Paris Olympian Vijayveer Sidhu secured India’s fourth gold medal at the ISSF World Cup, triumphing in the men’s 25m rapid-fire pistol event.
Sidhu delivered a score of 29 in a tightly contested final, edging out Italy’s Riccardo Mazzetti by a single point after eight series of rapid-fire shots. China’s Yang Yuhao claimed the bronze.
Reflecting on his performance, Sidhu attributed his success to maintaining focus and replicating his training mindset.
“I treated the final like my practice sessions in Delhi, controlling what I could. Breaking this barrier with a gold will inspire future Indian shooters,” he remarked.
The final began with challenging conditions, where Mazzetti initially led with 14 hits out of 20.
Sidhu recovered from a shaky start, scoring only one hit in his first series but responding with consistent fours and a perfect five in his fifth series, overtaking Mazzetti.
As the competition intensified, Mazzetti fought back to tie with Sidhu after the sixth series, ensuring both secured their medals.
Meanwhile, Yang outlasted Chiryukin in a shoot-off to claim bronze.
ALSO READ: India’s progress hinges on Northeast’s development: Union minister
In the decisive eighth series, Mazzetti managed three hits, but Sidhu sealed the victory with four, marking his first individual ISSF World Cup gold medal.
India’s medal tally at the event now stands at six, including four golds.
Earlier in the day, Suruchi Inder Singh added to the haul with a gold in the women’s 10m air pistol event, further showcasing India’s dominance on the global shooting stage.
