Historic Achievement for Niraj Kumar
Indian marksman Niraj Kumar has achieved a significant milestone by securing a quota place for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Competing at the ISSF World Championships in Doha, he clinched the bronze medal in the men’s 50m rifle 3-positions event on Wednesday, November 11, 2026. This accomplishment marks the second Olympic quota for India at the current championships, following the success of Jaypal Malviya, who secured a quota earlier through a silver medal in the 10m air pistol event.
Final Round Analysis and Competition Dynamics
In a highly competitive final, Niraj Kumar recorded a score of 346.5. Throughout the event, the 26-year-old Navy shooter remained a strong contender for the silver medal. However, a challenging 9.4 score on his 34th shot shifted his position to third. The gold medal was claimed by Individual Neutral Athlete Dmitrii Pimenov, who set a world junior record with a score of 362.8. Slovakia’s Patrik Jany secured the silver medal, and both Pimenov and Jany also earned their respective Olympic quota places. Niraj, who was previously part of the Indian team that won silver at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, maintained his composure to secure the bronze and the Olympic spot. The final round required immense precision and focus, and while the 34th shot proved to be a difficult moment for the Indian shooter, his overall performance throughout the tournament was consistent enough to earn him a spot on the podium. The victory represents a major step forward for his career on the international stage.
Team Performance and Collective Consistency
India also demonstrated collective strength by winning the bronze medal in the team event. The trio of Niraj Kumar, Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, and Akhil Sheoran combined for a total of 1,751 points during the elimination round. The team narrowly missed the silver medal by a single point, as Norway finished with 1,752 points, while the Czech Republic took the gold with 1,754 points. Individual scores contributing to this team effort included 582 from Niraj, 587 from Aishwary, and 582 from Akhil. This performance highlights the depth of Indian shooting talent on the international stage. The team event serves as a testament to the rigorous training and preparation undertaken by the shooters, who worked in tandem to maintain high standards of accuracy across the various positions. Even though they narrowly missed out on the second-place finish, the bronze medal remains a significant achievement for the national squad.
Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar’s Performance Journey
Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, a two-time Olympian and former World Championships silver medallist, also reached the final but finished in fifth place with a score of 323.7. He had a promising start, shooting 102.9 in the kneeling position series to tie for the lead. However, he faced difficulties during the prone series, where he recorded a string of scores in the 9s, and his struggles continued into the standing series, which eventually led to his elimination. Despite this, his qualification performance of 586 demonstrated his continued competitiveness at the elite level, following his earlier qualification round score of 591 where Niraj had topped the standings. The transition between the different positions in the 3-position rifle event is notoriously difficult, and Tomar’s experience as a seasoned veteran was evident in his ability to stay in the hunt for as long as he did. His performance in the qualification rounds showcased his high baseline of skill, even if the final round presented unexpected challenges.
Upcoming Prospects in Shooting
The Indian contingent remains focused on further success as the men’s trap shooters prepare for their final qualification rounds on Thursday, November 12. Athletes like Udaivir Singh and Vivaan Kapoor are currently in contention for medal positions and additional Olympic quotas. Both shooters recorded scores of 97 after four rounds of 25 shots each, placing them seventh and eighth respectively. India is currently leading the team standings in the trap event with an aggregate of 285, supported by the contributions of Udaivir, Vivaan, and Zorawar Sandhu, who shot 91. With one more round of 25 shots remaining, the final day of competition is expected to be crucial for India’s medal tally and qualification aspirations for the 2028 Games. The team remains optimistic about their chances, given their current standing and the consistency shown by the shooters thus far in the tournament. The upcoming final qualification round will determine which athletes move forward to the medal round, providing another opportunity for India to increase its total Olympic quota count.
Source / स्रोत: The Hindu
