08 June,2026 10:08 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Rahi Sarnobat (File pic)
Ex-Asian Games gold medalist Rahi Sarnobat delivered a masterful performance to secure the women's 25m pistol T4 title at the National Selection Trials 4 for Group A Rifle and Pistol competitors.
Olympian Rahi maintained complete authority during the final round, registering 37 hits to easily secure the gold medal. Manu Bhaker took home the silver medal with 35 hits, while Karnataka's Divya TS walked away with the bronze after finishing on 29 hits.
Niveditha V Nair, representing Tamil Nadu, fell just short of the podium in fourth place with 24 hits. Olympian Rhythm Sangwan took the fifth spot with 22 hits, followed by Punjab's Arshdeep Kaur in sixth with 18 hits. Maharashtra's Abhidnya Ashok Patil wrapped up her final in seventh place with 13 hits.
During the preliminary qualification round, two-time Olympic podium finisher Manu Bhaker booked her second place by shooting 584-16x. Arshdeep Kaur and Rahi Sarnobat followed closely in third and fourth positions, registering scores of 579-20x and 579-18x, respectively. Niveditha V Nair progressed in fifth with 579-12x, while Rhythm Sangwan and Divya TS both finished on 578-16x, with Sangwan earning the higher ranking via a countback.
Looking at the updated national leaderboard, world record holder and recent ISSF World Cup Munich champion Esha Singh holds onto the number one ranking despite skipping this event, while Bhaker holds firm in second. Sarnobat's winning run moves her up to third place, overtaking Divya, who slips down to fourth. Sangwan maintains her grip on fifth, while Yadav's strong qualifying round allows her to leap from ninth to sixth in the national standings.
These T4 selection trials carry importance for the continental championships, as India plans to send a 30-member contingent split equally between male and female competitors across 28 shooting disciplines to Aichi-Nagoya later this year. While the 12-member shotgun lineup has been officially locked in, the final rifle and pistol squads will be determined after the ongoing selection trials conclude.
The action is set to continue on Tuesday with a packed schedule featuring four major finals, including both the men's and women's 10m air pistol events alongside the men's and women's 50m rifles 3 positions competitions.
(With ANI inputs)
