Niraj Kumar Secures Olympic Quota with Bronze at ISSF World Championships

Niraj Kumar's Remarkable Achievement

Niraj Kumar from India has clinched a spot for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics by winning a bronze medal in the men's 50m rifle 3-positions event at the ISSF World Championships held on Wednesday.

This marks India's second Olympic quota earned at the championships, following Jaypal Malviya's silver medal in the men's 10m air pistol event earlier in the week.

In the final, Niraj scored 346.5 points and was in the running for silver until a disappointing 9.4 on his 34th shot dropped him to third place. Dmitrii Pimenov, competing as an Individual Neutral Athlete, took gold with a world junior record score of 362.8, while Slovakia's Patrik Jany secured silver, both also earning Olympic quotas.

Another Indian competitor, Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, finished fifth with a score of 323.7.

Team Performance and Individual Scores

India also achieved a bronze in the team event, with Niraj, Aishwary, and Akhil Sheoran combining for a total of 1,751 points in the elimination round. They narrowly missed out on silver, finishing just one point behind Norway, which scored 1,752, while the Czech Republic took gold with 1,754.

Niraj scored 582, Aishwary 587, and Akhil 582, contributing to India's team bronze.

In the qualification round, Niraj excelled with a score of 591, topping the standings, while Aishwary's score of 586 secured him fourth place and a spot in the final.

Challenges in the Final

The final was challenging, especially for Aishwary, a two-time Olympian and former World Championships silver medallist. He started strong in the kneeling position, scoring 102.9 over 10 shots, tying for the lead. However, a series of lower scores in the prone position hindered his performance, and he ultimately finished in fifth place.

Niraj maintained his focus and remained in contention for a medal. The 26-year-old Navy shooter, who recently contributed to India's silver medal at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, was poised for silver until the unfortunate 9.4 altered his standing.

Jany's impressive 10.4 score allowed him to surpass Niraj and secure second place, while Pimenov dominated the competition, winning gold with a world junior record.

Upcoming Opportunities for Indian Shooters

Looking ahead, India's men's trap shooters are also vying for a place in the finals, aiming to enhance the country's medal tally and secure another Olympic quota on Thursday.

Udaivir Singh and Vivaan Kapoor delivered strong performances on the second day, ranking seventh and eighth respectively, both scoring 97 after four rounds of 25 shots each. The top eight shooters from the final qualification round on Thursday will advance to the medal round.

India currently leads the team standings with a total of 285 points, thanks to Udaivir and Vivaan's contributions of 97 each, alongside Zorawar Sandhu's score of 91. One more round of 25 shots remains before the team medals are awarded on Thursday.