From a makeshift range at home to the top of the world — Haryana’s Samrat Rana has scripted a golden chapter in Indian shooting history. The 20-year-old became India’s first-ever world champion in the men’s 10m air pistol event at the ISSF World Championships in Cairo, edging out China’s four-time World Cup gold medallist Kai Hu by just 0.3 points to clinch gold.
Rana’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary. The son of an agriculturist father, Ashok Kumar Rana — who also doubles up as his coach despite no formal training — Samrat trained at a home-built range in Karnal. Determined to see his son succeed, Rana Sr even opened a shooting academy to provide better training facilities.
This victory places Samrat alongside legends like Abhinav Bindra and Rudrankksh Patil as only the third Indian to ever win an individual Shooting World Championship gold. His compatriot, Varun Tomar, added to the glory by taking bronze in the same event — marking the first time India has won two medals in the 10m air pistol category at the Worlds.
Rana’s remarkable calm and resilience stood out throughout the competition. Despite setbacks in earlier tournaments, including narrowly missing a final spot in China two months ago, he bounced back stronger than ever. “I didn’t take pressure despite the lows,” Samrat said after his win — a reflection of the poise and grit that powered him to global glory.
With this triumph, Samrat Rana has not only made history but also inspired a new generation of shooters to dream big — even if it means starting from your backyard.
