Faridkot girl Simranpreet Kaur shoots historic 25m pistol gold at world cup

Faridkot girl Simranpreet Kaur Brar, a BA-III student at Dasmesh Girls College, Badal village in Muktsar district, created history on Sunday by winning the gold medal in the women’s 25m pistol event at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup Final in Doha, Qatar.

She matched the junior world record with a score of 41, and surpassed China’s Yao Qianxun (36) and Germany’s Doreen Vennekamp (30) to secure the top podium finish for India.

Simranpreet is the only girl child in her family. Her father, Shaminder Singh, is a retired government teacher, while her mother, Harcharan Kaur, is serving as a government teacher.

The ISSF official website quoted Simranpreet as saying, “I’m feeling great after winning the medal, and it’s a wonderful feeling for me that I improved my technique and focused on how to execute the shot rather than on the screen. I was calm, but inside there was nervousness in the finals, and I executed it properly.”

Speaking to The Tribune, an elated Shaminder Singh said, “Simranpreet has been practising shooting since she was just 11 years old. She wants to participate in the Olympics and win a medal for the country.”

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief-cum-chairman of the college Sukhbir Singh Badal and Principal Dr SS Sangha applauded her remarkable achievement.

While representing Panjab University, Chandigarh, Simranpreet won two gold medals at the Khelo India University Games 2025.