ISSF World Cup 2025: Rudrankksh Patil Wins 10m Air Rifle Gold in Buenos Aires; Arjun Babuta Finishes 7th

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ISSF World Cup 2025: Former world champion Rudrankksh Patil reaffirmed his dominance on the global stage as he clinched the gold medal in the men’s 10m air rifle final at the ISSF World Cup in Buenos Aires on Sunday.

While the Indian contingent celebrated his triumphant start to the season-opening tournament, fellow shooter Arjun Babuta endured a contrasting outing, finishing seventh in the same final.3

Golden Start for Rudrankksh

Patil, who already boasts an impressive haul of international medals, was clinical from the very first shot. The 20-year-old was "quick off the blocks" in the final, stamping his authority early with a commanding 53.2 in the first competition stage. He never relinquished his lead, producing a string of consistent scores to maintain his position at the top of the leaderboard throughout the finale.

With each elimination stage, Rudrankksh kept his composure and widened the gap. His precision was evident with scores of 126.6, 147.9, and 168.8 in the early rounds. As the final intensified, he shot 190.3 and 210.4, culminating in a match-winning total of 252.9 — a staggering display that proved too strong for his competitors.

Hungary’s Istvan Peni came closest to challenging him, particularly after the first elimination series, but Patil was simply unshakeable. Peni eventually took silver with a commendable 251.7, while Argentina’s Marcelo Julian Gutierrez claimed the bronze in front of an elated home crowd with 230.1.

Arjun Babuta’s Early Exit

Arjun Babuta, who had topped the qualification round earlier in the day, couldn’t replicate that form under the spotlight of the finals. He faltered at the start, scoring just 50.4 in the opening five-shot series. That placed him in a precarious position early in the elimination phase.

He narrowly avoided becoming the first casualty of the final, edging out American Peter Matthew Fiori by a whisker — just 0.1 points — thanks to a timely 10.5. However, Babuta couldn’t find a rhythm and bowed out in the next elimination series, ending his campaign in seventh place.

Dramatic Final Showdown

The men’s 10m air rifle final saw a flurry of nail-biting eliminations. China’s Wang Honghao kept surviving elimination rounds by the thinnest of margins. His gritty effort saw him climb up the ranks, but the bronze medal proved a step too far as he was eventually outscored by Gutierrez, much to the delight of the Buenos Aires crowd.

Honghao ended his campaign in fourth place with a total score of 207.7, while Ilia Marsov of the AIN (Athletes Individual Neutral) team rounded off the top five with 186.7.

Strong Indian Show in Qualifiers

Earlier in the day, the Indian shooters had shown strong form in the qualification rounds. Arjun Babuta topped the charts with a stellar 634.5, while Rudrankksh followed closely with 633.7, sealing the top two positions heading into the final.

Kiran Ankush Jadhav also made his presence felt by finishing sixth overall in the qualifiers. However, as he was competing for RPO (Ranking Points Only), he was ineligible for the final round. Divyansh Singh Panwar (628.0, RPO) and Hriday Hazarika (624.6) also featured in the Indian line-up but failed to break into the top-eight qualifying zone.

Building Towards Paris 2024

The Buenos Aires leg of the ISSF World Cup is being closely watched as shooters fine-tune their form ahead of the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics. Rudrankksh’s performance serves as a strong statement of intent, especially given the calibre of competition.

Having already secured his quota for Paris, the Indian star now heads into the Olympic year brimming with confidence. His ability to maintain composure under pressure and deliver consistent scores across stages was a masterclass in elite shooting.

Final Standings – Men’s 10m Air Rifle Final

1. Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil (IND) – 252.9
2. Istvan Marton Peni (HUN) – 251.7
3. Marcelo Julian Gutierrez (ARG) – 230.1
4. Wang Honghao (CHN) – 207.7
5. Ilia Marsov (AIN) – 186.7
6. Peter Matthew Fiori (USA) – Eliminated early
7. Arjun Babuta (IND) – Seventh place

With India’s shooters off to a promising start in Buenos Aires, all eyes will be on the remaining events. The nation’s shooting contingent has shown immense promise, and performances like Rudrankksh’s are likely to boost morale as they gear up for bigger battles ahead.

The ISSF World Cup in Argentina runs until 11 April, with the Rifle and Pistol events drawing top talent from across the world. For India, it’s a chance to consolidate rankings, experiment with line-ups, and enter the Olympic season with a winning mindset.