kumar understands the importance of building a robust defensive unit. “If you look at Kabaddi, the team whose defense is strong wins most of the time. To make the defense strong, the management has planned accordingly. I think we’re going to get good corners and covers for Season 12, and we’re going to have a very good defense,” he concluded confidently.

Mohammadreza Shadloui created history at the outset after the Season 11’s Most Valuable Player was snapped up for INR 2.23 Crores in the very first bid of the evening by Gujarat Giants

A highlight of the Player Auction was the use of the new Final Bid Match (FBM) rule which allows teams to buy back their released players by matching the final auction bid price, for either one or two seasons. This FBM rule was used by Dabang Delhi K.C. to bring their star raider Ashu Malik back to the team for INR 1.90 Crores for the next two seasons. 

Guman Singh found himself among the Crorepati list yet again, this time being signed by UP Yoddhas for INR 1.073 Crores. Sachin Tanwar and Nitin Kumar rounded out the 10 Crorepatis of the PKL 12 Player Auction, bagging INR 1.058 Crores (Puneri Paltan) and INR 1.002 Crores (Jaipur Pink Panthers) respectively. 

“Day 1 of the PKL Season 12 Player Auction was a landmark moment, with a record-breaking 10 players crossing the Rs 1 crore mark across Categories A and B – reflecting the continued growth in player value and the league’s evolution over the past decade. The introduction of the two-season Final Bid Match (FBM) rule also had an impact, with two teams choosing to retain players for a longer duration – highlighting our commitment to building continuity within squads. We now look forward to Day 2, as the franchisees build their squads for the upcoming season,” said Mr. Anupam Goswami, Business Head, Mashal Sports & League Commissioner, Pro Kabaddi League.