Jaipur-based shooter Vivaan Kapoor won silver in the men’s trap event at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Championship in Doha, Qatar, on November 12, 2026, securing India’s third shooting quota place for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics (LA28).
The 24-year-old finished with 29 hits in the final, level with Kuwait’s Abdulrahman Al-Faihan, before losing the gold-medal shoot-off 3-2. China’s Qi Ying claimed bronze with 22 hits. The result marked a significant milestone in Kapoor’s senior international career and strengthened India’s position in the ongoing championship.
A Dramatic Final
The competition took place at the Lusail Shooting Complex, where Kapoor progressed to the eight-shooter final after a competitive qualification round. He recorded 120 hits out of 125 targets, with scores of 25, 24, 24, 24 and 23 across five rounds.
Six shooters finished qualification with identical scores of 120, requiring a shoot-off to determine the final four places. Kapoor advanced alongside Uzbekistan’s Azamat Kayumov, Türkiye’s Yavuz Ilnam and compatriot Udaivir Singh Jaijee. Czechia’s Jiri Liptak and Qatar’s Angelo Scalzone missed out.
In the final, Kapoor delivered a strong performance, finishing with 29 hits out of 30. Al-Faihan matched his score, forcing a shoot-off to decide the gold medal. The Kuwaiti shooter secured victory with three hits against Kapoor’s two, while China’s Qi Ying finished third with 22 hits.
The result was particularly important for India as all three individual medallists also secured Olympic quota places for their respective National Olympic Committees. Kapoor’s silver therefore brought both a World Championship podium finish and an important qualification opportunity for the country.
Vivaan Kapoor nails silver in Men’s Trap at ISSF World Championship — India’s first shotgun ticket to Los Angeles locked in. Three quotas for Team India. Phenomenal! 🎯 #VivaanKapoor #IndianShooting #LA2028 #TeamIndia #ISSFWorldChampionship @OfficialNRAI @issf_official @mansukhmandviya @Media_SAI @IndiaSports
— Office of Kalikesh Singh Deo (@DeoKalikesh) November 12, 2026
India’s Olympic Boost
Kapoor’s achievement secured India’s third shooting quota place for LA28 at the Doha championship. Jaypal Malviya had earned the first quota on November 5 after winning silver in the men’s 10m air pistol event. Niraj Kumar followed on November 11, winning bronze in the men’s 50m rifle 3 positions competition.
Kapoor added the third quota through the men’s trap event, giving India representation across pistol, rifle and shotgun disciplines.
However, an Olympic quota is allocated to the country rather than automatically guaranteeing selection to the athlete who earns it. Kapoor will still need to go through the prescribed selection process before securing a place in India’s final Olympic contingent.
From Jaipur To Doha
Born on March 4, 2002, Kapoor is a 24-year-old Indian shooter whose hometown is Jaipur, Rajasthan. His birthplace is Mumbai, according to his official ISSF athlete profile. He began competitive shooting in 2014 and has since competed in several international junior and senior competitions.
His ISSF profile identifies Mansher Singh as his personal coach and Vikram Singh Chopra as his national coach. Kapoor competes in trap shooting, a shotgun discipline in which athletes aim at clay targets launched into the air from different directions. The event requires concentration, precision, coordination and quick reactions.
International Achievements
Kapoor’s international career includes several notable performances. In 2019, he won the junior men’s trap title at the Asian Championships in Doha. He also secured gold in the junior mixed team trap event alongside Manisha Keer at the same competition.
In 2021, Kapoor won silver in the men’s junior trap team event at the ISSF Junior World Championships in Lima, Peru, where he represented India alongside his teammates.
He continued to build his international record in 2026, partnering with Neeru Dhanda to win bronze in the trap mixed team event at the ISSF World Cup in Almaty, Kazakhstan, in May.
His latest silver in Doha marks another important achievement in his progression from junior international competitions to the senior World Championship podium.
Latest Championship Update
India’s men’s trap team, comprising Kapoor, Udaivir Singh Jaijee and Zoravar Singh Sandhu, finished fourth with a combined score of 354. Poland and Czechia also recorded 354, but secured silver and bronze respectively, while India finished fourth on the count-back. Kuwait won team gold with 356 hits.
Udaivir also reached the individual final, finishing sixth with 11 hits. Meanwhile, Indian shooter Ankur Goel won silver in the men’s 25m centre fire pistol event and combined with Amanpreet Singh and Rajkanwar Singh Sandhu to secure team bronze.
According to the ISSF’s medal standings, last updated on November 12, India stood second with 13 medals, comprising two gold, seven silver and four bronze. China led with 27 medals, while the Republic of Korea occupied third place with 10.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Vivaan Kapoor’s achievement highlights the importance of discipline, perseverance and sustained support in sporting journeys. His progress from junior competitions to the World Championship podium demonstrates the opportunities that consistent training and professional guidance can create for emerging athletes.
India’s sporting ambitions must extend beyond celebrating medals. Greater investment in grassroots training, accessible facilities, qualified coaches and long-term support can help more young athletes pursue international careers. Recognising talent across different regions and sporting disciplines is equally important in building a stronger sporting culture.
As India looks towards the Los Angeles Olympics, how can the country do more to support emerging athletes and ensure that sporting talent from every region receives the opportunity to succeed internationally?
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