India Dominates ISSF Junior World Championship 2026 with Record Medal Haul

India Tops Medal Tally at ISSF Junior World Championship

On Friday, the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) proudly announced that the Indian shooting team achieved a remarkable feat by finishing first in the medal standings at the ISSF Junior World Championship 2026 held in Suhl, Germany.

India's impressive performance culminated in a total of 24 medals, which included seven gold, eight silver, and nine bronze. The campaign kicked off with Sejal Kamble clinching the individual gold in the 10m Air Pistol Women Junior event, while Himanshi secured a bronze medal. The team of Sejal Kamble, Vanshika Choudhary, and Navya Bishnoi also won gold in the Team event, giving India an early advantage in the competition.

Continued Success for Indian Shooters

The success continued as Sameer won gold in the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol Men Junior event, and Rohit Kanyan triumphed in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions Men Junior competition. Prachi Gaikwad contributed a silver medal in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions Women Junior event, while bronze medals were secured in both the 50m Rifle 3 Positions Men Junior Team and 25m Rapid Fire Pistol Men Junior Team events, showcasing the team's consistent performance, as highlighted in a press release from the NRAI.

NRAI President Celebrates Team's Achievement

Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, President of the NRAI, expressed his pride in the team's accomplishment, stating, "Achieving the top position in the medal tally at a World Championship for two consecutive editions is an extraordinary feat. What brings me the most joy is that these 24 medals were not solely from a few standout athletes; they were distributed across various events, including rifle and pistol, individual, mixed, and team competitions. This demonstrates the effectiveness of our grassroots programs and the vast talent pool in India. Each of these young athletes has made our nation proud."

Medal Rush Continues

India's medal tally continued to grow with Anvii Rathod earning a bronze in the 10m Air Rifle Women Junior event, followed by Pritam Kendre's gold in the 10m Air Rifle Men Junior event. The team also secured bronze medals in the 25m Pistol Women Junior Team and 25m Pistol Men Junior Team events, further solidifying their lead.

In the 10m Air Pistol Men Junior category, Shiva Narwal won silver, and Yug Pratap Singh Rathore took home bronze, marking a spectacular double podium finish. Narwal later teamed up with Sandeep Bishnoi and Chirag Sharma to win silver in the Team event and partnered with Vanshika Chaudhary to secure another silver in the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team event.

Reflections on the Championship

Pawankumar Singh, Secretary General of the NRAI, reflected on the challenges faced by the young athletes, stating, "Suhl presents a tough test for young competitors due to its intense conditions and competition. Witnessing our junior team manage that pressure and consistently reach the podium is very encouraging for the future of Indian shooting. This success is equally attributed to the coaches, support staff, and families who work tirelessly behind the scenes. Our goal now is to maintain this momentum as they transition into senior ranks."

Final Day Highlights

In the championship's closing stages, Abhinav Deshwal won gold in the 25m Standard Pistol Men Junior event, while Shambhavi Shravan Kshirsagar and Abhinav Shaw captured gold in the 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team Junior competition. India also earned silver in the 25m Standard Pistol Men Junior Team event with Abhinav Deshwal, Jatin, and Abhinav Choudhary. In the 25m Standard Pistol Women Junior event, Shaurya Dilip Bharne secured silver, and Riya Duggal added a bronze.

On the final competition day, Raj Chandra won bronze in the 50m Pistol Men Junior event, while Yogesh Kumar, Prateek, and Abhinav Choudhary combined for silver in the Team event. Aishwarya Ravichandra Balehosur capped off the stellar campaign with a hard-fought individual silver medal in the 50m Pistol Women Junior event, mathematically securing India's top position globally.

Complete Medal Winners - ISSF Junior World Championship 2026

10m Air Pistol Women Junior - Gold - Sejal Kamble, Bronze - Himanshi

10m Air Pistol Women Junior Team - Gold - Sejal Kamble, Vanshika Choudhary, Navya Bishnoi

50m Rifle 3 Positions Women Junior - Silver - Prachi Gaikwad

25m Rapid Fire Pistol Men Junior - Gold - Sameer

50m Rifle 3 Positions Men Junior - Gold - Rohit Kanyan

50m Rifle 3 Positions Men Junior Team - Bronze - Rohit Kanyan, Vedant Nitin Waghmare, Hithesh Srinivasan

25m Rapid Fire Pistol Men Junior Team - Bronze - Sameer, Abhinav Choudhary, Sahil Choudhary

10m Air Rifle Women Junior - Bronze - Anvii Rathod

10m Air Rifle Men Junior - Gold - Pritam Kendre

25m Pistol Women Junior Team - Bronze - Anjali Mahendra Bhagwat, Parisha Gupta, Nithila Ivy Darling Praveen Christopher

25m Pistol Men Junior Team - Bronze - Abhinav Choudhary, Raj Chandra, Jatin

10m Air Pistol Men Junior - Silver - Shiva Narwal, Bronze - Yug Pratap Singh Rathore

10m Air Pistol Men Junior Team - Silver - Shiva Narwal, Sandeep Bishnoi, Chirag Sharma

10m Air Pistol Mixed Team Junior - Silver - Vanshika Chaudhary, Shiva Narwal

25m Standard Pistol Men Junior - Gold - Abhinav Deshwal

25m Standard Pistol Men Junior Team - Silver - Abhinav Deshwal, Jatin, Abhinav Choudhary

25m Standard Pistol Women Junior - Silver - Shaurya Dilip Bharne, Bronze - Riya Duggal

10m Air Rifle Mixed Team Junior - Gold - Shambhavi Shravan Kshirsagar, Abhinav Shaw

50m Pistol Men Junior - Bronze - Raj Chandra

50m Pistol Men Junior Team - Silver - Yogesh Kumar, Prateek, Abhinav Choudhary

50m Pistol Women Junior - Silver - Aishwarya Ravichandra Balehosur.