Indian shooter Udhayveer Sidhu won gold in the men’s 10m air pistol event at the ISSF World Cup in Cairo, Egypt, on October 11, 2026. The 24-year-old scored 240.6 points in the final, edging Germany’s Christian Reitz, who finished with 240.1, by 0.5 points. Italy’s Paolo Monna claimed bronze with 219.8 points.
Sidhu had qualified fourth for the eight-shooter final with 585 points and 19 inner tens. The victory marked a major milestone in his senior international career, as he secured his first ISSF World Cup gold against Reitz, the men’s 25m rapid-fire pistol Olympic champion at Rio 2016.
A Close Final
Sidhu faced a strong international field in Cairo, where the final was decided by a narrow margin. After qualifying with 585 points, he competed against seven other shooters in the medal round. Reitz, who had also qualified with 585 points, finished third in qualification based on the inner-tens count, while Monna topped the round with 586 points.
The final remained closely contested, with Sidhu and Reitz battling for the top position. Sidhu eventually finished on 240.6 points, while Reitz secured silver with 240.1. Monna completed the podium in third place. The result highlighted the precision and consistency required in elite shooting, where small differences in individual shots can determine the final standings.
A Proven Junior Career
Sidhu had established himself in international shooting well before his Cairo victory. According to his official ISSF athlete profile, he won the junior men’s 25m pistol title at the 2018 World Championships in Changwon, South Korea, with a score of 587.
He added two more junior world titles at the 2022 World Championships in Cairo, winning the men’s 25m pistol and men’s 25m standard pistol events. These results established him as a successful junior competitor in the sport.
His latest victory came in the 10m air pistol discipline, marking an important achievement in his senior career. The result also demonstrated his ability to compete successfully in a different pistol event against established international shooters.
India’s Cairo Campaign
Sidhu’s victory came during the ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol competition in Cairo, scheduled from October 8 to 16, 2026. The official results list India’s Jonathan Gavin Antony as second in qualification with 586 points, equal to Monna’s score, but competing in the ranking-points-only category and therefore ineligible for the final.
Among the other Indian shooters in the men’s 10m air pistol qualification, Ajendra Singh Chauhan finished 14th with 580 points, while Sarabjot Singh placed 31st with 574. Sidhu progressed to the final and converted his qualification performance into gold, giving India a significant result in the event.
The ISSF’s official results confirm Sidhu’s winning score, Reitz’s silver-medal finish and Monna’s bronze. His performance is an important addition to his record following his junior world titles.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Udhayveer Sidhu’s achievement underlines the value of dedication, discipline and sustained opportunities for young athletes. His progress from junior world champion to senior World Cup gold medallist shows why sporting development requires continued support beyond early success.
India’s emerging athletes need access to quality coaching, appropriate facilities and regular international competition to build on their potential. At the same time, close contests such as Sidhu’s final remind us that sport can celebrate excellence while encouraging respect between competitors.
How can India better support young athletes in their journey from junior championships to senior international success?
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