Indian rifle shooters Sonam Uttam Maskar and Himanshu Dhillon delivered a stellar performance to capture the bronze medal in the 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team competition at the ongoing Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun in Hangzhou, China.
Both Indian pairs performed admirably in the qualification round to march into the medal round. Sonam (317.2) and Himanshu (317.4) posted a combined score of 634.6, while teammates Elavenil Valarivan (316.8) and Parth Rakesh Mane (317.4) placed right behind them with an aggregate of 634.2.
In the final, Sonam and Himanshu maintained their composure to compile 441.2 points (220.6 each), clinching bronze behind two teams from host nation China. Elavenil and Parth finished fourth with a final tally of 378.8 at the .
Milestone achievement a confidence boost ahead of key competitions
Reflecting on the success, 23-year-old Kolhapur shooter Sonam Maskar highlighted the value of gaining elite international exposure ahead of major upcoming tournaments.
“It was a tough competition, and the overall experience was very good. Winning a medal is always important because it gives us confidence for the assignments ahead. Experience matters more than anything, and this performance will motivate us as we prepare for the Asian Games and the World Championships later this season.”
For 20-year-old Himanshu Dhillon from Jind, Haryana, the podium finish marked a memorable debut on the senior World Cup final stage.
“It was a great experience competing in my first senior World Cup final. I believed in myself, trusted my coach’s guidance and relied on my strengths. I’ve competed in many junior finals, but winning my first senior World Cup medal makes this achievement very special.”
This latest success raises India’s overall collection at the ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou to four medals, consisting of one gold, one silver, and two bronze, including a medal from .
The podium finish marks another milestone for 23-year-old Sonam Uttam Maskar from Kolhapur, Maharashtra. Sonam previously won silver medals at the ISSF World Cup in Cairo and the ISSF World Cup Final in New Delhi in 2024.
For 20-year-old Himanshu Dhillon from Jind, Haryana, the bronze medal represents his maiden senior ISSF World Cup podium. Himanshu previously won gold in the 10m Air Rifle Men Junior event at the ISSF Junior World Cup in New Delhi in 2025.