In a historic display of precision and dominance, Dhanush Srikanth etched his name into Deaflympics history by winning gold in the 10 m Air Rifle event at the 24th Deaflympics in Tokyo, setting a new Deaf Final World Record with an impressive 252.2 points.
At the final, Srikanth’s focus and skill were unmatched, securing the top podium spot and rewriting the record books. Mohammed Murtaza Vania ensured India finished 1–2 on the podium, clinching silver with a remarkable score of 250.1. Korea’s Baek Seunghak took bronze with 223.6, but the Indian marksmen dictated the final from start to finish.
Hours later, India’s women shooters delivered another podium surge, continuing the country’s golden run. Mahit Sandhu clinched silver, while Komal Waghmare claimed bronze in the women’s 10 m Air Rifle, marking India’s second double-podium result of the Games. Their 2–3 finish highlighted India’s growing depth and dominance in shooting.
The Tokyo Deaflympics, held for the first time in Japan to mark 100 years since the inaugural Games, features 3,081 athletes from 81 nations competing across 20 sports. India is participating in 11 disciplines: athletics, badminton, golf, judo, karate, shooting, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, wrestling, and tennis.
With four medals already in the bag, including Srikanth’s gold capped by a world record, Indian shooters have set the bar high for the rest of the Games. Trained at Hyderabad’s Gun For Glory Academy under Olympic medallist Gagan Narang, Dhanush Srikanth’s performance underscores the talent, determination, and preparation that have made India a rising powerhouse in Deaflympics shooting.
For India, this isn’t just a medal tally — it’s a statement: talent transcends barriers, and champions speak loudest through their achievements, even in silence. With a world record, multiple podium finishes, and a surge in both men’s and women’s events, Indian shooters have truly made a historic start to the Games.
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