Arjuna Babuta Clinches Silver at ISSF World Cup, Misses Gold by 0.1 Point
In a heart-pounding final at the ISSF World Cup in Lima, Peru, Indian shooter Arjuna Babuta won a silver medal in the men’s 10m air rifle event. The Paris Olympian, who finished fourth at the 2024 Paris Games, came incredibly close to gold, losing by just 0.1 points to China’s Olympic champion Sheng Lihao. Babuta scored 252.3, while Sheng finished with 252.4, making it one of the tightest finishes in recent shooting history.
A Star-Studded Final
The men’s 10m air rifle final was packed with top talent. Besides Babuta and Sheng, the lineup included Hungary’s experienced shooter Istvan Peni, who won bronze with a score of 229.8. Peni has over 40 ISSF medals, showing his skill in the sport. Other big names included Sweden’s Victor Lindgren, a world champion and Paris silver medalist, Norway’s Jon-Hermann Hegg, and India’s own Rudrankksh Patil, a former world champion. With such a strong field, the competition was fierce, and Babuta’s silver was a huge achievement.
A Strong Start for India
Both Babuta and Patil started the final well, each scoring 10.1 on their first shots. They stayed close to the leaders early on, keeping India’s hopes high. However, things took a turn for Patil when the jury docked his 11th shot due to a technical mistake. As a result, he finished eighth and was eliminated early. Patil, who had won gold at the ISSF World Cup in Buenos Aires the previous week, was disappointed but showed his potential earlier in the event.
Meanwhile, Babuta stayed focused. After the 10th shot, he stepped up his game, moving to third place and challenging Peni and Hegg. By the 14th shot, he took the lead for the first time, raising hopes of a gold medal for India. His performance was remarkable, especially considering the pressure of facing a champion like Sheng.
🇮🇳 𝐀𝐫𝐣𝐮𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐚 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐫 🥈 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐅 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐂𝐮𝐩 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐢𝐦𝐚!
Indian shooter Arjun Babuta narrowly missed out on a historic gold medal at the ISSF World Cup 2025 in Lima, Peru, after a nail-biting 10m Air Rifle final that saw… pic.twitter.com/t99k68HwKv
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) April 20, 2025
A Nail-Biting Finish
As the final progressed, Sheng began to close the gap. He fired a near-perfect 10.9 on his 16th shot, putting pressure on Babuta. With only two shots left out of the 24, Babuta held a slim 0.3-point lead. However, Sheng, showing why he’s an Olympic champion, shot another 10.9, taking the lead. Babuta responded with a solid 10.5 on his final shot, but Sheng’s 10.3 was enough to secure the gold by the tiniest margin of 0.1 points. The close finish left fans on the edge of their seats, much like a tense IPL match where Rohit Sharma’s Mumbai Indians fight till the last ball.
Qualification Round Highlights
Before the final, Babuta and Patil performed well in the qualification round. Babuta scored 631.9 in the first relay, earning a spot in the final. Sheng led with an impressive 635.0, while Patil scored 632.0 in the second relay, finishing third overall. Another Indian shooter, Hriday Hazarika, came close but missed the final, placing 10th with 629.3. India’s strong showing in the qualifiers proved the country’s depth in shooting talent.
Arjuna Babuta’s silver medal is a proud moment for India, especially after his near-miss at the Paris Olympics. His ability to stay calm under pressure and compete with the world’s best shows he has a bright future. While cricket and the IPL, led by stars like Rohit Sharma, often grab attention, shooters like Babuta are quietly making India proud on the global stage. As the ISSF World Cup continues, fans will be eager to see if Babuta can turn his silver into gold next time.
