Indian shooter Mahit Sandhu has been a standout star at the 25th Summer Deaflympics 2025 held in Tokyo, securing four medals that include two golds and two silvers.
Her crowning achievement came with a gold medal in the women’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions event where she set a new Deaflympics record with 456.0 points after 45 shots, breaking past limits in precision shooting. Alongside this, she delivered a world record-breaking qualification score of 585-31x, illustrating her dominance in the sport.
Indian officials have expressed great pride in her accomplishments, underscoring the growing success of the nation’s deaf sports programs and athlete development initiatives.
This fresh highlight follows her previous wins in the 10m mixed team event (gold), 10m individual air rifle (silver), and a silver in the 50m prone event.
Record-Breaking Triumph and Competition Dynamics
Mahit Sandhu’s performance in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions event was marked by exceptional composure and technical skill. She achieved a qualification score comprising 194 in kneeling, 198 in prone, and 193 in standing positions, surpassing her own previous world record set at the 2024 World Deaf Shooting Championships.
In the final round, Mahit maintained a slender lead, only briefly losing it on the 41st shot before recovering with four consecutive perfect 10-point shots to seal her gold medal victory. South Korea’s Dain Jeong and Hungary’s Mira Zsuzsanna Biatovszki took silver and bronze with scores of 453.5 and 438.6 respectively.
India’s Natasha Joshi also qualified for the finals and finished a commendable fifth. Overall, Indian shooters have collectively won 14 medals at the Deaflympics so far, including five golds, which is a testament to the country’s expanding prowess in this discipline.
Her accomplishment in the 50m prone event was just as remarkable where she won silver with a qualification World Deaf Record of 619.7. She scored 246.1 in the finals to clinch the silver, narrowly behind gold medalist Eliska Svobodova from Czechia.
The 50m prone event showcased Mahit’s ability to maintain precision under pressure, contributing significantly to India’s impressive shooting medal tally at Tokyo.
Officials from the Indian sports administration highlighted these successes as signs of a thriving ecosystem for deaf athletes supported by robust training, modern facilities, and government-funded programmes aimed at inclusion and competitive excellence.
Growth of Deaf Sports in India: Context and Future Prospects
These achievements underscore a vibrant growth trajectory for deaf sports in India. The 2025 Deaflympics saw participation from 81 countries with about 3,000 athletes competing across 20 sports.
Against this fierce international competition, Indian athletes like Mahit Sandhu are making their mark through sustained hard work and smart investment in para-sports infrastructure and coaching.
Mahit’s journey from setting world records to clinching multiple medals at a young age is emblematic of India’s rising competency on the global stage for differently-abled athletes.
Government initiatives and the Sports Authority of India have played instrumental roles by providing financial support, quality training programmes, and international exposure for these athletes.
Their success is fueling greater awareness and breaking down societal stigmas related to disability and sports participation. The achievements at the Deaflympics signify not just personal glory, but a shift towards greater sports inclusivity and empowerment in India’s larger social fabric.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Mahit Sandhu’s extraordinary achievements encapsulate the spirit of resilience, inclusivity, and excellence that The Logical Indian ardently supports.
Her story is a beacon challenging society’s traditional perceptions about ability, highlighting the importance of compassion, equal opportunity, and recognition for all athletes regardless of physical challenges.
It is imperative to nurture such talent with sustained visibility and resources to foster empathy and harmony.
Her success calls upon communities to amplify support systems and create an environment where every individual can pursue excellence and feel valued.
