
The first day of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup Shotgun in Lonato, Italy, saw Indian shooters Mairaj Ahmad Khan and Ganemat Sekhon putting up strong performances. Competing in the skeet events, they emerged as the best-placed Indians after the opening round.
Mairaj, a seasoned Olympian, showcased his precision by shooting rounds of 24 and 25 in the men’s skeet event. His flawless second round brought his total to 49 hits, placing him in a competitive position. However, he faces stiff competition, with at least 15 shooters in the 176-strong field posting perfect scores of 50.
Ganemat Sekhon, who has previously won two individual World Cup medals and was a finalist in Lonato in 2023, delivered a solid performance in the women’s skeet event. She shot 23 and 25 in her two qualifying rounds, finishing with a total of 48. This puts her in ninth place, just one point behind the leading pack of six women, including Mexico’s Gabriela Rodriguez, all tied at 49.
The road ahead is challenging but promising. With three more qualifying rounds scheduled over the next two days, both Mairaj and Ganemat have a realistic shot at making the top six and advancing to the finals on Tuesday.
Other Indian shooters had a tougher start. In the women’s event, Olympians Maheshwari Chauhan (24, 22) and Raiza Dhillon (22, 23) found themselves further down the leaderboard. Meanwhile, in the men’s event, young Bhavtegh Gill impressed with a perfect 25 in his second round after a 23 in the first. Olympian Anant Jeet Singh Naruka, however, missed one target in each of his rounds, leaving him with work to do.
The ISSF World Cup is a crucial event for shooters aiming to build momentum ahead of major competitions. For Mairaj and Ganemat, strong performances here could set the tone for the rest of their season. The Indian contingent will be hoping they can maintain their form and clinch podium finishes.
Fans of Indian shooting will be keeping a close eye on the upcoming rounds. The competition is fierce, but the talent is undeniable. Whether Mairaj and Ganemat can rise to the occasion remains to be seen, but their start has certainly given supporters reason to cheer.