Sift Kaur Samra delivered a sensational performance on Friday evening, securing her first individual ISSF World Cup gold in the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions (3P) final at the Tiro Federal Argentino de Buenos Aires shooting range.
In a dramatic comeback, Sift overcame a significant 7.2-point deficit after the first 15 shots to eventually win the gold, helping India claim its first yellow medal of the season-opening World Cup stage.
A Dream Comeback After A Slow Start
After finishing the Kneeling position in a challenging 7.2 points behind the leader, Anita Mangold of Germany, who eventually earned the silver, Sift made an impressive recovery in the Prone and Standing positions.
Despite the early struggle, Sift’s performance surged, allowing her to close the gap and finish with an unbeatable score.
At the end of the 45-shot final, Sift posted a total of 458.6, while Mangold finished 3.3 points behind at 455.3.
Kazakhstan’s Arina Altukhova, a Junior World Championship medalist, took third place with a score of 445.9, ending her run after the 44th shot.
India’s Performance On Day Two Of Competition
India’s performance improved on the second day of competition, as the country climbed to second place in the standings with one gold and one bronze.
The bronze came earlier in the men’s 3P event, won by Chain Singh. China topped the standings with one gold and one silver.
Qualification Highlights: Sift’s Strong Performance
Sift made an impressive start by qualifying in the top spot with a solid score of 590, surpassing Olympic champions and other top contenders.
Notably, reigning Olympic champion Chiara Leone and former Olympic champion Nina Christen from Switzerland, along with several other Olympic medalists, failed to make the top eight.
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The field for the final was highly competitive, featuring world champions and top shooters, including China’s Cairo 2022 world champion Miao Wanru, junior air rifle world champion Zifei Wang, and the talented Swiss 16-year-old Emely Jaeggi.
Along with Sift, the field also included Germany’s Anita Mangold and Nele Stark, Austrian Olivia Hoffman, and Kazakhstan’s Altukhova.
Sift’s Steady Progress In The Final
Although Sift struggled initially and was nearly out of contention after the Kneeling position, she found her rhythm in the Prone position.
By the end of it, she reduced the gap to the leader, Nele Stark, to 4.3 points but still ranked eighth.
In the Standing position, Sift’s remarkable 52.3 in the first series of five shots propelled her into joint third place.
She continued her ascent with a steady second series of 51.2, taking the lead for the first time and holding it until the end.
Her final shots—10.5, 10.3, 10.5, 10.0, and 9.7—secured her victory with a clinical performance that left no room for doubt.
Skeet Competitions And Indian Shooter Raiza Dhillon’s Progress
In the men’s and women’s Skeet competitions, four rounds of qualification took place, with Paris Olympian Raiza Dhillon emerging as India’s top performer.
Raiza secured the sixth spot in the women’s event, with a score of 94 after four rounds. She is just two points behind the leader and will compete in the final on Saturday.
Other Indian competitors in the women’s skeet event include Ganemat Sekhon, who is in 11th place with 92, and Darshna Rathore, who sits in 18th with 89.
In the men’s skeet event, Bhavtegh Gill, with a score of 94, holds the 18th spot, while Anant Jeet Singh Naruka and Gurjoat Khangura will need to perform strongly on Saturday to secure spots in the final.
Looking Ahead: Big Finals On Saturday
Saturday promises three major finals. The first, the women’s 25m pistol, will take place at 7:30 pm Indian Standard Time (IST).
This will be followed by the women’s skeet final at 11:00 pm IST and the men’s skeet final at 12:30 am IST on April 6, 2025.
The competition continues to heat up, with Indian shooters aiming for more medals.
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