Bullseye Brilliance: Indian Juniors Shoot for the Stars, Bag 11 Medals at ISSF World Cup

Indian shooters delivered a stellar performance at the 2025 ISSF Junior World Cup in Suhl, Germany, clinching a total of 11 medals—three gold, four silver, and four bronze—between May 19 and 27. The 57-member Indian contingent topped the medal tally, outperforming strong competitors including China and host nation Germany.

 

Among the standout performers were Naraen Pranav and Mukesh Nelavalli, both of whom train at the Gun for Glory academy under the Gagan Narang Sports Foundation. Naraen Pranav secured a silver medal in the 10m Air Rifle Mixed Junior Team event and a bronze in the 10m Air Rifle Junior Men’s event. Mukesh Nelavalli added to India’s tally with a bronze in the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol Junior Men’s event.

 

Expressing his excitement, Naraen Pranav said, “It feels great and is definitely a major moment in my career so far. Representing the country on such a global stage is a great honour, and returning with a medal makes it even more special. I would like to thank my coaches at Gun for Glory academy and mentor Gagan Narang sir for guiding me at every step, which enabled me to win these two medals.”

 

Gagan Narang, 2012 London Olympics bronze medallist and mentor to the athletes, also lauded their achievements: “We are extremely proud of these youngsters who made the entire nation stand tall at the ISSF Junior World Cup. This achievement is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and resilience they have put into their training over the years. Our academy aims to continue developing many more such athletes and ensuring the future of Indian shooting is in safe hands.”

 

The Indian team’s success was bolstered by other medal-winning performances, including golds from Shambhavi Shravan Kshirsagar (women’s 10m air rifle), Kanak (women’s 10m air pistol), and Tejaswini (women’s 25m pistol), as well as multiple podium finishes across rifle and pistol events.

 

With 638 shooters from 59 countries participating, India’s dominance at the event highlights the nation’s growing strength in junior shooting sports and sets a promising tone for future international competitions.

 

Source: News18