Naib Subedar Ravinder Singh, a talented 29-year-old shooter from the Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU) in Mhow, received a hero’s welcome in his hometown of Bishnah after clinching the gold medal in the Men’s 50m Free Pistol event at the ISSF World Championships held at the Egypt International Olympic City Range.
Competing against 47 elite shooters, Ravinder demonstrated incredible skill and composure. He started with a humble score of 93 in his initial series but bounced back with remarkable shots of 98, 94, 95, 93, and a dazzling 96. This exceptional performance culminated in a total of 569 points, securing him the top position ahead of South Korea’s Kim Cheongyong (556) and Individual Neutral Athlete Anton Aristarkhov (556), who finished with silver and bronze medals respectively.
Ravinder’s triumph gains significance as he had been unable to train for over two weeks due to the recent birth of his daughter. Before the championship, he could only practice for 4–5 days, yet his discipline, focus, and resilience led to a career-defining victory.
His outstanding individual performance contributed to India winning the silver medal in the 50m Free Pistol team event. Ravinder teamed up with Kamaljeet (540) and Yogesh Kumar (537), collectively scoring 1646 points—just two points shy of South Korea’s gold-winning total.
A National Games silver medallist earlier this year, Ravinder expressed heartfelt gratitude, stating, “It’s not my personal achievement but for all those who stood behind me. I am thankful to my family and the Army for their support.”
Notably, former MLA Ashwani Kumar Sharma praised Ravinder as a role model for the youth. Hundreds of enthusiastic residents flocked to the streets of Bishnah to celebrate this monumental achievement, demonstrating the community’s pride in their local hero.
