Samrat Rana, a 20-year-old shooter from Karnal, made history at the ISSF World Championships in Cairo on Monday by becoming India’s first world champion in an Olympic pistol discipline. His victory in the men’s 10m air pistol event also secured India the team gold medal, reinforcing the nation’s rising prominence in international shooting.
Narrow Victory in Tense Final
Samrat Rana demonstrated composure under pressure, posting a winning score of 243.7 to narrowly defeat China’s Hu Kai, who finished with 243.3. “I still can’t believe it,” Rana said after his victory. “Cairo has always been special for me. I won two medals here at the Junior World Championships in 2022. I like the ambience and was just trying to focus on my technique with every shot towards the end.”
The final witnessed frequent lead changes among Rana, Hu Kai, and fellow Indian shooter Varun Tomar. Rana’s composure in the closing stages proved decisive, while Tomar claimed bronze with 221.7 points, marking the first time two Indian shooters shared a World Championships podium in the same event.
Team Gold Highlights Indian Depth
India secured team gold through the combined efforts of Samrat Rana (586), Tomar (586), and Shravan Kumar (582), totaling 1754 points. Italy finished second, with Germany taking bronze. Shravan placed 12th individually, demonstrating depth in India’s pistol shooting program.
The victory held special significance for Rana after missing qualification for the ISSF World Cup Final in Ningbo earlier this year. “I just kept reminding myself to stay calm and trust my process,” he explained. “It feels unreal to finally see it all come together.”
Family Support Drives Success
Guided by his father since 2018, Samrat Rana has steadily progressed through the ranks after winning World University gold last year. His achievement establishes him as a top Olympic prospect for India.
Tomar’s father, Vishesh, a teacher in Benoli village, Baghpat, expressed pride in his son’s accomplishment. “I am overjoyed with Varun’s performance,” he said, noting that Olympic shooter Saurabh Chaudhary, Varun’s cousin, influenced his career. “Varun is now training at the National Centre of Excellence at the Karni Singh Ranges in Delhi. He has worked tirelessly for this moment.”
Rana’s gold elevated India to third place in overall medal standings, trailing only China.
