Hangzhou, July 28: India’s Sonam Uttam Maskar and Himanshu Dhillon clinched the bronze medal in the 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team event at the ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun in Hangzhou, China, adding another medal to the country’s impressive campaign.
The Indian duo qualified for the final with a combined score of 634.6 after Sonam shot 317.2 and Himanshu 317.4. India’s second pair, Elavenil Valarivan and Parth Rakesh Mane, also reached the final with an aggregate score of 634.2.
In the medal round, Sonam and Himanshu delivered a steady performance, combining for 441.2 points (220.6 each) to secure the bronze medal behind China’s two teams. Elavenil and Parth finished fourth with a score of 378.8.
Speaking after the event, Sonam said the medal would boost the team’s confidence ahead of the Asian Games and World Championships, adding that the experience gained in tough competitions is invaluable.
Himanshu, competing in his first senior ISSF World Cup final, described the bronze as a special milestone. He credited his coaches, self-belief and experience from junior competitions for helping him achieve his maiden senior World Cup podium finish.
The medal is another significant achievement for Sonam, who has previously won ISSF World Cup silver medals in Cairo and the World Cup Final in New Delhi. For Himanshu, it marks his first senior World Cup medal after earlier success at junior and Asian-level events.
With the bronze, India has now taken its medal tally at the ISSF World Cup Hangzhou to four medals—one gold, one silver and two bronze.
