The Karni Singh Shooting Range witnessed a thrilling contest as 18-year-old Riya Shirish overcame a formidable field to secure her first senior national title in Women’s 25m Pistol at the 67th National Shooting Championship in New Delhi.
Displaying exceptional composure under pressure, Riya Shirish triumphed over Punjab’s Simranpreet Kaur Brar in a gripping shoot-off after both shooters tied at 31 hits in the eight-series final. The first shoot-off ended in another tie at 2-2, leading to a decisive second shoot-off where Riya clinched the gold with a 5-2 victory.
Riya qualified for the final with a score of 576, while Simranpreet topped the qualification with 584. Olympian and 2018 Asian Games champion Rahi Sarnobat, who qualified second with 581, claimed bronze with 25 hits in a final that featured some of the country’s best talent, including Olympians Heena Sidhu and Annu Raj Singh, who finished sixth and eighth respectively. TS Divya, recovering from a knee injury, finished fourth, while Neeraj Kaur secured fifth place.
Junior title for Simranpreet, Riya claims Bronze
Simranpreet Kaur Brar displayed consistency and resilience throughout the day. Although she had to settle for silver in the senior category, she dominated the junior final.
Simranpreet secured the junior gold in another shoot-off, defeating Haryana’s Payal 5-2 after both tied at 34 hits. Payal qualified for the final with a score of 573. Riya added a bronze to her senior gold, finishing with 30 hits in the junior final.
World record holder and Olympian Rhythm Sangwan, who qualified for the junior final with a score of 574, narrowly missed a medal, finishing fourth in the juniors.
Riya’s breakthrough victory marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in her career, while Simranpreet’s impressive dual podium finishes highlight her dominance in the event. Both athletes, through their dedication and stellar performances, have firmly positioned themselves for even greater success on the international stage, paving the way for future achievements in shooting.