Mixed teams falter, Zoravar shines

After a historic individual bronze by Zoravar Singh Sandhu, India’s trap mixed team pairs failed to carry forward the momentum, finishing outside the finals on the concluding day of the ISS F(International Shooting Sport Federation) World Championships (Shotgun) here Saturday.

The Neeru Dhanda–Bhowneesh Mendiratta duo ended 25th, while compatriots Zoravar Singh Sandhu and Aashima Ahlawat came 28th, as both pairs shot identical scores of 137/150 in the qualification rounds. The performances fell short of the top-four cutoff, keeping India out of the mixed team finals despite a strong individual showing from Zoravar the previous day.

India currently sit joint eighth in the medal tally alongside six other nations, each with a solitary bronze. The standings could shift as the gold-medal match is scheduled later in the day. The United States led with four golds, a silver, and a bronze, followed by Spain with two golds and a silver, while Croatia occupied third with two golds.

At the Malakasa Shooting Range, the Neeru–Bhowneesh pair edged ahead of Zoravar–Aashima on countback despite both teams hitting 137 clay targets. Bhowneesh recorded scores of 23, 24, and 23 across three qualification rounds (70/75), while Neeru shot 23, 20, and 24 for 67. Veteran Zoravar, 48, followed his individual bronze with three successive 23s to total 69, while Aashima’s scores of 23, 23, and 22 brought her to 68 in a competitive field of 54 teams.

The four teams advancing to the finals were Italy (145/150), San Marino (144), the United States (144), and Egypt (144). In the bronze-medal contest, the USA defeated Egypt 39-37. The gold-medal showdown between Italy and San Marino is scheduled for later in the day.

While India’s mixed teams fell short, Zoravar’s individual achievement remains a landmark, making him only the second Indian after Manavjit Singh Sandhu (2006, Zagreb gold) to secure an ISSF medal, highlighting the country’s growing presence in international trap shooting.