The cool morning air at the Buenos Aires shooting range carried with it the sweet scent of victory for Sift Kaur Samra. At just 23, the rifle shooter from Faridkot had just claimed gold at the ISSF World Cup, adding another glittering achievement to India’s growing shooting legacy. But for Sift, the triumph wasn’t hers alone—it belonged to an entire nation finding its mark on shooting’s global map.
Rising From the Ashes of Olympic Heartbreak
Paris wasn’t kind to Sift. The weight of expectation—world record holder, Asian Games champion, medal favorite—had proved too heavy in the summer of 2024. A 31st-place finish left her questioning everything.
“The Olympics get into your head,” she admitted afterward. “Everyone watches your every move and reminds you constantly about your upcoming match. You try to focus more, but somehow it’s nothing like regular competitions.”
Instead of hiding away, Sift chose the range as her therapy. The very next day after returning from France, she was back in position, rifle in hand, squeezing the trigger with renewed purpose. Friends became her support system in Delhi as she competed in the World University Championship. When the pressure eased, she retreated to family in Faridkot, recharging for what would come next.
The comeback started with domestic success—gold at the National Games—before culminating in her breathtaking Buenos Aires performance. Despite biting winds and cold conditions that would rattle many shooters, Sift dominated qualification with a stunning 590. The final proved her mettle as a fighter. Down after kneeling, she roared back in prone and standing positions, climbing the leaderboard shot by shot until gold was firmly in her grasp.
A Team Player at Heart
When speaking about Indian shooting’s recent success, Sift’s eyes light up not for her own achievements but for those of her teammates, particularly 18-year-old phenomenon Suruchi Singh.
“Honestly, Suruchi is our real star,” Sift says with genuine admiration. “Three golds and a bronze at her age? That’s incredible. When I was 18, I barely knew which end of the rifle to point! She’s got something special.”
This warmth between competitors speaks volumes about the culture that’s developed within India’s shooting camps. Under returned coach Deepali Deshpande and with mentorship from fellow shooter Akhil Sheoran, the team has grown both technically and emotionally.
New Horizons, New Challenges
Wind seems to follow Sift wherever she competes. After braving the gusts in Argentina and Peru, she’s preparing for more of the same at the upcoming Asian Championship in Kazakhstan and World Championship in Cairo.
“I shot 590 and 587 in really tough conditions,” she reflects. “Missed the final in Lima by just one point, but that’s sport. You take these lessons forward.”
The shooting world is evolving too. From January, the Olympic final format will shift to standing position only, a change Sift welcomes. “Our shooters have always been strong in standing,” she notes with quiet confidence. “Once we know the shot count and timing details, we’ll adapt quickly.”
Perhaps most exciting for Sift is the upcoming Shooting League—a fresh competition format that breaks from tradition. “All our lives we’ve chased medals,” she says, excitement bubbling through. “This will be completely different—more fun, more connection with fans. And hopefully,” she adds with a smile, “more financial rewards for shooters who put everything into this sport.”
Team India Makes Its Mark
The success stories extend well beyond Sift’s gold. Chain Singh claimed bronze in the men’s three positions event, while pistol specialist Esha Singh secured silver in the women’s 25m competition. Double Olympic bronze medalist Manu Bhaker continues competing at the highest level too.
These results have propelled India into the top three of the medal standings across both recent World Cups—an achievement unimaginable just decades ago when Indian shooting was barely a footnote in international competitions.
As Munich’s World Cup approaches, Indian shooting officials face what most nations would consider a luxury problem: field their established stars for more experience, or give opportunities to the hungry “B” team waiting in the wings?
Whatever path they choose, one thing remains certain—Indian shooting has arrived on the world stage, and athletes like Sift Kaur Samra aren’t just participating anymore. They’re leading the charge, rewriting record books, and inspiring a new generation of champions from a country discovering its shooting identity.
For Sift, the journey continues—one carefully aimed shot at a time.
