Pranjali Prashant Dhumal Wins 25m Pistol Gold at Deaflympics

Tokyo— Pranjali Prashant Dhumal clinched the gold medal in the women’s 25m pistol event on Monday, securing her third medal at the Deaflympics.

Earlier, she won gold in the mixed pistol event with Abhinav Deshwal and a silver medal in the women’s air pistol. In the 25m pistol final, Ukraine’s Mosina Halyna claimed silver, while Korea’s Jeon Jiwon took bronze. Anuya Prasad, who had won gold in the women’s air pistol, finished fourth.

Pranjali entered the final after setting a new world and Deaflympics qualification record with an impressive 573 out of 600.

A day earlier, Abhinav Deshwal earned India’s 15th shooting medal of the Games by winning gold in the men’s 25m pistol event, also setting a qualification record.

With this performance, Team India has surpassed its previous best of 16 medals at the 2021 Brazil Deaflympics (held in 2022), where the country won 8 gold, 1 silver, and 7 bronze medals. With two days of competition remaining, the medal tally could rise further.

In another milestone, Loma Swain secured India’s first-ever medal in Karate at the Deaflympics by winning bronze in the Women’s Kumite -50 kg category.

India sent its largest-ever contingent to the Tokyo Deaflympics—111 members in total, including 73 athletes and 38 coaches.

The Deaflympics, organised by the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD) and recognised by the International Olympic Committee, are the second-oldest international multi-sport event in the world. India has been participating since 1965.

To date, India has won 26 gold, 9 silver, and 17 bronze medals across all editions. In the previous Summer Games held in Brazil, India sent 65 athletes across 11 sports and achieved its then best-ever tally of 16 medals.

--With inputs from IANS