Meghana Sajjanar produced a career-defining performance in Ningbo on Sunday, clinching her maiden World Cup medal with bronze in the women’s 10m air rifle, as India signed off fifth in the season-ending ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol.
It was the 33-year-old’s first World Cup final appearance in eight years, and she held her nerve to post 230.0 points in a tense contest. The event, however, belonged to China’s Peng Xinlu, who not only took gold but also shattered the world record with a score of 255.3, surpassing the previous mark of 254.8 set by compatriot Wang Zifei. Norway’s Jeanette Hegg Duestad claimed silver.
Meghana had qualified seventh for the final with 632.7, while Peng topped the charts with 637.4. The Indian began the eight-shooter contest tentatively, finishing the opening series of five shots at the bottom of the field. A composed second series of 52.3 lifted her to sixth, and from there she built momentum with a string of steady 10-plus scores.
Her accuracy, which included a crucial 10.9 on her 12th shot, kept her firmly in medal contention. With Mariia Vasileva, competing as an individual neutral athlete, just 0.3 points adrift before the 19th shot, the outcome remained finely poised. Meghana responded with back-to-back 10.4s to put the contest beyond reach and seal her first-ever medal at this level.
Also read: Esha wins women’s air pistol gold at ISSF World Cup
India’s other notable success in Ningbo came on Saturday, when Esha Singh delivered the country’s lone gold of the tournament in the women’s 10m air pistol. In total, India reached four finals across the competition.
China topped the medal standings with three golds, while Norway finished second with two.
India also reached another final on Sunday as Kiran Ankush Jadhav advanced in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions after shooting 590 to place fourth in qualification. But a faltering start in both the Kneeling and Prone rounds undermined his challenge, and he ended the 40-shot final in eighth with 406.7.
Elsewhere, Paris Olympic bronze medallist Swapnil Kusale managed 587 to finish 21st overall, with Babu Singh Panwar further adrift on 583. In the women’s air rifle, Olympian Ramita Jindal posted 629.8 for 22nd place, while Kashika Pradhan shot 626.6.
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