India signs off from ISSF Shotgun World Cup without a medal

India’s campaign at the ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Tangier, Morocco , ended on a disappointing note as the country’s shooters failed to secure a single medal, with the final day producing another set of underwhelming results in the mixed team events .

Both Indian pairs struggled to make an impact and finished well outside the medal rounds, highlighting what has largely been a forgettable outing for the national contingent. In a 33 team field , the pair of Olympian Prithviraj Tondaiman and Kirti Gupta managed a combined score of 134 , placing 18th overall . Only the top four teams advanced to the finals, leaving the Indian duo far from contention.

Tondaiman shot 69 across three rounds of 25 targets each , recording scores of 24, 22 and 23 , while Gupta finished with 65 , missing 10 clay targets during her rounds of 22, 22 and 21 .

The other Indian mixed pair, Olympians Kynan Chenai and Rajeshwari Kumari , also endured a difficult outing. They finished 25th with a combined score of 130 . Chenai shot 68 (25, 21, 22) while Rajeshwari managed 62 (18, 22, 22), reflecting the overall struggles of the Indian shooters at the competition.

The Tangier meet marked the season opening ISSF Shotgun World Cup, where Italy emerged as one of the standout nations, securing major podium finishes including a gold and silver in the women’s trap event through Erica Sessa and Jessica Rossi .

For India, however, the results could carry significant implications. Performances at the World Cup are considered during selection for the Asian Games , scheduled later this year in Aichi Nagoya, Japan .

With the next Shotgun World Cup set for Almaty, Kazakhstan, in May , the Indian shooting federation has already named a fresh squad. Notably, none of the shooters who competed in Tangier have been retained , signalling a possible change in approach ahead of the important Asian Games season.

Adding to the debate around the campaign was the absence of India’s top trap shooter Zoravar Singh , a World Championships bronze medallist and world No. 4, who was rested citing “workload management.”

For India’s shotgun shooters, the Tangier World Cup ultimately ended as a missed opportunity, with attention now shifting to the upcoming events and the race for Asian Games selection.