The ISSF World Cup in Cairo proved to be a shot in the arm for Divyansh Singh Panwar. The Paris Olympics months away, regaining the World No 1 spot after a gap will be a huge confidence boost for the 21-year-old.
Armed with his Steyr Challenge E air rifle, Divyansh will look to keep replicating the Cairo show as top shooters step up their preparation for the Olympics.
Steyr, which started production in the middle of the 19th century, has been the go-to brand for elite shooters around the world, and Divyansh’s gold in men’s 10m air rifle at Cairo is one more affirmation of the company’s high standards.
Based out of Austria, the world-renowned gun manufacturer has dominated pistol events at the Olympics since 1992, and the company’s record at sport’s biggest event is mindboggling. Now, Steyr is stamping their class even in rifle events with athletes like Divyansh.
Team gold medallist with a world record, junior gold at 15th Asian Airgun Championship in 2022 and silver at the World University Games last year, Divyansh’s performance was one that silenced all talk about his inability to handle pressure and perform in big-ticket events of late.
It was Divyansh from start to finish in Cairo as he dominated 10m air rifle from start to finish, topping the qualification with a score of 632.4.
There was no let-up in the intensity as Divyansh shot 253.7 with the help of several high 10s to erase the world record of 253.3 set by China’s Sheng Lihao at the Hangzhou Asian Games last year.
It was the perfect mix of a relaxed body and mind that made Divyansh feel comfortable in World Cup season opener.
Divyansh said he was “proud to make the country proud” while being in a space where he felt “established and good”.
The focus on “process and technique”, Divyansh was able to shut out the outside noise like the “announcer, comments or camera,” he said, explaining the key to the solid performance.
Glasses of water and Hindi devotional music early in the morning set him up for the Cairo glory, and with Paris on the horizon, Divyansh will be aiming for bigger glories with his Steyr rifle.