The year 2025 will be remembered as a watershed moment for Indian shooting, where a new generation of marksmen and women announced their arrival on the world stage with a spectacular haul of medals. Spearheaded by the phenomenal success of teenagers like Suruchi Singh and Samrat Rana, the season was liberally sprinkled with gold, silver, and bronze, signaling the coming of age of a fiercely talented young brigade.
A Season of Unprecedented Success
The medal rush for India began in Buenos Aires at a World Cup event, where the team secured an impressive four gold, two silver, and two bronze medals. It was here that Suruchi Singh, a teenager from Jhajjar, clinched her first World Cup gold of the season, offering a glimpse of her extraordinary talent. By the time the season concluded in Doha, Suruchi had amassed a staggering four World Cup gold medals and capped it off with a top-podium finish at the elite World Cup Final.
Not to be outdone, the relatively unknown Samrat Rana, a 20-year-old from Karnal, made giant strides in the men's air pistol event. In a stunning performance in Cairo, he defeated established champions to become the world champion, a historic first for India in that category. His victory, achieved with coaching from his father in a basic backyard range, epitomizes the sport's deep penetration into India's small towns and hinterlands.
The New Faces of Indian Shooting
The success stories were multiple and spread across disciplines. Simranpreet Kaur Brar, the 25m pistol shooter from Faridkot, displayed immense mental fortitude to win gold at her maiden World Cup Final in Doha, breaking a junior world record in the process. In the men's air rifle, Rudrankksh Patil continued his consistent run, while Varun Tomar (from Baghpat, UP) and Anish Bhanwala secured crucial medals at World Championships and World Cups, collectively challenging the traditional powerhouse, China.
Anish Bhanwala, in particular, seemed to have finally unlocked his potential on the biggest stages. After showing promise as a teenager, the 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallist won a World Championships silver in Cairo and followed it up with another silver at the World Cup Final in Doha, firmly establishing himself among the world's best in 25m rapid-fire pistol.
Veteran Joy and the Road Ahead
The year also brought long-awaited success for veteran trap shooter Zorawar Singh. After more than three decades of dedication, the 48-year-old clinched a bronze at the World Championships in Athens, becoming only the third Indian trap shooter after legends Karni Singh and Manavjit Singh Sandhu to achieve this feat.
The collective performance propelled India to its best-ever finish at the World Cup Final, with a tally of two gold, three silver, and one bronze medal. This relentless charge of young talent, however, saw established stars like double Olympic bronze medallist Manu Bhaker being overshadowed, with her best result being an individual air pistol silver at a World Cup.
The rise of Suruchi Singh has been particularly meteoric. The daughter of an Army Havildar, her seven-medal haul at the 2024 National Championships was a precursor to a 2025 season that saw her soar to the number one spot in the ISSF world rankings. With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics qualification cycle starting next year, the 19-year-old is now a frontrunner to secure an early quota for India, embodying the bright future of a sport that has become one of the nation's highest medal-grossers.
