Anish Bhanwala Becomes First Indian Shooter To Win a Medal In 25m Rapid Fire at ISSF World Cup Final

Anish Bhanwala etched his name in history by becoming the first Indian shooter to clinch a medal in the men’s 25m Rapid Fire event at the ISSF World Cup Final. This accomplishment surpassed the efforts of past Indian shooters like Vijay Kumar in 2009 and Gurpreet Singh in 2015, who had reached the final but fell short of claiming a medal.

Anish Bhanwala’s Bronze Triumph in 25m Rapid Fire at ISSF World Cup Final

After securing a remarkable bronze medal in the men’s 25m Rapid Fire final at the ISSF World Cup final in Doha, Anish Bhanwala, the 21-year-old Indian shooting sensation, received heartfelt congratulations from Rio Olympic champion Christian Reitz. Despite missing the six-shooter final, the German maestro closely observed, recognizing the young Indian’s achievement.

Early Achievements

Anish’s journey to success began with winning the national championship in 2017, competing against formidable opponents such as Vijay Kumar. The same year, he became the junior world champion and successfully defended his title in 2018. The Gold Coast Commonwealth Games marked another milestone in his career as he secured a medal, signaling his emergence at the senior level.

A Strong Start to the Year

Anish kicked off the year with a bronze medal at the ISSF World Cup in Cairo, setting the stage for his success in Doha. His consistent performance and dedication to mastering the technical and competitive aspects of the 25m Rapid Fire event proved instrumental in his journey.

Olympic Quota and Recent Achievements

After finishing 22nd at the Hangzhou Asian Games, Anish rebounded by securing a Paris Olympics quota for India with a bronze medal in the Asian Shooting Championships in Changwon, Korea, just a month before his triumph in Doha. His path to the six-shooter final in Doha was no easy feat, with Anish finishing last in the qualification round with a score of 581.

The Final Battle in Doha

Facing tough competition, including world number one Yuehong Li of China and German shooter Florian Peter, Anish began the final on a challenging note, missing three shots in his first 10. However, a spectacular comeback in the third and fourth series propelled him to second place. Despite a setback in the fifth series, Anish demonstrated his resilience, trailing by just one shot behind the third-placed shooter.