Mehuli Ghosh And Manini Kaushi Falter At ISSF World Cup Event

Indian shooters Mehuli Ghosh and Manini Kaushik failed to advance in the women's 50m rifle 3 positions event at the ISSF World Cup here on Friday, extending the country's medal drought in the competition. Ghosh, a 24-year-old World Championship bronze medallist, finished 23rd with a qualification score of 583, while the experienced Kaushik placed 45th with 580 in a field of 66 competitors. Surabhi Bharadwaj, the third Indian participant, ended 52nd with 578.

Ghosh, who secured a Paris Olympic quota but missed selection after national trials, started strongly with 98 in kneeling but dipped to 96, totalling 194. She recovered in prone with 99 and 97 for 196 but faltered in standing, scoring 95 and 98 for 193. Kaushik, who recently claimed her first individual international bronze at the 2025 Asian Shooting Championships, could not replicate that form. The International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup in Ningbo is part of the annual series featuring top global marksmen in rifle and pistol disciplines.

Norway's Jeanette Hegg Duestad dominated, topping qualifications with 589 and winning gold in the final with 466.2. Denmark's Rikke Maeng Ibsen took silver at 463.3, and the Czech Republic's Barbora Dubska earned bronze with 451.4. China leads the medal tally with two golds, three silvers, and one bronze, followed by Norway with two golds and South Korea with one gold, one silver, and one bronze. India remains without a medal after several events.

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In the men's 25m rapid fire pistol, Bhavesh Shekhawat sits fourth after Stage 1 with 293, offering hope for a podium. Pradeep Singh Shekhawat is 24th with 288, and Mandeep Singh is 43rd with 272 in a 44-shooter field. Stage 2 is scheduled for Saturday, as India's second-string squad continues to face stiff competition from the world's elite.

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