Indian shooter Zoravar Singh Sandhu made history by acquiring a bronze medal in men’s trap at the ISSF World Championship Shotgun 2025 in Athens, Greece. Competing in tough weather and light conditions, Zoravar hit 31 of 50 targets in the final match, finishing behind Croatia’s Josip Glasnovic and Spain’s Andres Garcia.
This was India’s third medal in the men’s trap shooting events at the Shotgun World Championships. Manavjeet Singh Sandhu won the gold medal in the men’s trap at Zagreb 2006, while Karni Singh won a silver medal in the 1962 championships held in Cairo.
Zoravar Singh Sandhu’s bronze medal at the age of 48 is an example of longevity that is rarely seen in elite sport. Few shooters, globally, have competed at this level across four decades. His story runs parallel to that of Karni Singh, the prince who put India on the world map in the 1960s, and Manavjit Sandhu, who carried that legacy into the 2000s.
Born in Punjab and now based in Chandigarh, Zoravar has long been a cornerstone of Indian shotgun shooting. His performances in national trials have been consistent for years, even when others moved on or faded away. Yet, global recognition always seemed to elude him until now.
His return to the spotlight also underscores the importance of India’s renewed investment in the shotgun discipline. With the rise of skeet shooters like Ganemat Sekhon and Mairaj Ahmad Khan, the shotgun ecosystem has quietly built momentum. Zoravar’s bronze now adds Trap back to that narrative and does so through a veteran’s lens.
India’s strength in rifle and pistol shooting is well documented. Trap and skeet, however, have historically been tougher terrain, expensive, technically demanding, and mentally gruelling. Zoravar’s medal reopens the conversation about India’s potential in these traditional shotgun events.
