Young Indian shooter Saurabh Chaudhary made an impressive return to the national team after almost two years, securing a bronze medal in the 10m air pistol event at the ISSF World Cup in Lima, Peru. His cousin, Varun Tomar, also participated in the competition but narrowly missed out on a podium finish, finishing fourth in the final. The event marked a significant achievement for both shooters on the opening day of the competition.
Saurabh’s Consistent Performance Leads to Bronze
At 22, Saurabh Chaudhary may not have been the flawless shooter he once was, but his determination and steady performance earned him a place in the top three. Shooting 219.1, he secured the bronze medal, finishing behind China’s Kai Hu, who scored 246.4, and Brazil’s Felipe Almeida Wu, who posted a score of 241. Despite not being able to hit inner 10s, Saurabh’s strong finish with scores of 10.2 and 10.6 helped him maintain his position in the top three. The result was a commendable performance for the young shooter, who had previously won a gold medal at the Cairo World Cup in 2022.
Varun’s Performance and Kai Hu’s Dominance
Varun Tomar, who is also gearing up for the Paris Olympics, had a rocky start, missing out on a medal after a series of inconsistent shots, including 9.1 and 9.7 in his initial attempts. His performance was not enough to secure a podium finish, and he ultimately ended in fourth place. The star of the event, however, was China’s 23-year-old Kai Hu, who showcased remarkable consistency throughout the competition. He held the top spot from the first series of 10 shots and maintained his lead until the end. Despite a slight dip in performance during his penultimate shot, which scored 9.3, Hu’s gold medal-winning score of 246.4 narrowly missed breaking the world record by just 0.1 point.
This event, a key fixture in the ISSF calendar, was another step for both Saurabh and Varun in their journey toward the Paris Olympics, as they continue to fine-tune their performances ahead of the global sporting spectacle.
