Vivaan Kapoor, a 24-year-old shooter from Jaipur, secured a silver medal in the men’s trap event at the ISSF World Championships held in Doha. The achievement also guarantees an LA Olympics quota for India. Kapoor reached the podium in a final round that included elite international competitors, such as Paris Olympic champion Nathan Hales, Paris silver medallist Qi Ying of China, and reigning world champion and Rio Olympic gold medallist Josip Glasnovic of Croatia.
The competition for the top spot was intense, with Kapoor and Kuwait's Abdulrahman Al-Faihan finishing with a score of 29. This score was only one target shy of the world record of 30/30, previously set by Italy’s Ermanio Frasca. The gold medal was decided in a third shoot-off, where Kapoor narrowly missed his target while Al-Faihan hit his to claim the title.
Kapoor’s performance marks the fourth time an Indian has won a World Championship medal in the shotgun category. He joins the ranks of Dr. Karni Singh, who won silver in 1962, Manavjit Singh Sandhu, who secured gold in 2006, and Zoravar Singh Sandhu, who earned a bronze medal last year.
Reflecting on the event, Kapoor stated that he was glad to secure the silver and the Olympic quota. He credited his success to the guidance of his coaches, Giovanni Cernogoraz and Peter Wilson, noting their consistent advice to remain calm and focused during the competition.
Key facts
- Vivaan Kapoor scored 29 in the final, narrowly missing the world record of 30.
- The event was held at the ISSF World Championships in Doha.
- Kapoor is the fourth Indian to win a shotgun medal at the World Championships.
- Coach Peter Wilson noted that the field included Paris Olympic champion Nathan Hales.
- Kapoor previously won a silver medal at the 2021 World Junior Championships.
Why it matters
The silver medal win is significant as it provides India with a quota spot for the upcoming LA Olympics. According to coach Peter Wilson, the result highlights the progress of Indian shooters on the world stage, building on the momentum from Zoravar Singh Sandhu’s bronze medal last year.
Background
Before his success in the senior circuit, which includes a World Cup final silver in New Delhi in 2024, Kapoor was a junior Asian champion in 2019. His formative training in Jaipur focused on fitness, mental conditioning, and technical aspects like gun fit and breathing techniques under the guidance of Mansher Singh.
Source: Indian Express
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