Manav Rachna International Institute of Research & Studies (MRIIRS), playing host to the FISU World University Championship Shooting 2024 under the aegis of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), witnessed a jubilant India contingent emerging as the leading contender, winning 28 medals in both individual and team categories.
Indian athlete Bhavtegh Singh Gill clinched the individual gold in the Skeet Men event, while Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar and Sangeeta Das secured the gold in the 10M Rifle Mixed Team event after a thrilling final. Other notable champions, including Aakash Bhardwaj, Palak Gulia, Arshdeep Kaur, Smit Rameshbhai Moradiya, Simranpreet Brar, and Abhay Sekhon, played pivotal roles in keeping India at the top of the medal tally. Every member of the Indian contingent contributed to team medals across Rifle, Pistol, and Shotgun events. Students of Manav Rachna, Bakhtyaruddin Malek, Manini Kaushik, and Kirti Gupta made valuable contributions to India’s medal count.
Following India, Czech Republic claimed second place, delivering impressive performances across various events, while Italy secured third place with a commendable display of skill and resilience. Olympians Jiri Privratsky from Czech Republic, Anna Janssen from Germany, and Audrey Gogniat from Switzerland showed remarkable grit, earning multiple medals yet facing strong competition from the Indian athletes.
The FISU World University Championship Shooting 2024 took place from November 9 to 13, 2024, at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range in Delhi. The event showcased intense competition in various shooting disciplines, with athletes coming together from 23 countries to demonstrate their skills and passion for the sport. The FISU Flag was ceremoniously handed over by Dr. Baljit Singh Sekhon, Joint Secretary – Sports, AIU, to the Organizing Committee, Chinese Taipei, which will host the next FISU World Univesity Championship Shooting.
Dr. Amit Bhalla, President of the Organizing Committee, FISU WUCS and Vice President of MREI, said “I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the athletes and thank the participating nations for joining with such great spirit. Hosting a championship of this scale requires immense hard work, especially with such diverse participation. But what truly drives us forward to the next event is the shared intention to create something outstanding. My sincere gratitude goes to everyone involved in making this championship a success.”
Kunal, Joint Secretary (Sports), Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India, who was present as the Chief Guest, commended the participants and organizers for their hard work. “University sports are a gateway for young, brilliant minds from different parts of the world to build lasting friendships and learn from each other. In today’s world, we need strong bonds, and events like these foster enduring connections. India is making rapid strides in sports, and with the world’s largest youth population, we are willing to take the world forward into the next century.”
