The accomplished duo of Maheshwari Chauhan and Anantjeet Singh Naruka has capped off their impressive year by clinching the Skeet Mixed Team national title at the 67th National Shooting Championship Competitions (NSCC) held on December 25, 2024. This triumph not only highlights their shooting prowess but also adds to their accolades following their commendable fourth-place finish at the Paris Olympics earlier this year.
Competing at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range (DKSSR) in New Delhi, Maheshwari and Anantjeet showcased their skills dramatically during the final match. They faced off against the formidable pair of Mairaj Ahmad Khan and Areeba Khan from Uttar Pradesh (U.P) in what turned out to be a nail-biting contest. After a tense exchange, the Rajasthan pair emerged victorious with a close score of 44-43, emphasizing the dramatic tension of competitive shooting.
Earlier, Maheshwari and Anantjeet had set the stage for their gold medal match by finishing atop the qualification rounds. Each participant completed three 25-shot rounds, with Maheshwari scoring 72 and Anantjeet hitting 71, both ensuring their status as the top contenders from the seven-team qualification bracket. Several other impressive contenders included the pairs of Punjab’s Ganemat Sekhon and Abhay Singh Sekhon, and Haryana’s Ishaan Libra and Raiza Dhillon, who each accumulated scores of 141, leading to a tense three-way shoot-off.
Mairaj and Areeba had to battle through the shoot-off, successfully knocking down eight consecutive targets, which granted them the chance to contest for the gold medal against Maheshwari and Anantjeet.
The final itself was marked by confident shooting from the victorious pair, who led throughout the six series comprising eight birds per team. Even though they faced some challenges—especially when Maheshwari received a caution for overshooting her shot time—the duo managed to keep their composure to secure the title. "Maheshwari and Anantjeet shot confidently and led throughout the series," highlighted the IANS report, reflecting on their tactical execution under pressure.
Beyond the excitement of the senior competition, the junior Skeet mixed team event also saw some exhilarating moments. Madhya Pradesh’s pairing of Jyotiraditya Singh and Mansi Raghuvanshi stunned the seasoned team of Haryana, edging them out 4-2 after tying at 40 hits from 48 targets. This thrilling shoot-off illustrated the depth of talent within the junior ranks, indicating promising futures for the young athletes involved.
Telangana secured the bronze medal with their team of Munek Battula and Zahra Deesawala, who triumphed over Rajasthan's Yaduraj Singh and Yashasvi Rathore with a score of 42-36, affirming the competitiveness within these shooting championships.
This year has undoubtedly been significant for Indian shooting sports, especially as Maheshwari and Anantjeet prepare for future international competitions, building on their experiences at the Olympics and now this national championship. Their success not only serves as inspiration for upcoming shooters but also highlights the increasing prominence of shooting sports within the country.
With their shared dedication and teamwork, Maheshwari Chauhan and Anantjeet Singh Naruka are set to continue making waves on the shooting circuit, promising future successes for themselves and their home state of Rajasthan.
