India’s Mahit Sandhu delivered a stunning performance at the Tokyo Deaf Shooting Championships, clinching the silver medal in the 50m prone rifle event and breaking the Deaf World Record in qualification. The event witnessed intense competition, tactical precision, and dramatic position changes right until the final shots.
Mahit shot an impressive 246.1 in the finals to secure the silver medal. Eliska Svobodova of Czechia claimed the gold with 247.2, while Hungary’s Mira Zsuzsanna Biatovszki took bronze with a score of 225.0. The other Indian finalist, Natasha Joshi, finished eighth after being eliminated in a shoot-off.
The final was a roller-coaster for Mahit. After 14 shots, she stood in fourth position. She then lifted herself into the bronze medal spot after the next two-shot series, moving ahead of Ukraine’s Violeta Lykova, and maintained the position through 20 shots. The momentum shifted when Mahit struck 9.8 and 10.2, while Biatovszki faltered with 9.4 and 9.8, propelling the Indian shooter into second place.
Mahit maintained her composure beautifully, finishing with 10.0 and 10.7 in her last two shots. Although she could not surpass Svobodova, who sealed her gold with both final shots in the 10-ring, Mahit’s consistency and grit captivated audiences.
Earlier, Mahit set a new Deaf World Record in qualification with 619.7, showcasing remarkable form right from the start. Natasha Joshi also performed strongly with a 611.6, securing the seventh spot to enter the finals.
With this medal, India’s shooting tally in Tokyo has now reached 12, and Mahit has remarkably contributed three medals — gold in the 10m mixed team, silver in the 10m individual, and now silver in the 50m prone.
Mahit’s stellar performance cements her status as one of India’s brightest shooting stars and a symbol of excellence in Deaf sports worldwide.