ISSF World Cup: India’s Medal Drought Continues as Sollazzo Sets World Record

Ningbo (China): India’s wait for a medal at the ISSF Rifle/Pistol World Cup in Ningbo extended into the third day on Thursday, as Divyansh Singh Panwar, Umamahesh Maddineni, and Rahi Sarnobat all failed to progress beyond the qualification rounds.

The spotlight, however, was on Italy’s Danilo Sollazzo, who produced a record-breaking performance in the men’s 10m air rifle final. Sollazzo, the 2022 Cairo World Championship runner-up to India’s Rudrankksh Patil and fifth-place finisher at the Paris Olympics, scored an extraordinary 255.0 to surpass reigning Olympic champion Sheng Lihao’s world record by 0.5 points.

Sheng, competing on home soil, had to settle for silver with 253.5, while Korea’s Park Haijun claimed bronze.

For India, former world No.1 Divyansh Singh Panwar posted 630.0 in qualification, finishing 19th—well short of the cut. Sweden’s Olympic silver medallist Victor Lindgren secured the final qualifying spot with 632.3. Umamahesh placed 39th with 627.7, and Niraj Kumar ended 54th with 626.1.

In the women’s 25m pistol, Korea dominated as Olympic champions Yang Jiin and Oh Yejin secured gold and silver, with China’s Xiao Jiaruixuan taking bronze. India’s Abhidnya Ashok Patil impressed with a 295 in the rapid-fire stage to finish on 583 but narrowly missed the final on inner-10 count, placing 11th. Divya T.S. (581) and Olympian Rahi Sarnobat (581) were placed 16th and 17th. France’s Olympic silver medallist Camille Jedrzejewski also bowed out with 583.

China lead the medal tally with two golds, followed by Norway, Italy, and Korea.

On Friday, India will pin their hopes on Mehuli Ghosh, Surabhi Rapole, and Manini Kaushik in the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions final as they look to break their medal drought.

With inputs from IANS