India’s shooting talent once again made the nation proud when Kapil Bainsla clinched the gold medal in the 10m air pistol junior event at the 16th Asian Shooting Championship in Shymkent, Kazakhstan. His victory was not only a test of skill but also of nerves as he overcame Uzbekistan’s Ilkhombek Obidjonov in a nail-biting contest.
Kapil, who hails from Palwal in Haryana, showed immense determination and focus throughout the match. He entered the final after placing fourth in qualification with a score of 579. In the junior final, Ilkhombek took an early lead and looked steady for most of the 24-shot duel. However, Kapil kept his calm and mounted a spirited comeback. With a string of crucial shots in the closing stages, he edged past the Uzbek rival to finish with 243.0 points. Ilkhombek settled for silver at 242.4 points, while India’s Jonathan Gavin Antony secured bronze with 220.7 points.
The final was a display of pressure and precision. Ilkhombek started strong, holding the lead after the first two series of ten shots. Kapil gradually reduced the gap, refusing to let the contest slip away. By the 16th shot, he had taken a narrow lead, only to see Ilkhombek fight back. At the 22nd shot, the Uzbek had a slender one-point advantage. The climax came in the last two shots when Kapil showed nerves of steel, producing scores of 10.8 and 10.6. In contrast, Ilkhombek slipped slightly with 10.4 and 9.4, handing the gold to Kapil.
While the junior shooters delivered medals, the senior men’s 10m air pistol final brought disappointment. Anmol Jain, the only Indian to qualify, ended sixth with 155.1 points. The gold went to China’s Hu Kai with a score of 241.6, Korea’s Suhyeon Hong claimed silver with 239, and Iran’s Amir Joharikhouni took bronze. Despite this, India’s performance in team events brought reasons to cheer. Anmol, Aditya Malra, and Saurabh Chaudhary combined for a tally of 1735 to win silver behind China. Another Indian team of Kapil, Gavin, and Vijay Tomar earned silver in the junior team event with a total of 1723, finishing just behind Korea.
India’s medal rush on the opening day did not stop there. In the 10m air pistol youth event, Girish Gupta delivered another gold. He outshot his compatriot Dev Pratap in a one-two finish for India. Girish scored 241.3 points to win, while 14-year-old Dev managed 238.6 points for silver. Together with Pankaj Jat, the Indian trio won silver in the team category, finishing behind Iran.
By the end of the first day, India’s shooters had secured two gold, four silver, and one bronze medal. The performance highlighted the depth of young talent in Indian shooting. The rise of names like Kapil Bainsla, Girish Gupta, and Jonathan Antony suggests that India’s future in the sport is bright.
Kapil’s victory will be remembered for his resilience under pressure. To stage a comeback against a strong rival and close out the match with near-perfect shots speaks volumes about his temperament. For fans of Indian shooting, this win is a sign that the country continues to produce champions who can excel on the international stage.
