Smit Moradiya Shines with Silver as India Takes Gold in 10-Metre Air Rifle at World University Championship

World Shooting Championship: Indian Shooters Clinches Gold in 10-Metre Air Rifle

The World University Shooting Championship 2024, currently underway in Delhi from November 9 to 13, has attracted over 200 athletes from 23 countries, including eight Olympians. Hosted by the Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies and organized by the Association of Indian Universities, the event has showcased impressive performances across various disciplines.

On November 11, Smit Moradiya came close to winning gold in the 10-metre air rifle event but with a final shot of 10.8, earned the silver medal, as he was narrowly edged out by Czech shooter Jiri Privratsky, who clinched the gold with a score just ahead of Moradiya's. This marked Privratsky’s second individual gold of the championship, following his victory in the rifle 3-position event on 10 November. With 19 World Cup medals, including nine golds, Privratsky further cemented his dominance in international shooting.

In the women’s rifle 3-position event, Asian Games gold medallist Sift Kaur Samra narrowly missed out on a medal, finishing just 0.6 points behind the podium. She put up a strong fight in the final but could not close the gap, and qualified for the final with a score of 587. Three shooters advanced to the final with the same score of 587 but others were eliminated at the same score due to higher competition. In the team event, Samra, Kaushik, and Vanshika Shahi combined to win the silver medal with a total score of 1755, finishing just one point behind the Czech Republic, who claimed the gold. India also edged out Germany by one point to secure the second place.

In the mixed trap event, a non-Olympic discipline that does not feature a final, Indian teams won the silver and bronze medals, following closely the Czech Republic. The Czech team, consisting of Zina Hrdlickova and Jan Palacky, took the gold with a total score of 140, while India-2, with Kirti Gupta and Jungsher Singh Virk, scored 138 to take silver. India’s Aashima Ahlawat and Bakhtyaruddin Malek secured the bronze with a score of 137. In the 10m air rifle event, Czech Republic's Jiri Privratsky won gold with a score of 252.2 (637.7), narrowly edging out India’s Smit Moradiya, who finished second with 252.1 (630.0). Poland’s Maciej Kowalewicz took the bronze with 230.1 (625.9). Indian shooters Umamahesh Maddineni and Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar finished fourth and fifth with scores of 208.8 (629.8) and 187.7 (628.3), respectively. In the team event, India took the top spot with a total score of 1888.1, followed by Korea in second (1874.7) and Hungary in third (1866.2).

In the 50m rifle 3-position event for women, France’s Gathe Girard won the gold with 462.3 (590), narrowly defeating Poland’s Julia Piotrowska, who claimed silver with 462.0 (591). Germany’s Anna Janssen secured the bronze with 450.2 (589). India’s Sift Kaur Samra finished in fourth place with 439.6 (587), just 0.6 points away from a medal. Manini Kaushik, who also qualified for the final with a score of 587, did not place in the top three. Vanshika Shahi finished 27th with 581. In the group event, the Czech Republic won gold with 1756, while India took silver with 1755, narrowly missing out on the top spot. Germany claimed the bronze in 1754.

The World University Shooting Championship saw remarkable performances from Indian shooters, with Smit Moradiya and Sift Kaur Samra coming close to securing gold in their respective events. The Indian team also excelled in the mixed trap event, securing silver and bronze medals. Overall, India’s strong presentation in the competition, with a silver medal in the rifle 3-position team event, highlighted the growing prominence of Indian shooters on the international stage.

Editor's Note:

The World University Shooting Championship 2024 has provided a global platform for Indian shooters to showcase their talent and competitive spirit. Indian athletes made their mark by giving tough competition to some of the best in the world. Smit Moradiya and Sift Kaur Samra's impressive performances have raised hopes for even better results in future competitions. The silver and bronze medals in the mixed trap event further highlighted the depth of talent among India's youth. 

Skoobuzz congratulates all the achievers and encourages them to aim for even greater success in upcoming international events.