India’s Sainyam Vij said her silver medal at the ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou, China, felt like a reward for months of perseverance after what she described as a difficult 2025 season, adding that the podium finish has strengthened her belief ahead of the World Championships later this year.
According to a press release, the Chandigarh shooter clinched India’s first medal of the World Cup and underlined how significant the result was after she failed to reach any finals last year. Calling it her first ISSF World Cup medal at the senior level, Vij said the long wait made the moment particularly meaningful.
“It’s really special to me because this is my first ISSF World Cup medal at the senior level. It came after such a long wait. Last year was really tough for me as I wasn’t able to make any finals, so this means a lot,” Vij said after her silver-medal finish.
Final recap: slow start, strong response, silver by 0.2
Vij said she stayed focused on her own execution despite a final field that included an Olympic champion, the reigning world No. 1, and two Chinese shooters competing at home. She stressed that her attention remained on carrying out her plan rather than the names around her.
“There was nothing in my mind about who I was shooting against. My only thought was to do my work and perform my best. Whoever performs better deserves to win,” she said.
In the final, Vij began with a 49.7, which placed her fifth after the opening series. She then produced a major turnaround in the second series, registering the best score in the field with a 51.9 to draw level with China’s Qianxun at the top of the standings.
From there, Vij remained in the medal positions and stayed within striking distance. She trailed Qianxun by 0.6 points heading into the final series, keeping the contest alive late into the shoot-off. Vij finished strongly with shots of 10.6 and 10.7, outscoring Qianxun’s 10.3 and 10.4 in that closing stretch, but the earlier deficit proved decisive. Vij ended the final just 0.2 points behind Qianxun to take silver.
Reflecting on the performance, Vij said the slow start did not derail her mindset because she made a deliberate effort to move on quickly and stay present for the next phase of the final.
“I had to take the first series out of my mind. If I had stayed stuck on it, I could have spoiled my whole match. I just learnt from it and focused on what I had to do next,” she said.
India’s first medal and a boost for the squad
Vij also spoke about the wider impact of her result, saying India’s first podium finish of the competition could lift the confidence of the rest of the contingent.
“Everyone is happy that we’ve finally got a medal. It motivates all of us because it shows that we can win,” she said.
Coach Samaresh Jung’s role and the road to Worlds
Vij credited national coach and Olympian Samaresh Jung for playing a key role in her progress, particularly in sharpening both technical details and mental preparation. She described their coach-student relationship as strong and said his guidance has helped her stay on the right path.
“We have a great relationship as coach and student. He has helped me a lot with my technicalities and mental training. He motivates me and guides me on the right path,” she said.
With the World Championships later this year, Vij framed the Hangzhou silver as more than a single result, calling it a reaffirmation after a challenging stretch and a timely reminder that she can contend at the top level.
