Simranpreet defeats top world champions to claim honors in Doha.
In a spectacular display of marksmanship, 21-year-old Indian shooter Simranpreet Kaur Brar rose to the occasion to secure the gold medal in the women’s 25m pistol event at the ISSF World Cup Final in Doha. With celebrated Olympian Manu Bhaker missing out on the finals, the spotlight turned to Brar, who delivered a performance for the ages against a field of seasoned champions.
The victory was far from easy. Brar faced a daunting lineup that included current Paris Olympic champion Yang Ji-in from Korea, world number two Yao Qianxun, and German world champion Doreen Vennekamp. Despite the intense pressure, the young shooter from Punjab held her nerve, finishing with a score of 41 hits—just a single point shy of the world record held by Kim Yejin.
A Comeback for the Ages
Brar’s path to the podium required a massive turnaround. She began the final on shaky ground, missing four shots in the opening two series, which dropped her down to the seventh spot. However, she quickly regained her composure. Across the subsequent 40 shots, she missed the target only five times. Entering the final elimination round with a narrow lead, she fired a flawless series of five hits to seal the victory over Yao Qianxun.
Reflecting on her win, Brar noted that she had to mentally reset after the early errors. She described this gold medal as the most significant achievement of her career so far, attributing the success to trusting her technique under pressure.
A Father’s Sacrifice
Behind this sporting triumph lies a touching story of parental sacrifice. Simranpreet’s father, Sharminder Brar, made the difficult decision to resign from his secure job as a government teacher three years ago. His sole focus was to ensure his daughter received the best possible training.
Speaking about their journey, Sharminder revealed that despite societal pressure to save money for Simranpreet’s marriage, he chose to invest their family savings into her sporting equipment. He proudly described her pistols as the family’s true "jewels," validating his decision to prioritize her potential over traditional expectations.
Technical Adjustments and Other Results
According to Ronak Pandit, the High-Performance Manager for the Indian team, Brar had been struggling with form due to over-exertion and illness. The coaching staff worked on isolating her trigger finger movement to improve stability, a technical tweak that paid off immensely.
It was a successful day for the Indian contingent in other events as well. Anish Bhanwala secured a silver medal in the men’s 25m rapid-fire pistol, while Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar brought home a bronze in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions event.
