India’s Anish Bhanwala Becomes First Individual Pistol Shooter to Medal at ISSF World Championships

IN NEWS:

India’s Anish Bhanwala Becomes First Individual Pistol Shooter to Medal at ISSF World Championships

UPSC STYLE ANALYSIS

• Historic Achievement:
  Anish Bhanwala made history by becoming the first Indian individual pistol shooter to win a medal at the ISSF World Championships in an Olympic event category.
• Event Details:
  The achievement came in the men’s 25-metre rapid fire pistol event held at Cairo, Egypt, where Anish secured the silver medal after hitting 28 targets in the final.
• Significance for Indian Shooting:
  • Marks a major milestone for India in pistol shooting, traditionally dominated by rifle shooters.
  • Reflects India’s continuous rise in world shooting rankings due to improved infrastructure and training ecosystems.
• India’s Overall Performance at Cairo:
  • India’s total medal tally at the ISSF World Championships 2025 (Cairo) stands at five medals — 1 Gold, 2 Silver, and 2 Bronze.
• Profile of Anish Bhanwala:
  • Age: 23 years
  • Hails from Sonipat, Haryana
  • Known for his consistency in the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol discipline, Anish has represented India in multiple international events, including the Asian Games and World Cups.
• Other Sports Highlights – Chess:
  • Indian Grandmaster Karthik Venkataraman advanced to the fourth round of the FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 held in Panaji, Goa.
  • He defeated Romanian Grandmaster Bogdan-Daniel Deac in a tiebreaker.
  • Karthik joined Arjun Erigaisi, R Praggnanandhaa, P Harikrishna, and V Pranav in the fourth round.
  • Grandmasters Vidit Gujrathi and S.L. Narayanan were eliminated earlier in their tiebreaks.

STATIC PART (FOR UPSC REVISION)

• ISSF (International Shooting Sport Federation):
  • Global governing body for Olympic shooting sports.
  • Established in 1907; Headquarters: Munich, Germany.
  • Organizes World Cups, World Championships, and Olympic qualifying events.
• 25 Metre Rapid Fire Pistol Event:
  • Olympic event where shooters fire at five targets within 8, 6, or 4 seconds.
  • Demands precision, timing, and quick reflexes.
• FIDE Chess World Cup:
  • Conducted by the Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE).
  • Knockout-format tournament serving as a qualifier for the World Chess Championship.
  • The 2025 edition is being hosted in Panaji, Goa, India.

Updated – 10 Nov 2025 ; 07:55 AM | News Source: All India Radio