ISSF World Cup Hangzhou: Sonam Maskar, Himanshu Dhillon win bronze in 10m air rifle mixed team event
A look at Sonam Uttam Maskar and Himanshu Dhillon’s ISSF World Cup performance
Indian rifle shooters Sonam Uttam Maskar and Himanshu Dhillon secured the bronze medal in the 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team event at the ongoing ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun in Hangzhou, China, adding another podium finish to India’s shooting campaign.
Both Indian teams delivered strong performances in the qualification round to advance to the final. Sonam Uttam Maskar (317.2) and Himanshu Dhillon (317.4) combined for an aggregate qualification score of 634.6. Meanwhile, the pair of Elavenil Valarivan (316.8) and Parth Rakesh Mane (317.4) qualified right behind them with a total score of 634.2.
In the final, Sonam and Himanshu produced a composed performance to combine for 441.2 points (220.6 each), securing the bronze medal behind China 1 and China 2. Elavenil and Parth finished fourth with a final score of 378.8 (Elavenil: 190.5, Parth: 188.3).
Reflecting on the achievement, Sonam Uttam Maskar said, “It was a tough competition, and the overall experience was very good. Winning a medal is always important because it gives us confidence for the assignments ahead. Experience matters more than anything, and this performance will motivate us as we prepare for the Asian Games and the World Championships later this season.”
Making his first-ever senior ISSF World Cup final appearance, Himanshu Dhillon added, “It was a great experience competing in my first senior World Cup final. I believed in myself, trusted my coach’s guidance and relied on my strengths. I’ve competed in many junior finals, but winning my first senior World Cup medal makes this achievement very special.”
Other achievements of Sonam Uttam Maskar and Himanshu Dhillon
The podium finish marks another milestone for 23-year-old Sonam Uttam Maskar from Kolhapur, Maharashtra. Sonam previously won silver medals at the ISSF World Cup in Cairo and the ISSF World Cup Final in New Delhi in 2024, alongside a fifth-place finish at the ISSF World Cup Granada, cementing her reputation as one of India’s top rifle shooters.
For 20-year-old Himanshu Dhillon from Jind, Haryana, the bronze medal represents his maiden senior ISSF World Cup podium. Himanshu previously won gold in the 10m Air Rifle Men Junior event at the ISSF Junior World Cup in New Delhi in 2025 before adding another gold at the Asian Shooting Championships.
The bronze medal takes India’s overall tally at the ISSF World Cup Hangzhou to four medals (1 Gold, 1 Silver, and 2 Bronze).
Who won the bronze medal for India in the 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team event at the ISSF World Cup Hangzhou 2026?
Sonam Uttam Maskar and Himanshu Dhillon won the bronze medal for India in the 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team event at the ISSF World Cup Hangzhou 2026. The duo combined for 441.2 points in the final to finish behind China’s two teams.
How did the Indian teams perform in the 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team event?
India had two teams qualify for the final. Sonam Uttam Maskar and Himanshu Dhillon won the bronze medal with 441.2 points, while Elavenil Valarivan and Parth Rakesh Mane finished fourth after scoring 378.8 points in the final.
Why is Himanshu Dhillon’s bronze medal at the ISSF World Cup Hangzhou special?
The bronze medal marks Himanshu Dhillon’s first senior ISSF World Cup medal and his maiden appearance in a senior ISSF World Cup final. It is a significant milestone in the 20-year-old shooter’s career after his success at the junior level.
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Alex graduated in mass communication in 2016 and has been covering global sports for Khel Now since then. He is covering sports tech, igaming, sports betting and casino domain from 2017.